Responsible Office: Human Resources
Policy Administrator: VP for Finance and Administration
Scope: |Faculty |Staff

Approved By: President's Council

Approved Date: 11/1/2011

Effective Date: 11/1/2011

Category: Faculty and Staff

Description/Purpose:

Protection of Minors

Details:

Saint Francis University places the highest emphasis on the safety and wellbeing of its students, faculty and staff. The University places the same emphasis on the safety and wellbeing of its campus visitors and particularly those visitors who are minors. Minors may visit the campus for various reasons, including but not limited to, as students or prospective students, as patients, or as part of an athletic camp or program. The protection of minors, especially from physical or sexual abuse, is a core value of Saint Francis University, and every member of the campus community has an obligation to comply with the provisions of this policy.

1. Duty to Report: Every member of the University community has an immediate obligation to report suspected instances of the abuse of minors. This includes instances of suspected abuse committed on or off campus by members of our campus community or suspected abuse on campus by any visitors. A valid report means conveying all relevant information regarding the suspected abuse to the University Police to insure that an appropriate investigation is initiated. Failure by any member of the University community to report information related to suspected abuse of a minor, immediately to University Police may result in discipline up to and including termination for employees and dismissal for students. Failure of University Police to initiate a timely and appropriate investigation may result in discipline up to and including termination. No retaliation is permitted against someone who reports an incident.

2. Consequences of Abuse: Any University employee who is convicted of the abuse of a minor may be terminated, whether the abuse occurred on or off campus. Any employee against whom a credible accusation of abuse of a minor has been made as determined by a preponderance of the evidence, on or off campus, is subject to University discipline up to and including termination. Any student of the University who is convicted of abuse, on or off campus, may be dismissed from the University. Any student of the University against whom a credible accusation has been made as determined by a preponderance of the evidence, on or off campus, is subject to discipline up to and including dismissal.

3. Contact and Reporting Information: University Police 814-472-3360.

 If there is an emergency, immediately call 911 for medical assistance. 911 will contact University Police.

Approved by the President's Council - November 30, 2011