Benedictine University was informed of the decision in a Notice of Dismissal dated Oct. 5.

"We are extremely pleased that the Department of Human Rights has dismissed the charges," said Benedictine University President William J. Carroll.

Tadlock was an adjunct faculty member and later joined the staff as education program director at Springfield College in Illinois, which eventually became a branch campus of Benedictine University. In July 2010, she "married" partner Kae Helstrom in a civil ceremony in Iowa after the Iowa Supreme Court opened the way for gay marriages in that state.

A wedding announcement listing Benedictine as Tadlock's place of employment appeared in the The State Journal-Register in Springfield on July 11, 2010, prompting expressions of concern from church leaders and members of the community. Carroll sent a letter to Tadlock stating that she had "disregarded and flouted core religious beliefs which, as a Catholic University, is our mission to uphold."

Benedictine initially placed Tadlock on administrative leave, then assigned her to an administrative position as director of Assessment, AQIP Accreditation and Institutional Effectiveness. Despite being informed several times that failure to report to work would be considered a resignation, Tadlock declined to accept the position.

Tadlock claimed that the University's actions were due to her sexual orientation, charges the Illinois Department of Human Rights dismissed in an 11-page report dated Sept. 19.

The department found a lack of evidence in the case for several reasons, and concluded that there is nothing to suggest that sexual orientation was the reason for the University's actions relative to Tadlock.

Benedictine University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, creed or sexual orientation.