Discrimination and Harassment

Saint Joseph's Lancaster location is committed to an academic and working environment free from discrimination and harassment. Discrimination and harassment of any nature is prohibited whether based on an individual’s race, color, creed, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, genetic information, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital status, veteran status, disability or physical ability, socioeconomic background, or other legally protected classifications. Sexual harassment, which includes sexual violence, is a form of sex discrimination. The University will not tolerate any type of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct.

Many forms of discrimination and harassment, which are a violation of College policy, are also a violation of Federal civil rights laws and are thus illegal. There are several Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination and harassment in programs or activities that receive Federal funds from the Department of Education. These laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin, sex, disability, and on the basis of age. The Office of Civil Rights (OCR), a division of the U.S. Department of Education, enforces the following laws, which protect all participants in the program from discrimination, including parents (when applicable), students, and employees:

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin;
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including pregnancy and parental status;
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability;
• Age Discrimination Act of 1975, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age (see FAQs for scope of federal protections);
• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability (by public entities, whether or not they receive federal financial assistance).

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act is a federal law that requires colleges and universities to disclose certain timely and annual information about campus crime and security policies. The U.S. Department of Education is responsible for enforcing the Clery Act.

Saint Joseph's in Lancaster encourages any community member (student or employee) who believes they or another individual is being subjected to discrimination and/or harassment to follow the complaint procedures outlined in the university's Discrimination and Harassment policy (see Student Handbook and Employee Handbook). The University will take prompt disciplinary action against individuals, including third parties, who engage in actions that violate this policy.

To make an inquiry, report concerns or file a complaint, please contact the Title IX Coordinator at Saint Joseph's in Lancaster:

Title IX Coordinator
Joseph Peltzer, JD
Director, Compliance and Risk Management
850 Greenfield Road, 2nd floor Stoudt Building
jmpeltzer@PAcollege.edu OR
TitleIX@PAcollege.edu, 717-947-6339

Inquiries may also be referred to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), United States Department of Education. Visit the OCR website for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area or call OCR at 800-421-3481.