Communications Directory

MAILING ADDRESS: West Chester University
West Chester, PA 19383
TELEPHONES: Dial 610-436 plus number in parentheses. For offices not shown here, call the University Information Center: 610-436-1000.
World Wide Web: www.wcupa.edu
Academic Development Program Academic Development Program, Lawrence Center (3274)
Admissions/Undergraduate Catalogs Office of Admissions, Messikomer Hall (3411); 877-315-2165 (toll free)
Affirmative Action Office of Social Equity, 13/15 University Ave. (2433)
Billing/Payments Office of the Bursar, 25 University Ave. (2552)
Bookstore Student Services, Inc., Sykes Student Union (2242)
Careers/Placement Twardowski Career Development Center, Lawrence Center (2501)
Conference Services Office of Conference Services, 13/15 University Ave. (6931)
Continuing Education (Adult Studies) Office of Graduate Studies, McKelvie Hall (1009)
Counseling Counseling Center, Commonwealth Hall (2301)
Financial Aid/Work Study Office of Financial Aid, 25 University Ave. (2627)
Graduate Studies/Catalogs Office of Graduate Studies, McKelvie Hall (2943)
Housing Residence Life and Housing Services, Lawrence Center (3307)
Police Public Safety Department, Peoples Building (3311)
Exploratory Studies Exploratory Studies, 222 Lawrence Center (3505)
Public Relations and Marketing Office of Public Relations and Marketing, 13/15 University Avenue (3383)
Services for Students with Disabilities Office of Services for Students with Disabilities, Lawrence Center (2564)
Student Activities and University Events Student Programming Dept./Student Activities, Sykes Student Union (2983)
Student Services, Inc. Sykes Student Union (2955)
Scheduling/Registration Office of the Registrar, 25 University Ave. (3541)
Summer Sessions Office of the Registrar, 25 University Ave. (2230)
Teacher Certification Teacher Education Center, Francis Harvey Green Library (3090)

Accreditations/Nationally Recognized Programs

West Chester University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), 3624 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19104-2680, 215-662-5606. Accreditations: Accrediting Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), American Chemical Society (ACS), American Orff Schulwerk Association (AOSA), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), Commission on Accreditation of Dietetics Education (CADE), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC), Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), Council of Social Work Education (CSWE), Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Communication (FEPAC), International Reading Association (IRA), National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST), National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC), Organization of American Kodaly Educators (OAKE). West Chester University’s professional education programs are accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to recommend candidates for certification. Recognized Programs: Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI), American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages (ACTFL), Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), National Council for Social Studies (NCSS), National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), National Science Teachers Association (NSTA).

Nondiscrimination/Affirmative Action Policy

West Chester University is committed to providing leadership in extending equal opportunities to all individuals. Accordingly, the University will make every effort to provide these rights to all persons regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or other protected-class status. This policy applies to all members of the University community including students, faculty, staff, and administrators. It also applies to all applicants for admission or employment and all participants in University-sponsored activities.
West Chester University will take all necessary steps to

  1. Recruit, hire, utilize, train, and promote for all job classifications without regard to race, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or protected-class status.

  2. Recruit and admit students without regard to race, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or other protected-class status.
  3. Base decisions on selection, employment practices, employee utilization, job training, career mobility, promotion, program operations, and services provided so as to further the principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action.
  4. Create and maintain a climate free from discrimination and harassment of any individual.
  5. Create and maintain a climate free from sexual harassment of any individual.
  6. Make every effort to increase the admission and employment opportunities for qualified persons with disabilities.
  7. Assure that reasonable accommodation will be made for all the physical and mental limitations of qualified individuals.
  8. Assure that in offering employment or promotion to persons with disabilities, no reduction in compensation would result because of disability, income or other benefits.

This policy is in compliance with federal and state laws, including Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendment of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1972, Americans With Disabilities Act of 1972, Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, and Executive Order of the Governor of Pennsylvania.

Overall responsibility for the implementation of the affirmative action-equal opportunity policy has been assigned to Barbara Schneller, director of social equity, who is the Title IX coordinator for the University. Any individual having suggestions, problems, complaints, or grievances with regard to equal opportunity or affirmative action is encouraged to contact the director of social equity, 13/15 University Avenue, Room 100, 610-436-2433.

Sexual Harassment Policy

West Chester University is committed to equality of opportunity and freedom from unlawful discrimination for all its students and employees. Sexual harassment is a form of unlawful discrimination based on sex and will not be tolerated in any form by faculty, staff, students, or vendors. Upon official filing of a complaint, immediate investigation will be made, culminating in appropriate corrective action where warranted, which may include termination of the relationship with the University. Retaliatory actions against persons filing a complaint of sexual harassment, or any person cooperating in the investigation of a complaint, are also prohibited. Acts of retaliation shall constitute misconduct subject to disciplinary action.
Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other harassing conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment occurs when

  1. submission to the unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or status in a course, program, or activity;
  2. submission to or rejection of the unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature by an individual is used as the basis for an academic or employment-related decision affecting such an individual; or
  3. the unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive as to substantially limit or interfere with an individual’s work, educational performance, participation in extracurricular activities, or equal access to the University’s resources and opportunities; or
  4. such conduct creates an intimidating, hostile, or abusive living, working, or educational environment.

This policy is not intended to interfere with the protections afforded by law to freedom of speech. Additional information, including examples of what constitutes sexual harassment, is available from the Office of Social Equity or on the web at http://www.wcupa.edu/_admin/social.equity/.

Individuals who believe themselves to have been sexually harassed, or who have questions about the University’s policy on this matter, should contact Barbara Schneller, director of social equity, 13/15 University Avenue, Room 100, 610-436-2433.

ADA Policy and Accommodations

The University’s complete ADA Policy Statement and commitment to accommodations compliances are on page 60 of this catalog.

The provisions of this catalog are not to be regarded as an irrevocable contract between the student and the University. West Chester University reserves the right to change any provisions or requirements at any time. Please check the University's website, www.wcupa.edu, for any updates.