As an educational service agency, all marketing materials developed by the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) require the inclusion of an equal opportunity, non-discrimination statement. Below are the statements to be utilized based on available space.

This statement is to be used on all printed materials when space permits. Its font size should be a minimum of 6 pt.

The Chester County Intermediate Unit will not discriminate in employment, educational programs or activities based on race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, creed, sexual orientation, ancestry, disability, handicap, marital status or because a person is a disabled veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam era [NOTE: Only for TCHS add “and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups]. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for employees and program participants who are disabled. No preschool, elementary, secondary or post-secondary pupil enrolled in an intermediate unit program shall be denied equal opportunity to participate in age and program appropriate instruction or activities due to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, creed, sexual orientation, ancestry, disability, handicap, marital status, limited English proficiency or financial hardship. Participation in instruction and activities for a student identified as exceptional may be modified according to the student’s individualized education plan (IEP) developed for the student. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for pupils who are disabled.

If you have a complaint regarding employment discrimination, you may file a complaint with the CCIU Human Resources Department using the form contained in CCIU Procedure #0112.02, by calling 484-237-5086 or by emailing DeafRelay@cciu.org. If you have a complaint regarding program participation discrimination, you may file a complaint with the program supervisor using the form contained in CCIU Procedure #0112.01, by calling 484-237-5086 or by emailing DeafRelay@cciu.org. A complaint regarding employment discrimination or program participation discrimination will be investigated and a prompt response will be provided consistent with the CCIU policies referenced above. You may also file employment-related complaints with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) or the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC). Program participation complaints may also be filed with the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights or the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.

When space is limited, the following shortened non-discrimination statement may be used:

The Chester County Intermediate Unit will not discriminate in employment, educational programs or activities based on race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, creed, sexual orientation, ancestry, disability, handicap, marital status or because a person is a disabled veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam era [NOTE: Only for TCHS add “and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups]. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for employees and program participants who are disabled. No preschool, elementary, secondary or post-secondary pupil enrolled in an intermediate unit program shall be denied equal opportunity to participate in age and program appropriate instruction or activities due to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, creed, sexual orientation, ancestry, disability, handicap, marital status, limited English proficiency or financial hardship. Participation in instruction and activities for a student identified as exceptional may be modified according to the student’s individualized education plan (IEP) developed for the student. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for pupils who are disabled. For information regarding civil rights or grievance procedures, contact Maureen Linahan, Title IX and Section 504 coordinator, at (484) 237-5086/DeafRelay@cciu.org; or in writing at the Chester County Intermediate Unit, 455 Boot Road, Downingtown, PA 19335.

Abbreviated non-discrimination statement

When space is extremely limited, such as in print or digital advertisements, the following statement may be used:

An Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator

NOTE: For TCHS please add the following sentence as the first sentence in the full or mid-length selected statement: The Chester County Technical College High School is operated by the Chester County Intermediate Unit.

Questions often arise around the use of copyrighted material, including books, movies and songs. In the educational setting, we often times can utilize copyrighted sources under the guidance of “fair use” established by the United States Copyright Office, but even with “fair use” there are restrictions that must be adhered to. Below is a snapshot of copyright and fair use, along with a link to an easy to reference chart.

If at any time you have questions regarding the appropriate use of content, please contact Communications prior to proceeding.

What is copyright?

Per the Library of Congress, copyright refers to the author's (creators of all sorts such as writers, photographers, artists, film producers, composers, and programmers) exclusive right to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies, and publicly perform and display their works. These rights may be transferred or assigned in whole or in part in writing by the author. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, work created by an employee is usually owned by the employer. The U.S. Copyright Act gets its authority from Article 1, Section 8, cl. 8 of the U.S. Constitution.

If a copyright is not listed on a piece of work, does that mean there is no copyright?

The Library of Congress clearly states that the absence of a copyright notice does not mean that there is no copyright. Copyright protection exists automatically from the moment of creation in a tangible fixed form, which is generally considered to include the electronic form. A notice is not required to protect copyright. Work created by employees of the federal government as a part of their job is in the public domain, i.e., not protected by copyright. This is why you may use American Life Histories: Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1940, materials in American Memory without being concerned with infringing on someone's copyright (other legal concerns may be raised in the Restriction Statements). Remember to credit your sources, even for government materials.

What is “fair use”?

Per the Library of Congress, “fair use” is an exception to the exclusive protection of copyright under American law. It permits certain limited uses without permission from the author or owner. Depending on the circumstances, copying may be considered "fair" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship or research.

To determine whether a specific use under one of these categories is "fair," courts are required to consider the following factors:

• the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
• the nature of the copyrighted work;
• the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole (is it long or short in length, that is, are you copying the entire work, as you might with an image, or just part as you might with a long novel); and
• the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

Keep in mind that even in an educational setting, it is not fair use to copy for a "commercial motive" or to copy "systematically," that is, "where the aim is to substitute for subscription or purchase." No factor by itself will determine whether a particular use is "fair." All four factors must be weighed together in light of the circumstances. See the U.S. Copyright Office's Copyright Information Circulars and Form Letters for "Circular 21-Reproductions of Copyrighted Works by Educators and Librarians."

Resources:

• Library of Congress - Q&A regarding copyright and “fair use”