Title IX Resource Information

Title IX Coordinator:

Deborah Glenn, Director of Institutional Diversity
Office: Motherhouse 148 (Main Campus)
University of St. Francis
500 Wilcox Street, Joliet, IL 60435
dglenn@stfrancis.edu | 815-740-5025

Title IX Deputy Coordinator:

Mollie Rockafellow, Dean of Student Life 
Office: Motherhouse 142 (Main Campus)
University of St. Francis
500 Wilcox Street, Joliet, IL 60435
mrockafellow@stfrancis.edu | 815-740-3381

Title IX Core Team:

Karen Blaha, Assistant Professor of Education
kblaha@stfrancis.edu815-740-3461 |Donovan Hall C208
 
Elizabeth Cambray, Student Life and Wellness Coordinator

Lawrence Dunbar, Instructor of Psychology, Substance Abuse and Industrial Organization
ldunbar@stfrancis.edu | 815-740-3686 | Tower Hall S211

Jennifer Ethridge, Registrar
jethridge@stfrancis.edu | 815-740-2286 | Tower Hall N320

Rebecca Fry, Director of Financial Planning & Analysis 
rfry@stfrancis.edu | 815-740-3426 | Guardian Angel Hall 230 (St. Clare Campus) 

William Linz, Director of Safety & Security
wlinz@stfrancis.edu | 815-740-3200 | Tower Hall TG-20

Beth McDermott, Dean College of Arts and Sciences
| 815-740-3819 | Tower Hall S204

Daniel Schwert, Associate Professor of Natural & Health Sciences
dschwert@stfrancis.edu | 815-740-3855 | LaVerne & Dorothy Brown Science Hall B315

About Title IX

The University of St. Francis is committed to creating and maintaining a community in which students, faculty, and staff can work together in an atmosphere free from all forms of discrimination. Specifically, every member of the university community should be aware that the University of St. Francis is strongly opposed to discrimination, including sexual harassment, and that such behavior is prohibited by university policy. It is the intention of the university to take whatever action may be necessary to prevent, correct, and if necessary, discipline for behavior that violates this policy.

Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) is federal law which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. Sex discrimination includes sexual harassment and sexual assault.

The Office of Institutional Diversity, in partnership with the Office of Human Resources, is charged with monitoring the university’s compliance with federal, state and institutional polices that promote a non-discriminatory and harassment-free environment. This includes discrimination based on sex, covered under Title IX. The Director of Institutional Diversity is the designated Title IX Coordinator.

If Someone Tells You They Have Experienced Sexual Misconduct

What to do:

  • If someone tells you that they have experienced sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, first offer them support. Listen to them and encourage them to seek help and counseling as soon as possible.
  • The person’s health and safety should be your primary concern. If the person’s safety is an immediate concern, contact Campus Safety & Security at 815-740-3200 or call 911.
  • Report the incident in accordance with the policy.
  • If there is any question about how to proceed after a conversation with someone who has experienced misconduct, call and consult with the Title IX Coordinator, Deborah Glenn, at 815-740-5025. If calling for information during late evenings, weekend hours, or holidays, contact Safety & Security and they will get you connected with Title IX and/or the Advocate Aurora Health, University Student Assistance Program with 24/7 access at 800-236-3231. In cases of emergency, please call 911.
    740-5025

What to say to the person who is sharing a report with you:

  • There are many resources available to help you both at the university and in the community. Some resources are strictly confidential.
  • I am required to connect you to the Title IX Coordinator who will meet with you to help you take care of your own personal safety and your physical and emotional well-being, direct you to resources, and explain your options if you want the university to take action.
  • The Title IX Coordinator will keep your information private and will only share it with those who “need to know.” You have the right to choose to whom you will speak, what resources you will use, what you will say, and when you will say it.

Who needs to report?

All university employees, including student employees or volunteers responsible for the welfare of other students, are required to report sexual harassment.

The only exceptions are those few employees who operate with statutorily protected confidentiality (i.e., health services, counseling, clergy, sexual assault advocates). If you have questions about whether to report, please call the Title IX Coordinator.

Why are reports important?

  • To ensure equitable access to all of the available resources.
  • To help identify individuals displaying patterns of behavior.
  • To identify and address any trends or systemic problems.
  • To keep our campus safe.

Please note that we want to make sure everyone has access to make reports. As such, reports can be made in-person, by email, by telephone, through the university complaint system on the portal, by accessing the silent witness report form on the USF website, etc. Please let us know if you have questions about how you can make a formal report.

If You Have Experienced Sexual Misconduct

What to do...

A person who experiences an incident of sexual misconduct should consider the following immediate actions:

  • Contact Campus Safety & Security at 815-740-3200 or law enforcement at 911.
  • Seek medical attention and/or consider calling or visiting AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center at 815-725-7133 or 333 Madison Street, Joliet.
  • Consider contacting the Guardian Angel Community Services 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 815-729-1228 or 24-hour sexual assault hotline at 815-730-8984.
  • Contact a trained, experienced counselor. Options include the Advocate Aurora Health University Student Assistance Program (Tower S213), and 24/7 on-call counseling at 800-236-3231.
  • Report the situation to Deborah Glenn, Title IX Coordinator, in Motherhouse 148 or 815-740-5025.
  • Contact parents, relatives or close friends for support.

You do not have to choose a course of action immediately, but consider preserving evidence in case you choose to pursue charges. Possible evidence might be physical (clothing, bedding, letters, etc.) or not (photos, emails, text messages, etc.).

What to know...

  • You set the pace.
  • You have the right to choose to whom you will speak, what resources you will use, what you will say, and when you will say it.
  • There are many resources available to help you, both at the university and in the community.
  • It is your choice whether to name the other person(s).
  • Your information will be kept private and only shared with those who “need to know.” We want to take care of you and keep you safe, and we want to make sure that others in the community are safe.
  • University of St. Francis prohibits sexual harassment and sexual misconduct, including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.

Non-Retaliation Policy

It is a violation of university policy to retaliate in any way against a student or employee because s/he/they raised allegations or were accused of sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking.

Other On-Campus Resources

  • Campus Safety & Security (Tower TG-20)
    815-740-3200 
    (24 hrs.)
  • University Ministry
    815-740-3605 – Fr. Terry Deffenbaugh, Chaplain
    815-740-3385 – Fr. Michael Jennrich, Minister
  • University Student Assistance Program (Tower S218)
    800-236-3231 (24-hr., On-Call Access – Confidential)
  • USF Wellness Center (Tower S213)
    815-740-3399

Community Resources