General Information

Students living in the University’s residence halls are not permitted to maintain vehicles (except bicycles) on campus. Any resident student found to be maintaining a vehicle (except a bicycle) on campus will be subject to disciplinary action. Students with disabilities may request parking from the Office of Disability Services.

In the case of inclement weather, there are a number of ways to determine if the University is open. Check status early and often, as information can be updated at a moment’s notice.

Call (215) 717-6000 or (215) 717-6996.
Visit http://www.uarts.edu
Check your UArts email account.
Tune in to any Philadelphia television station or visit their Web sites: http://www.cbs3.com

http://www.wpvi.com
http://www.nbc10.com
http://www.myfoxphilly.com
Tune in to KYW NewsRadio 1060 or visit http://www.kyw1060.com. (UArts is number 116)

To check the status of Continuing Education courses, call (215) 717-6095. A determination will be made by 2 p.m. for weeknight classes and 7:30 a.m. for weekends.

Please refer to the Calendar  for scheduled school closings and holidays. Regularly observed holidays include New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the following day, and Christmas.

 The University of the Arts maintains a smoke-free environment. Smoking is permitted only out of doors.

The University of the Arts is committed to maintaining an environment in which students, faculty, and staff can pursue academic, artistic, and professional excellence. This environment can be secured only through mutual respect and unconstrained academic and professional interchange among faculty, staff, and students. Faculty, staff, and students of the University are entitled to participate in and obtain the benefits of University programs, activities, and employment without being discriminated against on the basis of their sex, race, religion, creed, age, ethnicity, national origin, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, or military status. The University regards any act of sexual harassment or harassment because of race, religion, creed, age, ethnicity, national origin, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, or military status to be a violation of the standards of conduct required of all persons associated with the institution. The prohibition against sexual harassment and other forms of harassment applies to all interactions occurring on campus, in University facilities, or within the context of University-related activities. The rights defined by this policy apply to all faculty, staff, and students of the University, and the obligations are binding on all faculty and staff as part of their employment, regardless of tenure or years of service, and all students, regardless of academic status. Harassment constitutes a serious offense and the University will take all necessary disciplinary actions to eradicate it from the University. Those who commit harassment prohibited by this policy are subject to the full range of discipline, up to and including immediate dismissal from the University faculty or employment, or expulsion from the University, as appropriate. The prohibitions set forth in this policy include acts of retaliation against members of the University community who have filed complaints under this policy.

What is Harassment/Sexual Harassment?

Harassment can take many forms, and is not necessarily sexual in nature. It may be, but is not limited to, unwelcome physical contact, intimidation, words, messages and sometimes even jokes and pranks. Keys to determining whether conduct is harassment include (i) whether it is unwelcome or unwanted; (ii) whether it is of the type that a reasonable, objective person would find offensive, hostile, or abusive; and (iii) whether the harassment is based on a protected status such as gender, race, or religion. The term “sexual harassment” has a special meaning and refers to unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: (1) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment, advancement, or success at the University; (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for decisions affecting such individual; or (3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, offensive, or abusive working or educational environment, or otherwise unreasonably interferes with an individual’s terms and conditions of employment or enrollment as a student. Sexual harassment also may include:

• unwanted physical contact or conduct of any kind, including sexual touching, lewd gestures, or flirtation;
• unwelcome sexual advances or propositions;
• requests for sexual favors;
• verbal abuse, threats, or jokes of a sexual nature;
• demeaning, insulting, intimidating, or sexually suggestive comments about an individual or his or her dress or body;
• the display in the workplace of demeaning, insulting, intimidating, or sexually suggestive objects, words, or pictures, including nude photographs;
• the broadcast, publication, communication, or electronic mailing of demeaning, insulting, intimidating, or sexually suggestive written or recorded messages or images.

Although these examples of conduct may constitute harassment, it must be stressed that some of the types of conduct outlined above do not always rise to the level of prohibited harassment. Each situation must be evaluated in context. Similarly offensive conduct directed at an individual because of his or her race, religion, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, pregnancy, disability, or military status also may constitute prohibited harassment.

