Title IX

The University of Pennsylvania is committed to providing learning, living and working environments that are free from discrimination on the basis of sex for students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors. Penn’s Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action and Sexual Misconduct Policies (PDF) are among the policies and procedures that support the University's commitment to inclusive excellence.

The Associate Vice President for Equity and Title IX Officer is available to provide information and advice regarding Title IX for students, faculty, staff and campus visitors. In addition, they will be available to respond to complaints and concerns relative to Penn’s compliance with its own sex discrimination policy and federal, state or local regulations.

The following campus resource offices are available to assist members of the Penn community and visitors to the campus and provide information regarding options for support and counseling as well as options to file a complaint.

• Office of the Associate Vice President for Equality and Title IX Officer (student, faculty, staff or visitor)
• African-American Resource Center (staff, faculty, or visitors)
• Office of the Chaplain (students, staff, faculty, or visitors)
• Student Health and Wellness (students)
• Employee Assistance Program, Behavioral Health, School of Medicine (staff or faculty)
• Office of Staff & Labor Relations in the Division of Human Resources (staff or faculty)
• LGBT Center (students, staff, or faculty)
• Office of the Ombuds (students, staff, faculty)
• Office of the Provost, Faculty Affairs (faculty)
• Penn Violence Prevention (students)
• Penn Women's Center (students, staff, or faculty)
• Special Services Department, Division of Public Safety (students, staff, faculty, or visitors)
• Public Health and Wellbeing  (students)
• Student Intervention Services (students)
• Vice Provost for University Life (students)

Rights of Complainants and Respondents

Persons who make a complaint and those who are responding to complaints have the following rights:

• The option to notify law enforcement;
• The option to have an advisor, including an attorney the party has retained, present during interviews that are part of a University-initiated investigation;
• To be notified of counseling and support services available;
• To be notified of options to change academic, living, or work arrangements.

Policy Against Retaliation

University policy expressly prohibits retaliation against faculty, staff, or students who in good faith make reports of violations of the University's Sexual Misconduct Policy. In addition, knowingly and intentionally making a false report of a violation of the University's policy is prohibited. Members of the Penn community who take adverse action against someone who reports a violation of the Sexual Misconduct Policy, intimidates, threatens or otherwise engages in retaliation is subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of their employment or expulsion from the University.

Confidentiality

Conversations with the Associate Vice President for Equality and Title IX Officer are kept as private as possible, but information about incidents of sexual misconduct must be shared with relevant administrators if the University needs to take action for reasons of community safety. In all cases, the wishes of the person initiating the conversation are given full consideration.

Related Penn Policies

• Sexual Misconduct Policy (PDF)
• Principles of Responsible Conduct
• Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Policy

Title IX Officer

Michele Rovinsky-Mayer, AVP & Title IX Officer
3901 Walnut Street, Suite 320
Philadelphia, PA 19104-3682
Tel: (215) 898-2887
Fax: (215) 898-3770
titleIXofficer@upenn.edu