A Hearing is on the Horizon for Chestnut Hill College
An email sent to faculty at Chestnut Hill College surfaced earlier this month. The message announced the school’s decision to face the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) over an alleged institutional discrimination case filed by a former student.
The move comes after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied hearing an appeal by the college that questioned the PHRC’s jurisdiction over private catholic institutions. With an appeal to the United States Supreme Court remaining on the table, Chestnut Hill College President Sister Carol Jean Vale announced the school’s decision.
The email read:
“After much consideration, reflection, and prayer, we have decided to permit the PHRC matter to be remanded for discovery and a public hearing. Although we found strong legal precedent to support an appeal to the United States Supreme Court, it is our judgment, that a public hearing is best for all involved.
Thank you for your continued interest in this matter and your patience as we sought clarification from the Courts concerning the proper jurisdiction for the case to be heard. I recognize this has been a very difficult and painful time for us all and I deeply regret this has been true. Please know that no decisions about this case were made without thorough research and reflection as we weighed each and every option available to us. This will continue to be our practice as we move forward.”
The allegations come after Allan-Michael Meads, a former student at the college, faced accusations for misappropriating funds given by the school. For all the details on the case, follow my article, “Everything you need to know about the Chestnut Hill College discrimination case.”
The public hearing’s date is not available at this time.