Staff/Student Interaction -Additional Prohibitions

In addition to the general prohibitions against harassment of any type, the University imposes an obligation on its staff members with regard to their interactions with students. No staff member may ask for a date, make a sexual advance to a student, or in any other way become romantically or sexually involved with a student. This rule is for the protection of students, staff, and the University. If a staff member has any doubt or question about whether his or her relationship with a student violates this policy, the staff member should refrain from further interaction with the student and contact the Director of Personnel Services for advice. A staff member may not use, in any way, his or her status as a staff member to intimidate a student or advance a personal or sexual relationship.

Procedures for Reporting Sexual Harassment

A student, employee or faculty member who feels that he or she has been the victim of harassment, must promptly report, either orally or in writing, the harassment to the (i) the Director of Personnel Services, who also serves as the Equal Opportunity Officer for the University, or (ii) the Provost when the alleged harassing party is a member of the faculty; or (iii) the Vice President for Student Affairs, Dean of Students when the alleged harassing party is a student. The matter should be reported as soon as possible after the conduct has occurred, so that it can receive prompt and appropriate attention. If, for any reason, the student, employee, or faculty member is uncomfortable discussing such matters with one of the above officials, he or she must promptly report the matter to the President, or if they are unavailable, to the most senior available administrator. In the event that a complaint of harassment – formal or informal, written or oral, from the alleged victim or otherwise – is made to an administrator, faculty member, or staff supervisor other than those specifically identified above, that administrator, faculty member or staff supervisor must: (a) inform the person making the complaint that the matter will be referred to the Director of Personnel Services; (b) ask the person making the complaint to write down the conduct or event(s) believed to be harassment, or record the complaint and obtain the alleged victim’s agreement that the record is accurate; and (c) promptly report, either orally or in writing, such complaint to the Director of Personnel Services. Every University administrator, faculty member, and staff supervisor has a duty to maintain a workplace/educational environment free of any form of harassment.

Investigation Process

In the event of any report, orally or in writing, of harassment, a prompt inquiry will be made to determine whether any harassment has occurred. If a preliminary inquiry into the matter indicates there may be validity to the charges, then the University will promptly proceed with a formal, thorough, and impartial investigation. If such a formal investigation proceeds, interviews and/or statements will be obtained from all available involved parties, including the accuser, the accused, and witnesses, if any. If applicable, documents and other evidence will be reviewed. During the investigation, intermediate measures – such as scheduling changes to avoid contact between the parties – may be taken to ensure that further harassment does not occur. The investigator(s), upon completion of the factual investigation, will reach factual conclusions, summarize them in writing, and report them to the Director of Personnel Services. Based upon the factual investigation and conclusions, and any other information that becomes available, the Provost, Vice President for Student Affairs, Dean of Students, or Director of Personnel, in consultation with the investigator(s), will reach a conclusion as to whether harassment occurred.

Remedial and Disciplinary Measures

If harassment is found, the University will take immediate steps to stop the harassment, implement appropriate corrective and disciplinary action, and initiate any necessary preventive measures to ensure the harassment does not occur again. Even if the University concludes that harassment did not occur, or that it is unable to determine one way or the other what occurred due to the lack of verifiable or credible evidence, the University may take disciplinary or preventive measures, such as training and monitoring, to ensure harassment does not occur in the future. Within 14 days of the complaint to one of the above officers (or after a longer period, if needed), the Director of Personnel Services, in conjunction with the Provost, or the Vice President for Student Affairs, Dean of Students, as applicable, has the authority, after investigation, to resolve the matter with or without the imposition of sanctions. A written record of the complaint, any investigation, and the resolution of the complaint will be kept in a confidential file in the Director of Personnel Service’s office. Any conclusion from the inquiry or investigation will be communicated to both the accuser and the accused, stressing the confidentiality and anti-retaliation provisions outlined in this policy. The accuser and the accused shall have the right to review the written factual findings and conclusions of the investigator.

