Widener University Commonwealth Law School

Policies and Practices that Impact the Student Experience 

Nondiscrimination Policy

This school has a nondiscrimination policy that covers:

• Employment
• Admissions 

The school’s nondiscrimination policy addresses discrimination on the basis of:

• Sexual Orientation 
• Gender Identity
• Gender Expression

Name in Use (a.k.a. Chosen Name)

Name in use can be used. Students can indicate name in use:

• On law school application
• Upon request

Name in use appears: 

• Automatically on school-generated name tag/materials at school events (e.g., new student orientation)
• Automatically on faculty class rosters
• Automatically on school-generated materials for on-campus interviews
• Upon request on student diplomas

Pronouns and Honorifics

Faculty, administration, and staff are:

• Encouraged but not required to include pronouns in email signatures

Students can indicate pronouns:

• On law school application 
• When filling out enrollment information
• In school’s student information system
• During new student orientation
• Upon request

Student pronouns appear:

• Upon request on school-generated name tag/materials at school events (e.g., new student orientation)
• Upon request on faculty class rosters

Students can indicate:

• Non-gendered honorifics
• Honorifics on law school application 
• Honorifics when filling out enrollment information
• Honorifics in school’s student information system
• Honorifics during new student orientation
• Honorifics upon request

Student honorifics appear:

• Upon request on school-generated name tag/materials at school events (e.g., new student orientation)
• Automatically on faculty class rosters
• Automatically on student transcripts that can be sent to employers

Resources and Opportunities 

• LGBTQ+ student organization(s)  
• Funds for LGBTQ+ student organization(s)                  
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) student committee that includes LGBTQ+ representation
• Career counseling specifically for LGBTQ+ students
• LGBTQ+ focused project or pro bono group      
• Emergency funds that LGBTQ+ students can request if they are in crisis
• Funds for students to attend the Lavender Law Conference and Career Fair

Faculty

• School has a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) faculty committee
• School has faculty member(s) who conduct research primarily focused on LGBTQ+ topics

Facilities 

This law school provides: 

• All-gender-inclusive single-occupancy restroom(s)
• Gender-designated multi-stall restroom(s) that students can use based on the gender with which they self-identify

All-gender-inclusive restrooms:

• Located in main law school building
• Located in the law library 
• Some are ADA accessible

Local Community

• LGBTQ+ specific events    
• Pride events  
• Readily identifiable LGBTQ+ owned businesses          
• Readily identifiable LGBTQ+ friendly businesses (e.g., pride flag sticker)     

Navigating Widener University Commonwealth Law School

Questions about financial aid

Financial Aid Office
cwfinaid@widener.edu
717.541.3961

Questions about LGBTQ+ resources available on and/or off campus

Office of Student Affairs
Randi Teplitz
rbteplitz@widener.edu
717.541.3952

Questions about usage of chosen name, pronouns, or honorifics

Registrar’s Office
Molly Acri
mmacri@widener.edu
717.541.3956

Questions about connecting with LGBTQ+ student organization(s)

Office of Student Affairs
Randi Teplitz
rbteplitz@widener.edu
717.541.3952

Questions about connecting with LGBTQ+ alumni

Office of Career Development
Nicole Antos
nrantos@widener.edu
717.541.3906