Since 2000, Westmoreland County Community College has published notices saying the school will not discriminate against individuals based on various circumstances, including their "sexual orientation" and "union membership."

But the school now says there is another statement that does not contain those four words and that it is the only one approved as an official policy by college trustees -- in a 1998 vote.

So the college has begun the unusual task of striking references to both classes of people from its non-discrimination language, including a statement on the college's Web site.

College President Daniel Obara said yesterday that the decision to delete the words is unrelated to a grievance filed in March on behalf of a gay employee who married in Massachusetts and was denied health insurance for his spouse. However, the president said the school learned of the conflicting language from the college's attorney during an internal meeting called a month ago to discuss the employee's case.

"They have absolutely nothing to do with each other," Dr. Obara said.

The employee, Andrew Doherty, and the head of the union representing him and other professionals on campus say they aren't so sure.

Michael Hricik, an English professor and president of the WCCC Professional Association, said the union will oppose removal of either class from campus publications.

"We feel both should be included in the policy -- especially the area of sexual orientation," he said. "We checked at many of the other community colleges throughout the state of Pennsylvania and they have [sexual orientation] in there."

The Post-Gazette yesterday found references to sexual orientation in non-discrimination language on Web sites of nine of the state's 14 community colleges.

Mr. Doherty, 36, a developmental education assistant who administers standardized tests, said it doesn't make sense.

"Why now after nine years?" he asked. "How many institutions do you know that are taking people out of a non-discrimination policy?"

Dr. Obara said he believes the 1998 policy adopted by the trustees is sufficiently broad to cover all legally protected classes, and that deleting the language from various publications has no bearing on Mr. Doherty's claim.

He says the language being struck was inserted in 2000 by a now-retired employee. Every year since, it was published in the school's course catalogue and student handbook, and over time, he added, "We picked up the language and put it in other publications."

But the four words were never incorporated into collective bargaining agreements with the union, nor were they ever a part of the board's written Equal Employment Opportunity policy, the president said.

Dr. Obara said the language will be removed from the college's catalogue for the 2009-10 academic year.

The college's now-retired affirmative action officer, Mary Stubbs, whom Dr. Obara said added the words, denied knowledge of the change Thursday and said any revisions to the catalogue she proposed would have been forwarded for review to the public relations staff and others, including the vice president for academic affairs and student services, a position held by Dr. Obara when the words were first published.

"I would never take it upon myself to change a statement in the college, and anyone who told you that ought to know better," she said. "Of course not -- not without having it approved."

Asked about that, Dr. Obara yesterday said Ms. Stubbs did not deny making the change in a conversation he had with her a week ago. He said the proposed wording change may have crossed his desk without his notice, but there was no special effort made to alert him.

Mr. Doherty, a WCCC employee for nearly five years, was married last November in North Andover, Mass., where state law recognizes same-sex marriage. After his request for benefits was denied that same month, he appealed, and in March, the Professional Association filed a grievance that is now headed to arbitration.

"We feel it's a just request," said Mr. Hricik, whose union is a part of the Pennsylvania State Employees Association. "[Mr. Doherty] is legally married. It's not legal in the state of Pennsylvania, but he's legally married."

Dr. Obara declined to comment on Mr. Doherty's case, citing the grievance proceeding.