Office for Civil Rights
VUOCR – Claims for Discrimination
About the Office for Civil Rights
The Valparaiso University Office for Civil Rights is responsible for enacting the University’s nondiscrimination policy and responding to complaints made on the basis of race, color, age, disability, veteran status, religion, national and ethnic origin, or genetic information. This process is tied to the student judicial process and the faculty and staff discipline processes. Complaints made under this policy differ from complaints made to the bias team in that a report to the bias team can only result in educational outcomes. Complaints made to this office may be forwarded to a hearing for a determination on the allegation, and subsequently result in a sanction against the offending party ranging from a warning to and including expulsion or termination.
The discrimination complaint coordinator is appointed by the president and is responsible for monitoring, advising, and overseeing all complaints involving discrimination or harassment on the grounds of race, color, age, disability, veteran status, religion, national and ethnic origin, or genetic information, as well as identifying and addressing any patterns or systemic problems that arise during the review or administration of any aforementioned complaints. The Office for Civil Rights coordinator is also responsible for providing training and education to campus community members.
The discrimination complaint coordinator is available to meet and provide assistance to individuals who believe they have been a target or victim of discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct, but the Office for Civil Rights and discrimination complaint coordinator is not an emergency contact person that provides immediate assistance for anyone who is a victim of discrimination or is a victim of a discrimination-motivated crime. The Valpo Office for Civil Rights is adequately trained to deal with issues arising from discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct on campus, has a thorough understanding of the grievance processes, and is available as a general resource in addition to overseeing the administration of a discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct complaint processes.
- Counseling Center – 219.465.5002 or counseling.center@valpo.edu
- University Pastors – 219.464.5093
- Student Health Center – 219.464.5060
Non-confidential resources include:
- Office for Civil Rights
- Valparaiso University Police
- Office of Residential Life
- Office of Student Life
- Faculty
- Instructors
- Resident Assistants
- Administrative Staff
If you report an incident of discrimination, harassment, or misconduct to a non-confidential party, the non-confidential party will protect your privacy by limiting the people with whom he or she shares what you tell them. However, non-confidential resources cannot guarantee complete confidentiality, as they must promptly notify the University’s discrimination complaint coordinator about the basic facts of discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct incidents. University employees may notify the Title IX coordinator of such incidents by completing the Title IX and discrimination complaint intake form.
Contact Valparaiso University Police Department at 219.464.5430 or proceed to the Porter Hospital emergency room. During the daytime 8 a.m. – noon and 1–5 p.m., Monday through Friday, students may also contact the Counseling Center at 219.464.5002.
Valparaiso University