About the Office
Seton Hall University Office of EEO and Title IX Compliance Mission:
The Office of EEO and Title IX Compliance is dedicated to furthering the mission of
Seton Hall University while ensuring compliance with all applicable federal and state
laws, regulations, and university policies. Consistent with this mission is to maintain
integrity and to adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct.
The Office of EEO and Title IX Compliance at Seton Hall University was developed:
- Ensuring the institutional perspective and mission is always present;
- Complying with both the letter and spirit of the law, statutes, regulations and university policies in achieving institutional compliance;
- Providing education, training and guidance to all employees and faculty to meet increasingly complex statutory and regulatory requirements under the law;
- Addressing and Investigating Workplace Justice Issues and Complaints;
- Enforcing the University's Policy Against Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Harassment and Retaliation;
- Enforcing the University's Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation;
- Enforcing the University's Nondiscrimination Title IX Statement;
- Enforcing the University's Whistleblower Policy;
- Developing institutional policies that are in line with best practices;
- Providing an additional mechanism for reporting allegations of misconduct through our partnership with EthicsPoint.
From an organizational standpoint, the Office of EEO and Title IX Compliance reports directly to the Office of General Counsel. The Chief Equity, Diversity and Compliance Officer assists the Executive Cabinet in supporting and enhancing several University programs and activities.
In today’s world of increasing governmental legislation involving discrimination, harassment and retaliation an institutional compliance program is widely recognized within higher education as industry best practice. Our compliance program also provides governance as to how ethical conduct and integrity should be promoted within the University community.
Given the rising standard for public accountability, the compliance program enables the University, its faculty, administrators, staff and students to better understand the University’s policies and procedures prohibiting discrimination, harassment and retaliation and for reporting such conduct.
Seton Hall is a diverse community guided by the values which proclaim the dignity and rights of all people. In keeping with this principle, the Office of EEO and Title IX Compliance operates within the parameters of the law and has identified the following components as essential elements of the University Office of EEO and Title IX Compliance program:
1. Compliance with Federal, State, and local laws as well as University policies:
In keeping with the principle that Seton Hall University is guided by values which
proclaim the dignity and rights of all people, the Office of EEO and Title IX Compliance
operates within the parameters of the law at all times and is mandated to enforce
the law and University policy. Please see the reference chart below for your review
of federal regulatory compliance. See more about the compliance with Governmental Statutes and Regulations »
2. Education and Training:
In an effort to educate and train all employees and faculty members pertaining to
areas with increased legal regulation, Seton Hall University has contracted with Vector
Solutions to provide online tutorials for employees and faculty members of the university. The
training is required compliance training for all employees. See More »
3. Policy Development:
Due to the regulatory nature of compliance programs it may be necessary to evaluate
current University policy in light of new legal developments or new regulations and
develop new policies. Furthermore, the development of new policy may evolve to minimize
present and/or future risk or liability for the University. The Office of EEO and
Title IX Compliance is involved in drafting policies that will better safeguard the
University and the community at large.
4. Internal Complaints (Complaints Based Upon Membership in a Protected Class) and Title
IX Complaints:
The University supports and implements all state and federal anti-discrimination laws,
including Executive Order 11246 as amended, which prohibits discrimination in employment
by institutions with federal contracts; Titles VI and VII of the 1964 Civil Rights
Act, which prohibits discrimination against students and all employees on the basis
of race, color, religion, national origin or sex; Title IX of the Education Amendments
of 1972, which prohibits discrimination against students and all employees on the
basis of sex; the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Rehabilitation Assistance Act of 1974, which
requires affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified disabled
veterans of the Vietnam Era; the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which prohibits discrimination
in salaries; the Age Discrimination in Employment Acts of 1967 and 1975, which prohibit
discrimination on the basis of age; as well as Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which prohibit discrimination
on the basis of disability; and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, N.J.S.A.
10:5-1, et.seq.
No person may be denied employment or related benefits or admission to the University or to any of its programs or activities, either academic or nonacademic, curricular or extracurricular, because of race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, gender, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, handicap and disability, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, service in the Armed Forces of the United States, or status as a veteran of the Vietnam Era. All executives, administrators, faculty and staff are responsible for individual and unit support of Seton Hall University’s Equal Employment Opportunity programs. EEO policies are to be applied in all decisions regarding hiring, promotion, retention, tenure, compensation, benefits, layoffs, academic programs, and social and recreational programs. The University reserves its right to administer all policies and programs in accordance with our Catholic mission and the teachings of the Catholic Church.
The Chief Equity, Diversity and Compliance Officer is responsible for investigating complaints involving internal complaints (complaints based upon membership in a protected class) and Title IX complaints. These complaints include sexual harassment and discrimination that may arise under anti-discrimination laws such as Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination as well as violation of University policies. The University Policy Against Sexual Misconduct, Sexual Harassment and Retaliation the University Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation apply to all University students, faculty, administrators, staff members and employees, as well as vendors and guests on or off campus.
The Office of EEO and Title IX Compliance promulgates Guidelines for Responding to Complaints of Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation for procedures in conducting investigations complaints involving internal complaints (complaints based upon membership in a protected class) and Title IX complaints. The investigation guidelines operate to protect the integrity of the process and the rights of the person filing the complaint and the charged party.
Comparable to both federal and state law, the University enforces and adheres to a non-retaliation policy which protects all individuals who file complaints and all individuals who participate in the investigator process as witnesses. Retaliation against an individual who has made a claim of discrimination or an individual who participates as a witness is prohibited. Retaliation will subject an individual to disciplinary action.
5. Communication with the University Community:
The Chief Equity, Diversity and Compliance Officer communicates with the University
community concerning the Office of EEO and Title IX Compliance via new employee orientations,
new faculty orientations, departmental training, and maintenance of the compliance
website.
6. Compliance with Federal and State Whistleblower Act: Ethics Point Initiative
EthicsPoint is a confidential web-based tool to assist employees in reporting misconduct
in the workplace. See more about the Ethics Point Initiative »
Should you have any questions pertaining to the Office of EEO and Title IX Compliance please contact me at (973) 313-6132. Welcome to Seton Hall University!