Alverno College prepares women for lives of personal and professional distinction and meaningful engagement with the world. Alverno extends this mission by offering graduate and adult programs to women and men. Inspired by its Catholic, Franciscan and liberal arts heritage, the College intentionally creates an inclusive community that engages students in active and collaborative learning and fosters academic excellence.
Council on Social Work Education undergraduate social work program
Sexual Harassment & Discrimination Policy
Alverno College does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other legally protected classification in the administration of any of its educational programs and activities or with respect to admission and employment.
Alverno seeks to comply with all federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances prohibiting discrimination in private post-secondary education institutions.
deanofstudents@Alverno.edu; Theresa.Barry@Alverno.edu
This policy applies to Sexual Harassment that occurs within the College’s Education Programs or Activities committed by an administrator, faculty member, staff, student, contractor, guest, or other member of the College community.
This policy does not apply to Sexual Harassment that occurs off-campus, in a private setting, and outside the scope of the College’s Education Programs or Activities; such sexual misconduct may be prohibited by the Student Code of Conduct if committed by a student, faculty and any other College or department specific policies and standards if committed by an employee. Harassment committed by faculty or staff may also fall under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Consistent with Alverno College’s Non-Discrimination Statement and the U.S. Department of Education’s implementing regulations for Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”) (see 34 C.F.R. § 106 et seq.), the College prohibits Sexual Harassment that occurs within its Education Programs or Activities.
Sexual Harassment includes Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment, Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking.
Administrators, faculty, staff, students, contractors, guests, and other members of the College community who commit Sexual Harassment are subject to the full range of College discipline including verbal reprimand; written reprimand; mandatory training, coaching, or counseling; mandatory monitoring; partial or full probation; partial or full suspension; fines; permanent separation from the institution (i.e., termination or dismissal); physical restriction from College property; cancellation of contracts; and any combination of the same.
Alverno College provides persons who have experienced Sexual Harassment ongoing remedies as reasonably necessary to restore or preserve access to Alverno College’s Education Programs or Activities.
Consistent with the U.S. Department of Education’s implementing regulations for Title IX, this policy does not apply to Sexual Harassment happening outside the geographic boundaries of the U.S., even if the Sexual Harassment occurs in education programs or activities, such as a study abroad program. Sexual Harassment happening outside the geographic boundaries of the U.S. is governed by the student Code of Conduct if committed by a student, the Faculty Handbook if committed by a faculty member, or any other College or department specific policies and standards if committed by an employee. Harassment committed by faculty or staff may also fall under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Alverno College intentionally creates a welcoming and inclusive learning community where all members recognize and respect the rights and human dignity of every other member. The College values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty and staff from a variety of backgrounds. In keeping with its long-standing Catholic Franciscan foundations, the College does not discriminate against any student, employee or applicant on the basis of any individual's age, citizenship, color, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military status, national origin or ancestry, pregnancy or parenting status, political belief or affiliation, race, religion or creed (except in campus ministry staff positions), sex, sexual orientation, or veteran's status in the administration of its educational programs and activities or in its employment practices. Furthermore, the College prohibits the harassment of students and employees, as harassment is a form of discrimination.
In the area of undergraduate enrollment, weekday undergraduate programs remain exclusive in respect to gender identity, but not as to any of the other aforementioned characteristics.
Alverno College, an institution dedicated to the education of women, pays particular attention to issues of harassment, discrimination or violence on the basis of sex, gender, pregnancy or parenting status. Conduct, whether intentional or unintentional, that results in discrimination, harassment, or violence toward a student or employee is illegal and unacceptable, undermining the mission of the college. Such conduct, whether on or off campus, is expressly prohibited by the college and is considered a serious violation of human rights.
In alignment with federal Title IX regulations, Alverno College has procedures to receive, investigate, respond to, and resolve complaints of discrimination, including harassment based on gender. Title IX violations include discrimination based on sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, and include sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, nonconsensual sexual acts, and sexual misconduct. This policy applies to conduct between men and women or between members of the same sex. In this policy, “discrimination,” refers generically and inclusively to all forms of discrimination based on sex or gender, including sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, sexual assault, and sexual violence. Sexual misconduct includes but is not limited to conduct prohibited by Wisconsin Statutes 940.225.
