1. Offices and Departments
  2. Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)

Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)

Types:

Contact Information

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a campus committee on our Lock Haven and Mansfield campuses that helps ensure equal parity for women in all aspects of campus life.

Comprised of a collective body of faculty, students, staff, and administrative representatives, the commission’s charge is to:

  • Inform the President of the needs and concerns of women students, staff, and faculty.
  • Promote campus-wide awareness of changing lifestyles, professional opportunities, and rights of all women employees in a timely manner.
  • Investigate campus conditions negatively affecting women’s working environment, professional opportunities, and salary.
  • Propose methods to alleviate such negative conditions and inequities.
  • Sponsor programs, events, and speakers that increase the visibility of women’s achievements and women’s issues in the workplace.
  • Maintain an active liaison with university departments and university groups concerned with equity in pay, creating and maintaining a sexual harassment-free learning and workplace environment, and developing professional opportunities for women.

Lock Haven CSW

The Lock Haven Commission on the Status of Women consists of Lock Haven faculty, staff, administrators, and students interested in women's issues. All CU-Lock Haven faculty, staff, administrators, and students are welcome to attend. 

If you would like more information on becoming a member of the Lock Haven CSW, please contact Nicole Burkholder-Mosco by email nburkhol@commonwealthu.edu or by phone 570-484-2520.

If you would like to become a member, click the button below a fill out the form.

Become a Member

The SafeZone Committee encourages students, staff & faculty to participate in private SafeZone trainings. The mission of SafeZone is to help build support networks for LGBTQ individuals seeking a sense of connection to the campus community. Students who feel connected are much more likely to stay and complete their education. 

Having safe spaces to go where LGBTQ can feel comfortable with self-expression is vital to personal and academic success. Safe Zone Ally programs help reduce discrimination, harassment, and violence nationally reported to impact LGBTQ populations.

Training Request Form

Overview

  • Commission on the Status of Women Committees
  • President’s Award for Distinguished Work in the Advancement of Women’s Issues Committee
  • President’s Award for Distinguished Work in the Advancement of Women’s Issues Committee: Coordinates the nominations for the President’s student, faculty, and staff awards given out annually at the Let Her Voice Be Heard Event.
  • PASSHE Leadership Institute Committee
  • PASSHE Leadership Institute Committee: Coordinates solicitation, nomination, and selection of candidates for attendance and/or scholarships to PASSHE Women’s Faculty, Staff, and Undergraduate Leadership Institutes.
  • Let Her Voice Be Heard Committee: Plans the annual Let Her Voice Be Heard spoken word poetry event each March during Women’s History Month.

Commission on the Status of Women Events

  • Let Her Voice Be Heard and Celebration of CU-Lock Haven Women - late March
    • The Commission on the Status of Women at Lock Haven sponsors a reception in Celebration of CU-Lock Haven Women in the spring semester. "Let Her Voice Be Heard," a spoken word event, celebrates women writers. Women and Gender awards, including the Virginia Martin Prize & Scholarships and distinguished work awards, are announced at this event.
    • A reading of writings by women, is organized by the English Club, along with the Women and Gender Studies Minor. As part of Celebrating CU-Lock Haven Women, the nominees for the Woman of Distinction awards are announced.
  • President’s Award for Distinguished Work in the Advancement of Women’s Issues
    • Each year, the President's Commission on the Status of Women sponsors the President’s Award for Distinguished Work in the Advancement of Women’s Issues. Three awards are given - one to a student, one to a faculty member, and one to a staff member. 
    • The award is used to recognize the efforts of people on campus who are exceptional in their service to the university and community, specifically service to furthering women's issues. Nominations for the award are accepted in early spring.

Commission on the Status of Women Resources

Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania and the Lock Haven campus and public community have a variety of opportunities and resources available for students, faculty, and staff to use. Below are just a few of the resources available.

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At Commonwealth University-Lock Haven, we believe that diversity is at the heart of holistic educational experiences. Whether student, staff, or faculty, we understand that to grow requires broadening perspectives and developing new insights. A complete CU-Lock Haven education includes active involvement with communities outside the walls of our classrooms and an exploration of new relationships within our community. We are committed to forging relationships across and through lines of difference. We invite you to explore our site and to share your thoughts on how we can continue to enhance LHU’s diversity initiatives. Explore DEI at Lock Haven.

Women's & LGBTQIA+ Resource Centers

Women's Resource Center LGBTQA+ Resource Center

Other On-Campus Resources

Commonwealth University-Lock Haven has dedicated offices for Public Safety, Health Services, and Counseling Services. These resources are available to all members of the LHU community. 

Roads to Peace (Clinton County Women's Center, Inc.)

The Women's Center works with both women and men who are victims of domestic abuse or sexual assault. Volunteers can choose from several areas to serve. 

Road to Peace Website

Additional Links and Information

On-Campus Resources

Off-Campus Resources

GSA is a student run organization with a similar directive to the Commission. Students work closely with the Commission, often serving on various committees. GSA events are often co-sponsored by the Commission and are noted as such on the Events Page.

Lock Haven DEI Events

Mansfield CSW

Are you interested in advocating for women & supporting women’s issues on campus? Consider joining CSW!

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is an organization that works to support women on campus and provide programming to further this mission. We meet 1-2 times per month and ask for additional support at CSW-sponsored events throughout the academic year.

CSW conducts elections at the beginning and end of each Fall/Spring semester. Interested students, staff, and faculty should fill out the linked form below. We will contact you with the results of our election in September/November/February/April.

Become a member now!

To promote education about women and awareness of women’s issues and concerns to all members of the campus community.

  • To orient new faculty /staff/students to existing resources and programs of interest to women.
  • To work with human resources, continuing education, and other appropriate offices and groups to promote learning about women and women’s issues.
  • To work with cabinet officials and other appropriate offices and groups to promote activities that broaden consciousness of women’s potential and capabilities.
  • To continue integration of the study of women and women’s issues into existing and new courses.
  • To advocate for the Women’s Center's resources and programming.
  • To provide support and direction to all college constituencies in matter of women’s issues.

To support the Women’s Center and Advocacy Program for women who have experienced or are experiencing problems related to gender, such as discrimination, acquaintance rape, or sexual or intellectual harassment.

  • To support initiatives related to women.
  • To research and provide direction in dealing with gender issues in developing and upholding university policy using information gathering and assessment when appropriate.

To monitor and assist in the development and implementation of goals for women as stated by the campus.

  • To review, support, and participate in the development of the Social Equity Plan.
  • To encourage the promotion and visibility of women in campus governance and management.

Questions or Concerns?

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) invites faculty, staff, and students to nominate an outstanding female-identifying student at CU-Mansfield to be celebrated in our Student Spotlight.  

We are looking to feature female-identifying students who:

  1. Promote women’s issues
  2. Represent academic excellence
  3. Demonstrate service and leadership to the university (campus organizations, committees, athletics, etc.)

New Student Spotlights will be featured on the PCSW website & social media each month.

Nominate a student!

Illustration of Mountain

Connect with Our Team