Title IX
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”) prohibits discrimination based on sex and gender in educational programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. Such programs include recruitment, admissions, financial aid and scholarships, athletics, course offerings and access, hiring and retention, and benefits and leave. Title IX also protects students and employees from unlawful sexual harassment (including sexual violence) in university programs and activities. In compliance with Title IX, the university prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sex in employment as well as in all programs and activities.
The university’s Title IX coordinator monitors compliance with Title IX and its accompanying regulations. Individuals with questions or concerns about Title IX and/or those who wish to file a complaint of noncompliance may contact the Title IX coordinator or deputy coordinators: The university’s Title IX coordinator is Director of Employee Relations Alison Kiss Dougherty, One University Place, Chester, PA 19013; tel. 610-499-1301; email akdougherty@widener.edu. The university has also appointed several deputy Title IX coordinators: For students on the Chester, PA, campus and Extended Learning students: Assistant Dean for Student Development and Engagement Catherine Feminella, One University Place, Chester, PA 19013; tel. 610-499-4392; e-mail cafeminella@widener.edu; or Chief of Campus Safety Kevin Raport, tel. 302-477-2202; e-mail kjraport@widener.edu. For students and employees on the Wilmington, DE, campus: Dean of Students Susan Goldberg, Widener University Delaware Law School, 4601 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803; tel. 302-477-2173; e-mail slgoldberg@widener.edu. For students and employees on the Harrisburg, PA, campus: Supervising Attorney and Director, of Student Organizations Mary Catherine Scott, Widener University Commonwealth Law School, 3800 Vartan Way, Harrisburg, PA 17106; tel. 717-541-0320; e-mail mcscott9055@widener.edu.
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is the division of the federal government charged with enforcing compliance with Title IX. Information regarding OCR can be found at: www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html. Questions about Title IX may be directed to OCR as well as to the university’s Title IX coordinator or deputy coordinators.
University Policy
It is the policy of Widener University not to discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, pregnancy status, age, race, national origin or ethnicity, religion, disability, status as a veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or genetic information in its educational programs, admissions policies, employment practices, financial aid, or other school-administered programs or activities. This policy is enforced under various federal and state laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended by the Civil Rights Act of 1991, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Further, in compliance with state and federal laws, Widener University will provide the following information upon request: (a) copies of documents pertinent to the university’s accreditations, approvals, or licensing by external agencies or governmental bodies; (b) reports on crime statistics and information on safety policies and procedures; and (c) information regarding gender equity relative to intercollegiate athletic programs—Contact: Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance, Widener University, One University Place, Chester, PA 19013; tel. 610-499-4151. Comments or requests for information regarding services and resources for disabled students should be directed to: Director of Disability Services, Widener University, One University Place, Chester, PA 19013; tel. 610-499-1266; or Dean of Students, Widener University Delaware Law School, P.O. Box 7474, Wilmington, DE 19803; tel. 302-477-2173.
This publication contains information, policies, procedures, regulations, and requirements that were correct at the time of publication. In keeping with the educational mission of the university, the information, policies, procedures, regulations, and requirements contained herein are continually being reviewed, changed, and updated. Consequently, this document cannot be considered binding and must be used solely as an informational guide. Students are responsible for keeping informed of official policies and meeting all relevant requirements.
The university reserves the right and authority at any time to alter any or all of the statements contained herein, to modify the requirements for admission and graduation, to change or discontinue programs of study, to amend any regulation or policy affecting the student body, to increase tuition and fees, to deny admission, to revoke an offer of admission, and to dismiss from the university any student at any time, if it is deemed by the university to be in the best interest of the university, the university community, or the student to do so. The provisions of this publication are subject to change without notice, and nothing in this publication may be considered as setting forth terms of a contract between a student or a prospective student and Widener University.
Published by the Office of University Relations, August 2018.
Member, Association for Continuing Higher Education
Profile
Widener University is a private, metropolitan university that connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention, leadership development, and experiential learning are key components of the Widener experience. A comprehensive doctorate-granting university, Widener is comprised of seven schools and colleges that offer liberal arts and sciences and professional and pre-professional curricula leading to associate’s, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. The university’s campuses in Chester and Harrisburg, PA, and Wilmington, DE, serve more than 6,000 students. For more information, go to www.widener.edu.
History
Widener was founded in 1821 as a preparatory school for boys in Wilmington, Delaware. The institution moved to Pennsylvania in 1862 and was granted collegiate powers and privileges via universal charter by the Pennsylvania legislature. From 1892 to 1972, it was known as Pennsylvania Military College, though it had officially become PMC Colleges in 1966 when a nonmilitary, coeducational component was added. The name Widener College was adopted and the Corps of Cadets disbanded in 1972. Graduate programs were introduced in 1967, and the School of Law acquired in 1975. In recognition of its comprehensive offerings, Widener College became Widener University in 1979. Today, Widener is a three-campus university offering more than 150 programs of study.
Accreditations
Widener University’s graduate programs are additionally accredited by the following: AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (School of Business Administration), American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (Center for Human Sexuality Studies), American Bar Association (School of Law), American Psychological Association (Doctor of Psychology; Clinical Psychology Internship), Commission on Accreditation for Healthcare Management Education (MBA in Healthcare Management), Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (Doctor of Physical Therapy), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (School of Nursing), Commission on Continuing Legal Education of the Supreme Court of Delaware (Delaware Law School), Council on Social Work Education (Center for Social Work Education), National Association for Education of Young Children (Child Development Center), National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Educators (Center for Education), Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (School of Nursing), Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board of the Supreme Court (Commonwealth Law School), Pennsylvania Department of Education (Center for Education), Pennsylvania Department of Welfare (Child Development Center), Pennsylvania Private School Board (Center for Education).
Honor Societies
National and international honor societies with chapters at Widener are Alpha Chi, scholastic honor society; Alpha Mu Gamma, modern languages; Alpha Phi Sigma, criminal justice; Alpha Psi Omega, dramatics; Alpha Sigma Lambda, adult student honor society; Beta Alpha Psi, financial information professionals; Beta Beta Beta, biology; Beta Gamma Sigma, AACSB-accredited business programs; Chi Alpha Epsilon, academic development; Eta Sigma Delta, hospitality management; Kappa Delta Pi, education; Gamma Eta Rho, human sexuality; Iota Iota Iota, gender and women’s studies; Kappa Theta Epsilon, cooperative education; Lambda Pi Eta, communication studies; Omega Chi Epsilon, chemical engineering; Omicron Delta Epsilon, economics; Omicron Delta Kappa, leadership; Phi Alpha, social work; Phi Alpha Theta, history; Phi Beta Delta, international scholars; Phi Eta Sigma, freshman honor society; Phi Kappa Phi, scholastic honor society; Phi Lambda Upsilon, chemistry; Pi Gamma Mu, social science; Pi Sigma Alpha, political science; Psi Chi, psychology; Sigma Pi Sigma, physics; Sigma Tau Delta, English; Sigma Theta Tau, nursing; Tau Beta Pi, engineering; School of Business Administration Honors Program; School of Nursing Honors Program; and Widener University Honors Program in General Education.
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