Title IX Office

Welcome to the Title IX Office

Thiel College is committed to creating educational programming for a diverse audience, providing a variety of supportive measures, conducting impartial and trauma-informed investigations of complaints, facilitating informal resolutions, and ensuring compliance with state and federal mandates. We invite campus members to increase their awareness, prevent violence where they can, and foster a culture of safety and respect.

Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm and additional hours when necessary

Welcome to the Title IX Office
Notice of Non-discrimination
Sexual Misconduct Title IX Policy (PDF)
GET HELP – Immediate Assistance/Resources
Report an Incident and Complaint Resolution
Education and Outreach
Training and Compliance
Contact Us
Clery Report (PDF)

Notice of Nondiscrimination

Thiel College does not discriminate against any person based on actual or perceived race, color, gender (including gender expression and gender identity), sex, sexual orientation, religious belief, national origin, ethnicity, genetic information, pregnancy, familial status, marital status, veteran status, age, or disability as those terms are defined under applicable law. This policy of nondiscrimination applies in connection with admission to and participation in all programs and activities sponsored by Thiel College and to all employment practices of Thiel College.

GET HELP - Immediate Assistance/Resources

For Immediate Help

If you or someone you know is the victim of sexual harassment, sexual violence/assault, or domestic violence/intimate partner violence, please reach out to one of the resources below for immediate assistance. IF THIS IS AN EMERGENCY CALL 911.

Thiel College Department of Public Safety/Police

The Thiel Police Officers are commissioned police officers in State of Pennsylvania, qualified under Acts 120 and 235 who undergo regular in-service training (including training on response to incidents of sexual misconduct). The officers are empowered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to enforce laws, make arrests and prosecute violators on property owned or controlled by the College and the immediately adjacent streets and properties.

Land Phone: (724) 589-2222
Cell Phone: (724) 456-4058
Hours of Operation: 24 hours a day/7 days a week
Location: 2^nd Floor of the Howard Miller Student Center
Thiel College Website - Public Safety

Victim Advocacy

Victims of sexual, dating, domestic violence and stalking are urged to consult confidentially with a victim advocate at the AWARE of Mercer County.

AWARE is committed to providing education, support and advocacy for all people in Mercer County impacted by domestic violence, abuse (emotional or physical), and sexual violence. AWARE serves as the primary victim’s advocacy group for the county, and the College works closely with AWARE in some situations of sexual misconduct or abuse.

Phone: (724) 342-4934
24 Hour Hotline: (888)-981-1457
Location: 109 S. Sharpsville Ave., Suite D, Sharon, PA 16146, but AWARE will send advocates to campus
Mercer County AWARE Website

Campus Health and Wellness Services

If you feel you are a victim of a sexual assault, the Health and Wellness Center in Howard Miller Student Center has licensed counselors and a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner available to help facilitate access to the appropriate resources for students.

The Student Health Center provides medical care to students. The health center sees students for a variety of reasons and refers students as needed. Students do not need an appointment. During the regular academic year, the office is staffed by a certified registered nurse practitioner.

Contact Health Services at 724-589 2195
Health Services is open Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Thiel Police are available 24 hours a day for emergency assistance.

The Counseling Center is in the Wellness Center and offers short-term counseling to all Thiel College students. The counseling center services are free and confidential to all students. You can reach the Thiel College Counseling Center at (724) 589-2754 for an appointment or it can be scheduled through Student Life at (724) 589-2125. The hours of operation are Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. A Counselor is available through our Thiel Police or Residence Life Departments, should a crisis occur in off hours.

Public Safety is available to provide emergency care and transportation to an emergency room when the office is closed. You can reach Public Safety at (724) 589-2222.

Report an Incident and Complaint Resolution

Reporting and Complaint Resolution

The Thiel College Community takes the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff very seriously. Thiel offers a variety of resources and services to anyone who is concerned about sexual harassment. One of the first things you may want to know is whether your conversation will be private. This will depend on your choice of confidant. Before disclosing specific information about your concern, be sure to ask the person if the conversation can be kept confidential.

If you choose to talk to a friend, fellow student, or work colleague your conversation may not be held in confidence. In fact, Thiel employees have an obligation to notify the Title IX Office of concerns of harassing behavior that they either witness or are told about.

A note about confidentiality

All reasonable steps will be taken to safeguard privacy and confidentiality. Some federal and state laws limit the level of confidentiality that can be maintained. It is always a good idea to review this subject before sharing the details of your concern. In special situations, reporting may be required.

Procedures for Complaints

Upon receiving a report, Thiel College will adhere to Title IX regulations and its own policy. Thiel College's procedures ensure equitable treatment of both complainants and respondents.

The College will conduct a safety risk assessment and act accordingly. (See the section “Emergency Removal” in the full Sexual Misconduct Title IX Policy).

The procedures guarantee a prompt, fair, and unbiased investigation, and resolution, considering all relevant evidence, whether inculpatory or exculpatory. Credibility judgments are independent of the roles of complainant, respondent, or witness.

All involved parties must demonstrate impartiality and absence of bias throughout the process. The respondent is presumed not responsible until a determination is reached at the end of the Title IX investigation and hearing process.

