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Non-Discrimination & Anti-Harassment

Non-Discrimination Statement

The Â鶹ֱ²¥ is committed to providing an educational, residential, and working environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Members of the Â鶹ֱ²¥ community, applicants for employment or admissions, guests and visitors have the right to be free from harassment or discrimination based on race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sex, pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sex characteristics, sex stereotypes, age, disability, genetic information, national origin, ethnicity, family responsibilities, marital status, veteran or military status, citizenship 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 Â鶹ֱ²¥ prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in its educational, extracurricular, athletic, or other programs or in the context of employment.

The Â鶹ֱ²¥ will promptly address reports of discrimination under the Â鶹ֱ²¥ Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy  or the Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy, Anyone who has questions about the above referenced policies , or wishes to report a possible violation of one of the policies should contact:

Elizabeth M. Garcia
Title IX Coordinator
Office of Institutional Compliance and Title IX

800 Linden St., Scranton, PA 18510
Institute of Molecular Biology & Medicine, Suite 315
elizabeth.garcia2@scranton.edu
(570) 941-6645
scranton.edu/compliance-titleix

Â鶹ֱ²¥ Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy

The Â鶹ֱ²¥ 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 Â鶹ֱ²¥ is dedicated to providing a diverse, inclusive educational, residential, and working environment that is free of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination.

NON-DISCRIMINATION & ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY

Filing a Complaint

Elizabeth M. Garcia, Associate Vice President, Office of Institutional Compliance and Title IX, is responsible for oversight and implementation of the Â鶹ֱ²¥’s Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy.

The Â鶹ֱ²¥ provides individuals the ability to anonymously report incidents of bias, hate, discrimination and harassment pursuant to our Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy and our Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy.
  • Incident Reporting Form:
    • Note: Reporting individuals may use this link to file reports anonymously. Reports made here are received by the Office of Institutional Compliance and Title IX.  All anonymous reports will be reviewed and processed per the Â鶹ֱ²¥'s policy; however, anonymous reports may hamper the Â鶹ֱ²¥’s ability to fully respond.

Resources and Support

In the tradition of our Jesuit institution that strives for excellence, The Â鶹ֱ²¥ 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 Â鶹ֱ²¥ 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.

 Picture of non-discrimination and anti-harassment resource guide.

What is Discrimination?

Discrimination is different treatment with respect to an individual’s employment or participation in an education program or activity based, in whole or in part, upon the individual’s actual or perceived protected characteristic, which includes, race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sex, pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, national origin, ethnicity, family responsibilities, marital status, veteran or military status, citizenship status, or any other status protected by law. Discrimination may include:

  1. Disparate Treatment Discrimination:
    1. Any intentional differential treatment of a person or persons that is based on an individual’s actual or perceived protected characteristics and that:
    2. Excludes an individual from participation in;
    3. Denies the individual benefits of; or
    4. Otherwise adversely affects a term or condition of an individual’s participation in the Â鶹ֱ²¥ program or activity.
  2. Disparate Impact Discrimination:
    1. Disparate impact occurs when policies or practices that appear to be neutral unintentionally result in a disproportionate impact on a protected group or person that:
      1. Excludes an individual from participation in;
      2. Denies the individual benefits of; or
      3. Otherwise adversely affects a term or condition of an individual’s participation in a Â鶹ֱ²¥ program or activity.
  3. Discriminatory Harassment:
    1. Unwelcome conduct on the basis of actual or perceived protected characteristics, that
    2. Based on the totality of the circumstances
    3. Is subjectively and objectively offensive, and
    4. Is so severe or pervasive that it limits or denies a person’s ability to participate or benefit from the Â鶹ֱ²¥’s education or activity.

What is Harassment?

The Â鶹ֱ²¥’s Non-Discrimination and Anti Harassment policy defines discriminatory harassment as

  1. Unwelcome conduct on the basis of actual or perceived protected characteristics, that
  2. Based on the totality of the circumstances
  3. Is subjectively and objectively offensive, and
  4. Is so severe or pervasive
  5. that it limits or denies a person’s ability to participate or benefit from the Â鶹ֱ²¥’s education or activity.

What is a Protected Characteristic, Protected Category or Protected Class?

Under the Â鶹ֱ²¥’s Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy these terms mean any individual characteristic of which harassment or discrimination is prohibited by law or policy. These characteristics include but are not limited to: race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sex, pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, national origin, ethnicity, family responsibilities, marital status, veteran or military status, citizenship status, or any other status protected by applicable law. .

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 Â鶹ֱ²¥ process, both or neither, if you report. Filing a report with the Â鶹ֱ²¥ may not obligate a reporter to open or participate in a formal investigation.  Reporting to the Â鶹ֱ²¥ allows the Â鶹ֱ²¥ 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 Â鶹ֱ²¥ 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 Â鶹ֱ²¥. If you wish to speak with someone for confidential support, please contact one of the Confidential Resources.

Report to the Â鶹ֱ²¥

The Â鶹ֱ²¥ provides individuals the ability to anonymously report incidents of bias, hate, discrimination and harassment.
  • Incident Reporting Form: 
    • Note: Reporting individuals may use this link to file reports anonymously. Reports made here are received by the Office of Institutional Compliance and Title IX.  All anonymous reports will be reviewed and processed per the Â鶹ֱ²¥'s policy; however, anonymous reports may hamper the Â鶹ֱ²¥’s ability to fully respond.
Report to the Police
Incidents of bias, hate, harassment and/or discrimination based on a protected class are not only Â鶹ֱ²¥ policy violations but may also involved crimes.  You are encouraged, but not required, to report these crimes to the police.  
  • 570-941-7777
  • : 911 for an emergency, or 570-348-4134
reporting options for reporting incidents of harassment and discrimination.
Office of Institutional Compliance and Title IX
570-941-6645
The Office of Human Resources
570-941-7767
Dean of Students Office
570-941-7680
Online Anonymous Reporting
The Â鶹ֱ²¥ Police Department
570-941-7777 

© 2026 Â鶹ֱ²¥

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