Mar 28, 2024  
2021-2022 Academic Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

College Policies and Disclosure Summaries


 

Below is a brief summary of some of the College’s policies and disclosures that apply to students. The complete and official policy statements and other disclosures can be found on the Saint Mary’s website, including in the online versions of the student, faculty, and staff handbooks.

Non-Discrimination Disclosure

In compliance with applicable law and its own policy, Saint Mary’s College of California is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse student and employee population, and does not discriminate in its admission of students, hiring of employees, or in the provision of its employment benefits to its employees and its educational programs, activities, benefits, and services to its students, including but not limited to scholarship and loan programs, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, medical condition (including genetic), physical or mental disability.

Section 504 and ADA Coordinator

The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against the disabled in all phases of employment (including recruitment and hiring), and in their access to the facilities, goods, and services of most public places, including all colleges, universities, and other educational institutions. The student Section 504 and ADA coordinator, Julie Scaff, who can be reached at (925) 631-4164, is responsible for evaluating and working with qualified students regarding requests for reasonable accommodations.

Summary of the Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Harassment (Including Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence), and Retaliation

Saint Mary’s College of California is committed to creating and maintaining a community in which all persons who participate in Saint Mary’s programs and activities can work and learn together in an atmosphere free of all forms of discrimination, exploitation, intimidation, or harassment (including sexual harassment and sexual violence) based on a legally protected characteristic or status. Every member of the Saint Mary’s community should be aware that Saint Mary’s will not tolerate harassment or discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, or physical or mental disability, gender stereotyping, taking a protected leave (e.g., family, medical, or pregnancy leave), or on any other basis protected by applicable laws. Such behavior is prohibited both by law and by Saint Mary’s policy. It is Saint Mary’s intention to take appropriate action to enforce this policy to prevent, correct, and if necessary, discipline behavior that violates this policy, which may include suspension, termination, expulsion, or another sanction appropriate to the circumstances and violation. All members of the Saint Mary’s community, including faculty, students, and staff, are responsible for maintaining an environment that is free of sexual harassment (including sexual violence and sexual assault), and other forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation as described in this Policy.

Reports under this policy may be made directly to the College’s Title IX Coordinator below.

Title IX Coordinator

Inquiries regarding compliance with Title IX may be directed to the Title IX Coordinator for Saint Mary’s College of California. The Title IX Coordinator is Dr. Laurie Panian, and she may be contacted at (925) 631-4530 or by email at lmp11@stmarys-ca.edu. In addition, the following individuals are Deputy Title IX Coordinators and may also be contacted if you seek support or wish to report an incident of sexual harassment or sexual misconduct: Evette Castillo Clark, Dean of Students ecc4@stmarys-ca.edu (925) 631-4238; and Kami Gray, SWA/Associate Director of Athletics, kgray@stmarys-ca.edu, (925) 631-4521. Additional information regarding Title IX compliance can be found at stmarys-ca.edu/title-ix.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974: A Brief Introduction

FERPA stands for the “Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.” You might also hear it referred to as the “Buckley Amendment.” This law protects the privacy of student education records. FERPA applies to all schools that receive funds through an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education, and thus most colleges and universities are covered by FERPA.

FERPA defines the phrase “education record” broadly as “those records, files, documents, and other materials which 1) contain information directly related to a student; and 2) are maintained by an educational institution.

Annually, Saint Mary’s College informs students of their rights and obligations under FERPA. The official FERPA statement of Saint Mary’s College can be found on the College website for the Office of the Registrar.