gwynedd mercy university's s title ix coordinator is:
robert wood
215-646-7300 ext. 21140
wood.r@gmercyu.edu.
connelly faculty center, room #114
gwynedd mercy university sexual misconduct policy (pdf)
sexual misconduct report form
frequently asked questions
resources
title ix of the education amendments act of 1972 is a federal law that states:
"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."
title ix notice of nondiscrimination:
as a recipient of federal funds, gwynedd mercy university is required to comply with title ix of the higher education amendments of 1972, 20 u.s.c. § 1681 et seq. (“title ix”), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs or activities, admission and employment. under certain circumstances, sexual misconduct constitutes sexual discrimination prohibited by title ix. in addition, the university complies with section 304 of the violence against women reauthorization act of 2013 (“vawa”).
the university complies with title ix of the education amendments of 1972(title ix) and its underlying regulations, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities.
if you are in need of assistance due to sexual harassment or sexual misconduct, here’s how we can help:
resources: if you need information on counseling, health or related services our staff can provide referrals to both on and off-campus providers.
interim measures: examples of these measures include but are not limited to, a change in housing assignments for students, a no-contact- order for students, faculty or staff, or other interim measures as related to your title ix concern. we are able to help you with those processes.
reporting: if you wish to file a formal complaint, are not sure of what action to take, are seeking advice as to how to proceed the title ix office can walk you through the options available and provide contacts with the appropriate offices.
inquiries concerning the application of title ix and vawa may be referred to the university’s title ix coordinator or to the u.s. department of education’s office for civil rights.
gwynedd mercy’s title ix coordinator is:
robert wood
215-646-7300 ext. 21140
wood.r@gmercyu.edu.
connelly faculty center, room #114
definitions according to the gwynedd mercy university sexual misconduct policy:
sexual assault: sexual assault is any type of sexual conduct or contact that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient
nonconsensual sexual intercourse: any sexual penetration (anal, oral, vaginal) however slight, with any object or body part by a person of any gender, age, or sexual orientation, that is without consent.
nonconsensual sexual contact: any intentional sexual touching that is without consent, however slight, with any object or body part by a person of any gender, age, or sexual orientation.
consent: consent is an informed decision made freely and actively by all parties. conduct will be considered “without consent” if no clear consent, verbal or nonverbal, is given. because sexual misconduct is defined as sexual activity that is undertaken without consent, each participant must obtain and give consent to each sexual act.
incapacitation: incapacitated persons cannot give consent. one who is incapacitated as a result of alcohol or other drug consumption (voluntarily or involuntarily), or who is unconscious, unaware, or otherwise helpless, is incapable of giving consent. one must not engage in sexual activity with another whom one knows (or should reasonably know) to be incapacitated. physically incapacitated persons are considered incapable of giving effective consent when they lack the ability to appreciate the fact that the situation is sexual, and/or cannot rationally and reasonably appreciate the nature and extent of that situation.
sexual exploitation: sexual exploitation occurs when a person takes non-consensual or unjust sexual advantage of another for their own advantage or benefit, or to benefit another person than the one being exploited.
definitions according to the gwynedd mercy university sexual misconduct policy:
dating violence is defined as abuse committed by a person, past or present, involved in a social, sexual, or romantic relationship with the victim. dating violence can include a range of behaviors that may include physical violence, sexual violence, emotional violence, and economic violence.
dating violence can include:
definitions according to the gwynedd mercy university sexual misconduct policy:
domestic violence is defined as abuse committed by a current or former spouse of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse or someone similarly situated to a spouse, or by any other person from whom the victim is protected under the domestic or family violence laws.
domestic violence can include:
definitions according to the gwynedd mercy university sexual misconduct policy:
sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other harassing conduct of a sexual nature whether intentional or not. the unwanted conduct can be verbal, non-verbal, graphic, gestures, or physical. sexual harassment occurs when the conditions for (1) and/or (2), below, are present:
gender based harassment includes harassment based on gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity which may include acts of intimidation, aggression, or hostility, whether verbal, non-verbal, graphic, physical or otherwise, even if the acts do not involve conduct of a sexual nature, when the conductions for (1) and/or (2), below, are present:
(1) quid pro quo: this for that
(2) hostile environment:
it may be hard to know what say when you learn that someone you know has experienced sexual assault, relationship violence or stalking. these suggestions will encourage and benefit the victim survivor in a supportive way that can help them feel less isolated and safer.
lgbtqia individuals experience rates of sexual violence higher than people who identify as heterosexual. reporting sexual violence as a lgbtqia individual can bring additional difficulties as reporting may raise concerns regarding disclosure during the reporting process. these are very real concerns but we strongly encourage you to seek the support and resources available to you on campus and in the community.
resources for lgbtqia individuals include:
here is additional information for families of sexual violence survivors.
as a faculty or staff member, you are in the position of being able to offer help and advise students who may disclose sexual violence to you.
how to help a student if they disclose:
clery act
gwynedd mercy university complies with the clery act which requires all campus security authorities, those who have significant responsibility for student activities such as club advisors, resident assistants, coaches to report to university public safety allegations of clery act crimes, including dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. the university will issue campus timely warnings if a report is timely and there is a reasonable belief someone else may be the target of the same offender(s).
title ix syllabi statement (pdf)
gywnedd mercy university provides the following resources and services on campus to support victim survivors of sexual violence.
if you are in need of help please contact one of the numbers below:
counseling services: 215-641-5571, ext. 21571
campus ministry: 215-646-7300, ext. 21590
health and wellness center: 215-646-7300, ext. 21486
office of public safety: 215-641-5522, ext. 1111
title ix coordinator: 215-646-7300, ext. 21140
*please note: when using a campus phone you must first dial 9 on campus to obtain an outside line
the office of public safety at gwynedd mercy university is committed to the safety and security of our students, faculty, staff and visitors. our primary concern is to nurture and sustain a safe environment for you to learn, live and work.
on campus:
for emergencies:
215-641-5522 ext. 21111
for non-urgent matters
215-646-7300, ext. 21522.
local law enforcement:
lower gwynedd township police department
215-646-5303
north wales borough police department
215-699-9279
philadelphia police department center city 6th district
215-686-3060
bensalem police department
215-639-3700
victim’s services center montgomery county
610-277-0932
24 hour hotline: 1-888-521-0983
woman against rape (woar)
215-985-3315
24 hour hotline: 215-985-3333
laurel house
610-277-1860
philadelphia sexual assault response center
215-425-1625
network of victim assistance (nova)
215-343-6543
24 hour hotline: 1-800-675-6900
rape, abuse, and incest national network (rainn)
1-800-656-4673
national domestic violence (ndv)
hotline: 1-800-799-7233
what happened is not your fault. please do not try to handle it alone. get to a safe place. get some support. tell someone. call a friend. get medical help. call a hotline i.e. rainn, 1-800-656-4673; woar, 215-985-3333; nova, 1-800-675-6900; vsc montgomery county, 1-888-521-0983.
please consider calling the police, the counseling center, or the university's title ix coordinator. you do not need to pursue a complaint, but these individuals can help you obtain the services you may need.
robert g. wood title ix coordinator certifications and trainings (pdf)
you can also access atixa training materials here.
the following members of gmercyu’s title ix team are conducting training with suny student conduct institute: