FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Dan Hanson
March 14, 2011 Director of Public Relations
Phone: 610-499-4433
E-mail:
Statement Regarding Widener School of Law Discrimination and
Harassment/Dismissal for Cause Procedures
Chester, Pa.—The Widener University School of Law is committed to protecting the rights and interests of its students, faculty and staff. In connection with its legal obligations, the Law School is processing complaints lodged by certain students against Professor Lawrence Connell. The merits of those complaints have been, and will continue to be, examined in accordance with published procedures adopted by the Law School and agreed upon, in writing, by each and every faculty member of the Law School.
To date, the administration of the Law School has declined to comment on the pending investigation for the protection of both the students and the faculty member involved. The Law School will continue to respect its obligations to Professor Connell and the students involved by not releasing any factual information relating to the pending complaints. However, the university has decided that an explanation of the procedure is necessary.
All faculty members are entitled to utilize counsel to assist them should a complaint of discrimination or harassment move from the informal level to the formal process. The purpose of the initial informal process is to attempt, without any record of the proceeding, a resolution of a complaint acceptable to all parties. In the event that the matter proceeds to the next stage, all parties are given unredacted copies of all documents or statements. At the formal stage, all parties are entitled to have counsel assist them.
Widener also has a procedure for dismissal for cause which has been adopted by the faculty and is set forth within Promotion Retention and Tenure Guidelines. The informal committee of inquiry is the first step of the process, ultimately resulting in a recommendation to the full tenure committee of the Law School for a formal hearing. At the formal hearing before the tenure committee, the faculty member has substantial procedural rights, including the right to representation by counsel and to confront and cross examine witnesses.
Widener appreciates attempts by the press to respect its responsibility to maintain the factual basis of the allegations as confidential, in deference not only to the faculty member involved, but also, to the students who have the right to lodge formal complaints under the Discrimination and Harassment Code.
Please be assured that Widener will continue to follow its stated procedures such that the rights of all involved are preserved and protected.
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