Reporting and Confidentiality

  1. Title IX
  2. Reporting and Confidentiality

Holy Family University encourages all members of the community to report any incident that violates the University’s Policy Prohibiting Discrimination and Harassment.

The University recognizes that not every person will choose to make a formal report with the University. When consulting campus resources, community members should be aware of confidentiality and mandatory reporting in order to make informed choices.

Holy Family University Incident Reporting

Reporting Prohibited Conduct to the Title IX Coordinator, Deputy Title IX Coordinator, and Nondiscrimination Coordinator

The Title IX Coordinator, Deputy Title IX Coordinator, and Nondiscrimination Coordinator are available to receive Reports or Complaints about conduct that may constitute Discrimination, Harassment, or Retaliation. Title IX Coordinator, Deputy Title IX Coordinator, and Nondiscrimination Coordinator are also available to meet with any individual, including a Complainant, a Respondent, or a third party, to provide information, on- and off-campus resources, and various procedural options. The Title IX Coordinator, Deputy Title IX Coordinator, and Nondiscrimination Coordinator can be reached, and Reports and Complaints can be made, through any of the following channels:

Marianne Price, Dean of Students & Title IX Coordinator
Campus Center Room 209, Philadelphia Main Campus
9801 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114
267-341-3204
titleix@86899805.com | equity@86899805.com

La-Riese Eldridge-Garcia, M.Ed., Associate Dean of Students / Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Campus Center Room 208, Philadelphia Main Campus
9801 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19114
267-341-3281
equity@86899805.com

The University has established an online reporting system to receive complaints of Sex-Based Harassment and other forms of Prohibited Conduct, and the system has the option of reporting anonymously. If you would like to submit an online report, you can do so at the following web address: http://holyfamily-pa.safecollegesincident.com.

Anonymous reports are accepted but can give rise to a need to investigate. The University tries to provide supportive measures to all Complainants, which is impossible with an anonymous report. Because reporting carries no obligation to initiate a formal response, and as the University respects Complainant requests to dismiss complaints unless there is a compelling threat to health and/or safety, the Complainant is largely in control and should not fear a loss of privacy by making a report that allows the University to discuss and/or provide supportive measures.

Internal and External Inquiries

Inquiries about the application of civil rights laws to Holy Family University or questions regarding this Policy may be directed to the Title IX Coordinator and may also be directed externally to the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”), contact for which follows.

Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”)
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20202-1100
Phone: (800) 421-3481
Fax: (202) 453-6012
TDD#: (877) 521-2172
Email: OCR@ed.gov
Web: http://www.ed.gov/ocr

Confidential Resources

Holy Family University encourages all members of the community to report any incident of Prohibited Conduct as promptly as possible so that the University can respond effectively. The University recognizes, however, that not every person will choose to make a Report to the University or with local law enforcement. When consulting campus resources, community members should be aware of confidentiality and mandatory reporting in order to make informed choices. On campus, some resources can offer confidentiality, sharing options and advice without any obligation to tell anyone unless the reporting individual wants them to do so. Other resources are expressly required to report incidents of Prohibited Conduct to the Title IX Coordinator.

Confidential communications are those exchanged with individuals belonging to certain professions (such as healthcare providers, professional counselors, or pastoral counselors) which require maintaining the confidentiality of communications disclosed to the individual in the context of providing professional services. Such individuals cannot disclose the content of those communications, or records of same, to any third party without the disclosing individual’s prior written consent, or if permitted or required by law or relevant professional ethical obligations (such as “duty to warn”). These communications are privileged under Federal or State law.

Employees of the University who serve in such roles (“Confidential Employees”) include the following:

Supervising Clinician, University Clinician and Clinical Coordinator for Crisis Management
Philadelphia Main Campus, Delaney Hall, Center for Wellness & Spirituality
Director of Campus Ministry and University Pastor
Philadelphia Main Campus, Campus Center, Room 224

Also included in the category of Confidential Employees are individuals who conduct human subjects-research studies that have been approved by the Institutional Review Board (“IRB”) and which are designed to gather information about Discrimination, with respect to information disclosed in the course of conducting the approved study.

Confidential Employees are not required to notify the Title IX Coordinator when a person informs them of conduct that may constitute Prohibited Conduct, including Sex Discrimination, if that information is provided while the Confidential Employee is functioning within the scope of their duties to which confidentiality applies.

Importantly, Confidential Employees still must, upon receipt of information about conduct that may constitute Prohibited Conduct:

  • explain that they are a Confidential Employee;
  • provide contact information for the Title IX Coordinator;
  • explain how to report Prohibited Conduct; and
  • inform the disclosing individual that the Title IX Coordinator may be able to offer and coordinate Supportive Measures, as well as initiate an Informal Resolution Process or investigation under the Grievance Procedures.

Mandated Reporters

All Holy Family University employees, including faculty and staff, are Mandated Reporters of Prohibited Conduct. For the avoidance of doubt, volunteer coaches are Mandated Reporters, as are Students who are also employees of the University and/or who serve in the positions of community assistant, orientation leader, and/or graduate assistant.

With the exception of Confidential Employees acting in the scope of their duties to which confidentiality applies, all Holy Family University employees are obligated to promptly report incidents to the Title IX Coordinator. A Mandated Reporter need not have learned of the reportable information from the individual allegedly affected by Prohibited Conduct for it to be reportable. A Mandated Reporter must report information they have received regardless of the manner of receipt, including through a third party. Mandated Reporters are not permitted to make anonymous Reports in order to satisfy their obligations as a Mandated Reporter.

Any questions regarding Mandatory Reporting responsibilities under this Policy should be directed to the Title IX Coordinator.