NLU PA Program — Didactic Year Handbook
Appendix H: NLU MSPAS Academic Grievance, Student Appeals, Harassment, Discrimination, and Non-Retaliation Policy
Effective Date: 11/1/2026
Review Cycle: Annually and as required by university, regulatory, or ARC-PA changes
Responsible Unit: NLU Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program
Responsible Official: Program Director
Applies To: All enrolled NLU MSPAS students, PA Program faculty, staff, administrators, and other individuals involved in PA Program academic or clinical education processes
I. Purpose
The National Louis University Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (NLU MSPAS) Program is committed to providing a professional, equitable, respectful, inclusive, and educationally appropriate environment in which students can raise concerns, seek resolution of grievances, appeal applicable decisions, and report allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or other inappropriate conduct without fear of retaliation. This policy establishes the NLU MSPAS Program’s procedures for academic grievances and appeals; non- academic grievances; student complaints; allegations of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation; concerns involving faculty, staff, administrators, preceptors, clinical sites, or other members of the educational community; academic progression, remediation, deceleration, withdrawal, or dismissal concerns when subject to appeal; protection of student rights and confidentiality; informal resolution and formal grievance processes; documentation and record retention; and referral to the appropriate NLU office or external entity when required or permitted. The policy supports compliance with ARC-PA Sixth Edition Standards, including A3.01, A3.14, A3.15, B4.01, and other standards addressing student rights, academic progression, evaluation, and program policies.
II. Policy Statement
National Louis University and the NLU MSPAS Program provide students with established processes through which concerns may be raised and reviewed. The NLU MSPAS Program shall publish its grievance and appeal procedures; make them readily available to prospective and enrolled students; apply them consistently; provide reasonable access to the procedures; protect students from retaliation for good- faith complaints or participation in an investigation; separate individuals when necessary to avoid conflicts of interest; maintain appropriate documentation; protect student educational records consistent with FERPA; refer University-wide matters to the appropriate NLU office; inform students of applicable external complaint processes; and review grievance and appeal data as part of ongoing program assessment and continuous quality improvement.
III. Guiding Principles
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