Report a Complaint

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Complaint

Unless otherwise specified in a College policy, handbook or applicable law, a Complaint is any report of actual or suspected breaches or violation of laws, institutional policies, or College handbooks, ethical misconduct, conflicts and/or disputes. For reporting purposes, suggestions, recommendations, requests for assistance, feedback, and notices of dissatisfaction are not considered “Complaints.” The College may have a legal and/or ethical obligation to respond to Complaints. Responses may include but are not limited to follow up, informal resolutions, formal investigation, procedures as outlined in the Employee Handbook and/or the respective Collective Bargaining Agreement, the student adjudication process, and/or supplying supportive measures. The type of College response to any Complaint is determined by law, institutional policy, and College Administration.

Report a Complaint

VIEW REPORTING FLOWCHART

 

Report Content and Anonymity

 

Because of the inherent difficulty in investigating and resolving allegations that are vague or from unidentified persons, the College encourages individuals to provide full information and identify themselves when making reports of improper conduct. However, should the College receive a generalized or anonymous report, such report will be reviewed and investigated to the extent feasible.

  • Report anonymous complaints online via Lighthouse, the College’s anonymous reporting hotline; or
  • Report an anonymous complaint via email: reports@lighthouse-services.com; or
  • Report an anonymous complaint via phone: 
    • English speaking: 844-990-0002
    • Spanish speaking: 800-216-1288

Quick Links for Assistance

Complaint Resolution Processes

Resolution processes are unique to the type of complaint, the person (i.e. employee, student, visitor) against whom the complaint is directed, and the level of due process required to resolve a complaint. Accordingly, complaints are directed to the jurisdiction of the appropriate process recognized by the College.

Recordkeeping

Records of complaints will be retained by the appropriate custodian and in a manner as may be required by the College’s Records Retention Policy and/or applicable law.

Privacy

The College shall maintain the privacy of the information it receives, except where disclosure is required by law, policy or is necessary to facilitate legitimate College processes, including the investigation and resolution of allegations.

The identity of participants in an investigation shall be maintained in the manner above subject to the same limitations above.

Individuals who have reported complaints or potential violations or who have initiated or participated in the complaint procedures available are advised their identity may be known for reasons beyond the control of College officials or investigators.

Retaliation 

The College strictly prohibits retaliation or reprisal of any kind against an individual who has reported, attempted to report or provided information regarding potential violations of College Policy or who has initiated or participated in the complaint procedures available or has otherwise been involved in the process of responding to, investigating or addressing allegations reported to the College.

Any person who attempts either directly, indirectly or through someone acting on another’s behalf to intimidate, threaten, retaliate, interfere with, restrain, coerce, discriminate against, violate a College Limited Contact Directive or harass any person for reporting, attempting to report, or pursuing a complaint or is a witness cooperating in a College investigation will be addressed by the College.

Allegations of retaliation shall constitute separate grounds upon which a complaint may be raised.

Reporting False Claims

Any individual who knowingly makes a false report or claim to the College shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination.

College Response

In its sole discretion, the College may initiate or take through a resolution process any complaint initially brought by another. If at any time the College believes an investigation is justified, an investigation may proceed. The College may take any appropriate measures designed to protect the health and/or safety of the College community.

Investigations

College Investigations (Required Participation)
The College may determine a complaint allegation or report of suspected noncompliance requires an investigation. The College expects the timely participation and complete cooperation of its students and employees in College investigations.

The College may appoint an internal and/or external party(ies) to conduct a College investigation. No one other than the College appointed investigator(s) will be allowed to conduct an investigation on behalf of the College.

The College may impose any appropriate measures on an interim basis where it concludes that such action is needed to protect the health, safety or welfare of members of the College community, to facilitate an effective investigation or to avoid disruption to the work/educational environment. Such measures may include student suspension or employee administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation or resolution process.

Any person who fails to fully cooperate in a College investigation process or who abuses the process including, but not limited to, failure to respond in a timely manner, falsification, distortion, misrepresentation or any other abuse is subject to disciplinary action.

Non-College Investigations (Voluntary Participation)
Under certain circumstances, the College may allow an investigation to be conducted by a third party. These non-College investigations may involve requests for interviews or some other form of cooperation by students and/or employees. Participation by students or employees in such non-College investigations is voluntary. Students and employees are not obligated to take part in any non-College investigation that is not being conducted by the College.

Students and employees may have other rights when asked to participate in a non-College investigation not being conducted on behalf of the College. Such rights may include having a representative from the Office of Compliance attend an interview at the student’s or employee’s request. It is strongly recommended that students and employees contact the Office of Compliance for guidance when requested to participate in any way in a non-College investigation.

If a student or employee initially consents to participate in a non-College investigation, the student or employee may, at any time, withdraw that consent and refuse to take any further part in the non-College investigation. Retaliation against students and employees will not be tolerated based on whether or not they participate in a non-College investigation.

Violation of Law and College Policies

Noncompliance with College’s policies includes any behaviors violating applicable laws. Individuals engaging in illegal activities may subject themselves to both College discipline and individual criminal penalties under the law.

Disciplinary proceedings may be instituted against an individual whose conduct potentially violates both the criminal law and the College’s policies (that is, if both possible violations result from the same factual situation) without regard to the pendency of civil or criminal litigation.

College proceedings may be carried out prior to, simultaneously with, or following a civil or criminal proceeding at the discretion of the College. Determinations made or disciplinary actions imposed under College Policy shall not be subject to change solely because criminal charges arising out of the same facts giving rise to violation of the College’s policies were dismissed, reduced or resolved in favor of or against the criminal law defendant.

When a student or employee is charged by federal, state or local authorities with a violation of law, the College will not request or agree to special consideration for that individual because of his or her status as a student or employee with the College. If the alleged offense is also being addressed under College policy, the College may advise legal authorities of the existence of the College’s policies and how such matters are typically handled within the College processes.

Disciplinary Action

Employees or students found to have conducted themselves in a manner prohibited by College policies may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment and/or dismissal as a student.

Report a Complaint to the State Board or Commission

In accordance with federal law (see 34 C.F.R., Section 600.9), Palmer College of Chiropractic students may file complaints about the College with the state board or commission that governs postsecondary educational activity. The appropriate state boards/commissions, as well as contact information and links to pertinent websites, are provided below.

Report a Complaint Regarding Distance Education

Palmer College of Chiropractic participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). This organization allows the College to offer select courses via distance education to students outside the state of Iowa. To participate, certain consumer protection standards must be met.