Submit a Title IX Incident Report

The Title IX Incident Report Form may be submitted by any person who would like to inform the College that an incident occurred which may constitute sexual harassment, sexual violence, or sex discrimination. This form may be submitted anonymously. If you have questions about how to complete the form, please contact the Deputy Title IX Coordinator at 724-589-2353 or email, mrust@thiel.edu.

Upon receipt of the Title IX Incident Report, the Title IX Coordinator/Deputy Coordinator will contact the appropriate individuals for further information. Filing a Title IX Incident Report does not necessarily initiate an investigation or grievance procedure. The Title IX Coordinator/Deputy Coordinator will advise the complainant on reporting options, available supportive measures, and resources on and off campus.

To report an incident: Title IX Incident Report Form

Education and Outreach

The Title IX Office at Thiel College develops and contributes to a wide range of programs, projects, and events to increase awareness about sexual and relationship violence, stalking, sexual harassment, and sex discrimination and to meet the needs of Thiel students, faculty, and staff. Our programs promote healthy sexuality and relationships, dispel myths about sexual and relationship violence, examine gender roles and how they relate to sexual and relationship violence, stalking, and sexual harassment, provide guidance on risk reduction, advise students of available resources, and explore how each of us can become empowered to end sexual and relationship violence.

Our programming efforts cover a wide range of related topics including, but not limited to:

Gender-based Discrimination
Healthy Masculinity
Healthy Relationships
Intersectionality, Systems of Oppression, and Sexual Violence
Intimacy and Relationships
Relationship Violence
Sexual harassment
Sexual Violence
Sexuality
Stalking
Understanding Consent
Upstander Intervention
Pregnancy

These programs are designed to meet the needs of specific audiences. We can come to your dorm, fraternity or sorority meeting, class, or virtually anywhere else that your group is gathered. Presentations are structured to encourage dialogue, reflection, and critical thinking about sexual and relationship violence, stalking, sexual harassment, and gender-based discrimination, as well as to offer ways to challenge thoughts and behaviors that contribute to this violence.

Training and Compliance

Thiel requires all faculty and staff to complete programs that encourage members of the College community to explore ways in which we can nurture respectful workplaces, classrooms, campus living spaces and programs sponsored by the institution.

Topics include illegal forms of gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, and other forms of sexual violence in our community, reporting obligations, campus resources, how to assist survivors, and how to be a positive “upstander”.

Thiel College Title IX Trainings

Training/Be Informed

Thiel College requires sexual based harassment prevention training for all faculty, staff, and students. Learn how to prevent bystander effects and understand what to do if you're concerned about a friend or colleague. Please consult the campus calendar for specific dates and times

All new employees and incoming students receive online training through Safe Colleges/Vector Solutions. Current employees and students are also required to complete annual refresher training. Employees complete the training each spring and students at the beginning of the fall semester.

Announcements

U.S. Department of Education Releases Final Title IX Regulations, Providing Vital Protections Against Sex Discrimination

Campus Communication About Title IX Policy and Regulations (PDF) - January 31, 2025

Contact Us

Who We Are

The Title IX Office is dedicated to fostering a culture of safety and respect at Thiel College. We invite all members of the campus community to join us in our efforts to prevent violence and support those affected.

Title IX Coordinators

The Title IX Coordinators are responsible for coordinating the College’s efforts to comply with its responsibilities under policy, guidance from the United States Department of Education, and federal statutes and regulations governing sexual misconduct. These individuals will assist the College in complying with Title IX and promoting gender equity in education. These individuals are knowledgeable of campus policies related to sexual misconduct and can inform complainants and respondents of rights and options, and assist with interim measures and remedies. These individuals also decide when institutional action is necessary.

Jennifer Clark, Lead Title IX Coordinator, Director of Human Resources
Location: Roth Hall – 1^st Floor
Email: jclark@thiel.edu
Phone: 724-589-2858

Makaela Rust, Deputy Title IX Coordinator, Assistant Director of Residence Life
Location: Howard Miller Student Center – Student Life Office
Email: mrust@thiel.edu
Phone: 724-589-2353

Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 8:00am – 4:30pm and additional hours when necessary

When Should I contact a Title IX Coordinator

Any person (student, faculty or staff member, third-party guest, or applicant for admission or education) who has concerns about sex discrimination, including sexual harassment (whether or not the person reporting is the person alleged to be the complainant of conduct that could constitute sex discrimination or sexual based harassment), in person, online reporting form, by mail, by telephone, by electronic mail, or by any other means that results in the Title IX Coordinator receiving the person’s verbal or written report.

Contact a coordinator if you:

Wish to understand your options if you think you may have encountered sex discrimination or sexual misconduct.
Learn of a situation that you feel may warrant a College investigation.
Need help on how to handle a situation by which you are indirectly affected.
Seek guidance on possible informal remedies or administrative measures to de-escalate or alleviate a difficult situation.
Have questions about Thiel’s policies and procedures.

Conversations with coordinators are kept as confidential as possible, but information about incidents of sexual misconduct must be shared with relevant administrators if the College needs to take action for reasons of community safety. In all cases, the wishes of the person initiating the conversation are given full consideration.

Title IX staff receive annual trainings per Federal Title IX regulations. Training materials may be viewed upon request to the Title IX Coordinator/Deputy Coordinator.