Why is the following language required by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE)? The Title IX mandatory “syllabus language” alerts all faculty and students the sexual misconduct reporting requirements. All PASSHE employees must comply with PASSHE directives to avail themselves of contractual indemnity provisions; therefore, faculty please insert the following language in ALL syllabi.
“Shippensburg University and its faculty are committed to assuring a safe and productive educational environment for all students. In order to comply with the requirements of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the University’s commitment to offering supportive measures in accordance with the 2020 regulations issued under Title IX, the University requires faculty members to report incidents of sexual violence shared by students to the University's Title IX Coordinator at title9@ship.edu or by calling 717-477-1323.
The only exceptions to the faculty member's reporting obligation are when incidents of sexual violence are communicated by a student during: 1. a classroom discussion; 2. in a writing assignment for a class; 3. or as part of a University-approved research project. Faculty members are obligated to report sexual violence or any other abuse of a student who was, or is, a child (a person under 18 years of age) when the abuse allegedly occurred to the person designated in the University protection of minors policy found at https://www.ship.edu/globalassets/administration-finance/policies/101-003-protection-of-minors-policy.pdf
Information regarding the reporting of sexual violence and the resources that are available to victims of sexual violence are set forth at: https://www.ship.edu/globalassets/administration-finance/policies/701-002-sexual-misconduct-policy.pdf and https://www.ship.edu/life/resources/PAGE/links_and_resources/”