Dear Colleagues:
With the start of a new semester and new academic year, I would like to take this opportunity to remind all employees of Lehigh’s policies on harassment and non-discrimination and to provide information about how to report related incidents.
Lehigh University is committed to providing an educational, working, co-curricular, social, and living environment for all students, staff, and faculty that is free from harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, bias, retaliation, and other prohibited sex-based misconduct.
Policy on Harassment and Non-Discrimination
As you have an opportunity, please review the University’s Policy on Harassment and Non-Discrimination, which can be found at lehigh.edu/go/harassmentpolicy.
***Annual Required Training***
To remind the University community about the behavior that constitutes harassment, the completion of an online training program will again be required of all students, faculty, and staff. More information on the online training program will be provided later in the year.
Additional courses, programs, and experiences are available through Human Resources’ Cornerstones of Community career enrichment track. The goal of providing these learning opportunities in addition to the required online training program is to build a community that exemplifies the Principles of our Equitable Community, including preventing and addressing all forms of harassment and discrimination. The Cornerstones of Community courses are available for all faculty and staff members.
Responsibility to Report Incidents
As members of the Lehigh community, we all share a responsibility to contribute to a culture that is welcoming, inclusive, and safe for everyone. All faculty, staff, administrators, teaching assistants, research assistants, Gryphons, and other University representatives must report incidents of harassment or discrimination, including incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and domestic violence that are brought to their attention by students or that are reported to them or witnessed by them involving students. Sexual harassment includes sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and domestic violence.
In addition, faculty or staff members serving in a supervisory capacity must report such incidents immediately that are brought to their attention by any member of the University community, including visitors.
Harassment, discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, and other prohibited sex-based misconduct that occurs online or through other electronic means must also be reported.
How to Report Incidents
Reports of harassment, discrimination, bias, retaliation, sexual harassment (including sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and domestic violence) or other prohibited sex-based misconduct should be made to the Lehigh University Police Department at 610-758-4200 or to the Equal Opportunity Compliance Coordinator, Karen A. Salvemini, at 610-758-3535. Reports can also be made by utilizing the appropriate online reporting forms, available at lehigh.edu/go/harassment and at lehigh.edu/go/genderviolencereport.
Detailed reporting information, including links for the online reporting forms, is available in this one-page reference guide. This guide can be displayed in your office to serve as a resource for you, students, and colleagues and visitors who visit your office.
If a student signals that they wish the conversation to remain confidential, please remind the student that you are a required to report and that there are confidential resources available to students on and off campus. The confidential resources for students, faculty, and staff are located on the reporting poster.
As always, thank you for your part in fostering a welcoming community here at Lehigh. Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have any questions or concerns.
Karen A. Salvemini
Equal Opportunity Compliance Coordinator & Title IX Coordinator