Title IX
PCA&D aspires to be a college environment that is free of discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual violence. Allegations of gender discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual violence, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and other sexual misconduct are serious and are acted upon accordingly.
The foundation of our processes are providing supportive measures, conducting fair, impartial, and prompt investigations, respect for the privacy of the parties, and a commitment to due process. It is our goal that anyone who reports an experience of gender discrimination, sexual harassment, or other forms of prohibited sex-based harassment or is engaged in a college behavioral process knows their rights, is connected to resources and options, is treated fairly, and that our educational and training efforts will support an educational and working environment free from gender and sex-based discrimination.
Laws that inform PCA&D Title IX Practices
Like other campuses across the country, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design is required to comply with a multitude of federal laws regarding sexual violence response:
- The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (20 USC § 1092(f)) is the landmark federal law, originally known as the Campus Security Act, that requires colleges and universities across the United States to disclose information about crime on and around their campuses. The law is tied to an institution’s participation in federal student financial aid programs and it applies to most institutions of higher education both public and private. The Act is enforced by the United States Department of Education.
- The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level.
- Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity that receives federal funding. Sex discrimination includes sexual harassment, sexual battery, sexual assault, and rape. Title IX applies to all public and private educational institutions receiving federal financial assistance.
Title IX Trainings
Title IX Coordinator: Michele Wherley, Human Resources Manager
To review the below training materials, please email titleix@pcad.edu.
D. Stafford & Associates (2019). Title IX coordinator and investigator training class. Presented at the Association of Independent College and Universities Title IX Training.
AAED – American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity. (2020). Listening session on Title IX sexual misconduct regulations. Presented as a part of the AAAED Listening Session series.
ATIXA: The Association of Title IX Administrators (2020). 2020 Title IX regs: Commitment beyond compliance for colleges and universities. Presented as part of ATIXA’s R3: 2020 Regs Rapid Response webinar series.
ATIXA: The Association of Title IX Administrators (2020) 1P 2P Policy Regulations. The 2020 ATIXA Interim Sexual Harassment Model Policies and Procedures.
D. Stafford & Associates (2020). Title IX final rule release: What campus leaders need to know. Presented as part of the Association of Independent College and Universities Webinar Series.
Morris, L. (2020). How to meet Title IX training requirements in 2020. Presented as part of ATIXA’s R3: 2020 Regs Rapid Response Webinar Series.
NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (2020). Expanding the frame: Institutional responses to students accused of sexual misconduct. Presented as part of the NASPA Webinar Series.
NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (2020). The use of restorative justice in sexual misconduct cases. Presented as part of the NASPA Webinar Series.