Further Review

If the complaining party or the accused party is not satisfied with the resolution of the matter, he or she may request a meeting with the President within seven days of being informed of the proposed resolution. The complaining party and the named harassing party have the right to appear before the President, or the President’s designated representative for the matter, to provide information and to answer questions. The Provost may provide additional information relating to the investigation and alleged harassment. At the conclusion of any such review, the President shall either affirm the prior conclusion or recommend alternative action. A written determination will be issued, and both the complaining party and the accused will be informed of this decision. No further University review is available. If a recommendation for dismissal is not upheld after exhaustion of the tenured faculty appeal process, the President shall nonetheless take remedial actions, including disciplinary actions short of dismissal, which are reasonably calculated to prevent any future harassment. Such actions are not subject to further review.

Retaliation Prohibited

Retaliation or reprisal of any kind against anyone reporting allegations of harassment, or cooperating in an investigation of such a report, is strictly prohibited. Such retaliation shall be considered a serious violation of this policy and shall be punishable by discipline up to and including termination, regardless of whether the charge of harassment is substantiated. Examples of prohibited retaliation include: threatening reprisals against the employee or student who complained or cooperated in the investigation; unfairly changing the evaluations, assignments, or working conditions of such a student or employee; or otherwise continuing any harassment against such person. If an employee or student is found to have intentionally lied about a claim of harassment, or brought the claim in bad faith, knowing that the allegation is false, then that employee or student may be subject to discipline.

Questions Regarding the Harassment Policy and Procedure

All questions regarding this Policy and Procedure should be directed to the Director of Personnel Services or to the Vice President for Student Affairs, Dean of Students.

In an effort to assure a productive and harmonious work environment, persons not employed by The University of the Arts may not make solicitations or distribute literature at the University at any time for any purpose.

The University recognizes that students and alumni may have interests in events and organizations outside the University. However, students and alumni may not make solicitations or distribute literature concerning these activities on the University campus or by electronic mail.

Substance Abuse Policy

The members of The University of the Arts community and their health and safety are of paramount concern. The University will not tolerate drug and alcohol abuse, as it imperils the health and well-being of its faculty, staff, and students, and threatens the operation of its educational programs.

The use, possession, or distribution of illegal drugs and abuse of other controlled substances, in or out of class, or on University premises is inconsistent with law-abiding behavior expected of all students, and may result in discipline, up to and including expulsion.

The University prohibits the illegal and/or unauthorized manufacture, sale, or delivery, holding, offering for sale, possession, or use of any controlled substance as defined under the Pennsylvania Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, 35 P.S. Section 780-102, the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, the Uniform Narcotic Drug Act, or the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. Section 301 et seq., on University property.

Such controlled substances for the purposes of this policy shall include but not be limited to alcoholic beverages, narcotics, hypnotics, sedatives, tranquilizers, stimulants, hallucinogens, and other similar known or habit-forming drugs and/or chemicals as defined under the aforesaid laws.

Workplace Violence

The University is committed to maintaining a safe working, learning, and living environment for all members of the University community.

Threats, acts of aggression, and violence are unacceptable in the University community. Any such threat or violent act, regardless of intent, will be considered serious misconduct and may be the basis for disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

In addition, the University prohibits the possession of firearms, explosives, and other dangerous weapons on campus and at University functions off-campus. 

Non-Academic Grievance

In the course of day-to-day interactions within the University, students may encounter circumstances which lead them feel that a member of the University community (including faculty, staff, or administration) has not treated them with respect or fairly considered the students’ point-of-view. For redress of such grievances, students are strongly encouraged to address their concern first in direct conversation with the person in question. If resolution is not possible after such dialog, the student should submit a letter or email (from his/her UArts email account) describing the grievance to the direct supervisor of the given faculty member, staff member or administrator, with a copy sent to the individual against whom the student has the grievance. A student seeking assistance with a non-academic grievance may meet with the Vice President for Student Affairs & Dean of Students for guidance.

Please note that non-academic grievances must be filed no later than the end of the semester following the semester in which the incident occurred.

A student with a grievance pertaining to an academic matter, sexual harassment or an alleged violation of the Student Code of Conduct should consult specific sections Academic Grievances, Sexual Harassment, Student Code of Conduct) of the Course Catalog and/or Student Handbook for a full explanation of procedures in such cases.