Non-Discrimination & Anti-Harassment
Non-Discrimination Statement
The University is committed to providing an educational, residential, and working environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Members of the University community, applicants for employment or admissions, guests and visitors have the right to be free from harassment or discrimination based on race, color, religion, ancestry, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, national origin, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.Sexual harassment, including sexual violence, is a form of sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational, extracurricular, athletic, or other programs or in the context of employment.
Anyone who has questions about the University’s Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy, or the University’s Non-Discrimination or Anti-Harassment Policy, or wishes to report a possible violation of one of the policies should contact:
Elizabeth M. Garcia
Title IX Coordinator
The Office of Equity and Diversity
Institute of Molecular Biology & Medicine, Suite 315
elizabeth.garcia2@scranton.edu
(570) 941-6645
https://www.scranton.edu/equity-diversity/
University Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy
The University believes that the rights and dignity of all people must be protected, and that laws articulating these rights must be upheld. To help fulfill this commitment, one rooted in our Catholic and Jesuit academic tradition, the University is dedicated to providing a diverse, inclusive educational, residential, and working environment that is free of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination.
Filing a Complaint
Elizabeth M. Garcia, Executive Director of the Office of Equity and Diversity is responsible for oversight and implementation of the University’s Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy.
- Incident Reporting Form: https://scranton.i-sight.com/external-capture
- Note: Reporting individuals may use this link to file reports anonymously. Reports made here are received by the Executive Director in the Office of Equity and Diversity. All anonymous reports will be reviewed and processed per the University's policy; however, anonymous reports may hamper the University’s ability to fully respond.
Resources and Support
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In the tradition of our Jesuit institution that strives for excellence, The University of Scranton is dedicated to providing a diverse and inclusive, learning, living, and working environment that is free of harassment and discrimination, and is committed to protecting the rights and dignity of all members of the University community and its guests. Resources and support for persons who may have experienced an incident(s) of harassment/discrimination may be found in the Resources and Reporting Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Brochure. |
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What is Discrimination?
What is Harassment?
The University’s Non-Discrimination and Anti Harassment policy defines harassment as “the creation of a hostile or intimidating environment, in which conduct, because of its severity and/or persistence, is likely to interfere significantly with an individual’s life. Harassment can be uninvited or unwelcome verbal, written, visual or physical conduct based on race, color, religion, ancestry, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, genetic information, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law when such conduct:
- Has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or educational performance;
- Creates or has the intention of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working and/or learning environment; or
- Interferes with or limits one’s ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program, activity or employment.
Unwelcome verbal and/or non-verbal communication and/or conduct, including but not limited to, in person or via text message, e-mail or any form of social media including actions, threats, gestures, and/or words based on a protected class may create a hostile environment when it (a) is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive to limit a student, faculty, staff or other third party’s ability to participate in or benefit from an education program or creates a hostile or abusive educational environment, or (b) explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. In determining whether harassment has created a hostile environment, consideration will be made, not only as to whether the conduct was unwelcome to the person who feels harassed but also whether a reasonable person in a similar situation would have perceived the conduct as objectively offensive.
What is a Protected Characteristic, Protected Category or Protected Class?
Reporting an Incident
If you witness or experience bias, hate, harassment or discrimination as defined in the policy, you have several reporting options. It is your decision to participate in a criminal process, the University process, both or neither, if you report. Filing a report with the University may not obligate a reporter to open or participate in a formal investigation. Reporting to the University allows the University to provide any available interim protective measures, resources and support to students, faculty and staff.
Harassment, bias, hate or discrimination based on a protected class (i.e. those described in the non-discrimination statement) are prohibited by The University and are violations of policy. In an effort to support individuals as well as the campus community, the reporting options below will initiate a response process by the University. If you wish to speak with someone for confidential support, please contact on of the Confidential Resources.
Report to the University
- Incident Reporting Form: https://scranton.i-sight.com/external-capture
- Note: Reporting individuals may use this link to file reports anonymously. Reports made here are received by the Executive Director in the Office of Equity and Diversity. All anonymous reports will be reviewed and processed per the University's policy; however, anonymous reports may hamper the University’s ability to fully respond.
- University Police: 570-941-7777
- City of Scranton Police: 911 for an emergency, or 570-348-4134
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The Office of Equity and Diversity
570-941-6645
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The Office of Human Resources
570-941-7767
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Dean of Students Office
570-941-7680
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Online Anonymous Reporting
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The University of Scranton Police Department
570-941-7777
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Non-Discrimination/Anti-Harassment Quick Reference Poster
Recognizing and Interrupting Microaggressions
Video Resources Explaining the NDAH Policy, Process and Reporting
- Video: 2020 Changes to Policy and Reporting - Student Body President, Jeffrey Colucci, interviews Elizabeth Garcia, Executive Director of the Office of Equity & Diversity and Special Assistant to the President, on the newly revised and approved Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy.
- Video: Introduction to The Office of Equity and Diversity as a Resource - OED serves as the venue for reporting incidents of discrimination and harassment based upon the protected classes covered in the NDAH policy. Liz Garcia discusses training services offered by OED, how and why to report, the process for handling issues, and the safeguards put in place to prevent retaliation from reporting.