This document outlines the investigation procedures by Alverno College in response to allegations of gender-based misconduct and sexual harassment involving one or more Alverno College students. Students who are on leave (disciplinary or otherwise), on a study abroad, or internship are considered to be Alverno College students unless a student has terminated their relationship with the college.
For the full version of the Harassment, Violence, and Discrimination Policy click here.
For a Resource list for confidential and non-confidential reporting on and off campus click here.
This Policy covers nondiscrimination in both employment and access to educational opportunities. Therefore, any member of the Alverno community whose acts deny, deprive, unreasonably interfere with, or limit the education or employment, residential or social access, benefits, or opportunities of any member of the Alverno community, guest, or visitor on the basis of that person’s actual or perceived protected characteristic(s), is in violation of this Policy.
Alverno will promptly and effectively address any such discrimination of which it has Knowledge/Notice using the resolution process in the Equal Opportunity, Harassment, and Nondiscrimination Procedures.
Alverno does not discriminate against any employee, applicant for employment, student, or applicant for admission on the basis of actual or perceived:
Title IX Coordinator: Theresa Barry, Interim Dean of Students, Founders Hall, Room 254, (414) 382 - 6118
Alverno College evolved from three post-secondary institutions in Milwaukee. The first, St. Joseph’s Normal School, was founded in 1887 within the original SSSF motherhouse on Layton Boulevard. The school was established to educate female religious students to teach within Catholic parish schools. St. Joseph’s Convent Conservatory of Music was established in 1924 to train sisters to assist and develop liturgical music for Catholic parishes. And, finally in 1930, the Sacred Heart School of Nursing was founded as a way of furthering the service that the School Sisters could provide to the larger community. It became Alverno Teachers College in 1936.
Between 1942 and 1948, Mother Corona Wirfs, Superior General of the School Sisters of St. Francis, guided the merger of Alverno Teachers College, St. Joseph’s Convent Conservatory of Music, and the Sacred Heart School of Nursing into a single, four-year liberal arts college. Alverno Teachers College officially changed its name to Alverno College in August of 1946. A year and a half later, Sister Augustine Scheele, SSSF, became the first sister be president of Alverno College. That same month, January 1948, Alverno began to admit laywomen as a way of expanding its mission beyond the training of the religious community alone. In 1951, the new Alverno College was granted accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools (NCA). To respond to the subsequent demand for its programs, Scheele led the campaign to physically consolidate the schools by building the 39th Street and Morgan Avenue campus that opened in the fall of 1953.
Sister Joel Read was appointed the sixth president of the college in 1968. During this time the faculty, staff, and students of Alverno College carried out a radical transformation of its curriculum. Alverno’s Research Center on Women (1970), childcare or Early Learning Center (1970), internship program (1971), ability-based curriculum (1973), and Weekend College (1977) all developed in response to the various needs of Milwaukee women that emerged out of the women’s movement and in an effort to boost enrollment at the college.
Since its transformation in the 1970s, Alverno has been repeatedly recognized as a national leader in liberal arts education. In 1996 it was awarded a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation grant in recognition of its “distinctive approach to liberal arts education.” In the same year, Alverno offered its first graduate program, a Master of Arts for Teachers/Trainers. The college’s graduate programs have expanded to include opportunities for both women and men in education, nursing, and psychology.
Alverno College was named Wisconsin’s first Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by the United States Department of Education in November 2017. This HSI distinction reflects the institution’s ongoing commitment to serving and responding to the needs of women throughout the Milwaukee community.
While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided in this Catalog as of its publication date, it must be understood that all courses, course descriptions, designations of instructors, curricular and degree requirements, and other academic information contained herein are subject to change or elimination at any time without notice or published amendment to the Catalog. In addition, Alverno College reserves the right to make changes at any time, without prior notice, to other programs, policies and regulations, procedures, fees and charges, and other information that is described in this catalog.
Alverno College's website, Catalog and any other printed materials or electronic media for general guidance is provided upon request. Individuals assume any risks associated with relying upon such information without checking other credible sources such as the student’s faculty advisor, the deans, the Registrar, and other senior officers of the college. In addition, a student’s or prospective student’s reliance upon information contained within these sources when making academic decisions does not constitute, and should not be construed as a contract with the College.
Christy L. Brown, J.D. President
The Alverno faculty are the primary architects, builders, and leaders of the College’s educational programs at all degree levels and; they exert profound influence on attainment of the College’s mission as well as on its spirit, community life and institutional vitality.