Title IX

Alvernia University is committed to fostering a living, learning, and working environment free of discrimination and harassment. Alvernia University is subject to Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”), 20 U.S.C. §§1681, et seq., which states that no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Alvernia University does not discriminate on the basis of sex and will not tolerate sexual misconduct in any form, including as defined by Title IX. 

For questions or concerns, students, faculty, and staff should contact your respective Title IX Coordinators as noted below:

For Students: 

Kimberly Lemon 
Executive Director of Community Standards
University Life
610.796.5508
kimberly.lemon@alvernia.edu 

For Faculty and Staff: 

Michelle Schilling, SHRM-CP
Human Resources Manager
Human Resources
610.790.2857
Michelle.Schilling@alvernia.edu 

University Address:

400 Saint Bernardine St.
Reading, PA 19607
 

Alvernia University is a Catholic, Franciscan institution of higher education committed to excellence in teaching, learning, scholarship, and service. Alvernia’s Core Values of Service, Humility, Peacemaking, Contemplation and Collegiality stand in direct opposition to any form of sexual harassment, sexual violence, stalking and intimate partner violence. Such acts are an affront to human dignity and fundamentally at odds with the Franciscan Core Values and the Mission of Alvernia University. Ultimately, each member of the University community is expected to assume responsibility for his/her conduct, to report behaviors that may violate this policy, and to take reasonable and prudent actions to prevent or stop acts of sexual harassment, sexual violence, stalking or intimate partner violence.

Read Alvernia's sexual harassment policy.

For information on training materials, visit the Association of Title IX Administrators website.
 

Transgender Students

Alvernia University strives to provide a safe and supportive environment that will help students succeed academically and socially. To that end, the University promotes respect for all people. A student who identifies as transgender may contact the Title IX and Clery Act Officer, as identified above. The Officer will extend an invitation to meet with the student (and the student’s family, with the student’s consent) to identify the needs and desires of the student with respect to the specific rights afforded under Title IX. The Officer will ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to provide for the safety, well-being, and general welfare of the student and will notify other university administrators and faculty on a need-to-know basis.
 

Grievances

Grievances brought by students against other students will be addressed through our Community Standards process. (See Community Standards chapter in the Student Handbook.) The faculty, staff, and student employee grievance process is addressed in the Employee Handbook, and outlined in the Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy, which applies to all faculty, staff, and students.