COMPLAINT POLICY
Reporting Improper Conduct
The policies and procedures included in this Handbook and relevant portions of the Employee/Student
Handbooks that are applicable are essential for establishing a caring, Christ-inspired community and open
inquiry, which integrates faith, learning, and life. Any questions related to policy should be referred to theUniversity Compliance Officer.
Any person having reason to believe or who reasonably suspects that any member of the Ottawa University
community is engaged in a conduct contrary to any established University policy and/or procedures set forth
herein, should report such conduct as quickly as possible after becoming aware of such conduct to theirmanager, a local unit Officer, the University Compliance Officer, or if preferred, to a source outside theUniversity by contacting the Compliance Hotline service at 844-719-2846 or on the internet atwww.ottawa.ethicspoint.com, both of which operate 24 hours/day, 7 days a week. (Emergency situations which
are an urgent safety or security issue must be made directly to 911.)
If the reported conduct potentially involves management for your location, the disclosure should be made to
the University Compliance Officer. The University Compliance Officer will oversee the prompt and thoroughinvestigation of all reports and will make every effort to protect the identity of the person reporting theimproper conduct. However, the University cannot guarantee confidentiality if identification of the person isnecessary to institutional or law enforcement officials for the purposes of investigating the incident. In
accordance with the nature of the complaint and the findings of the investigation, the University will takeappropriate, corrective action.
Infractions of any policy or procedure set forth in this Handbook can result in discipline, at the sole discretionof Ottawa University, up to and including unpaid suspension or termination of employment. In addition, anyomission or misrepresentation during the course of an individual’s employment (including but not limited to theapplication process, information regarding timeworked, information associated with paid or unpaid time off, etc.) may result in discipline, up to and including
termination of employment.
University Compliance Officer/Title IX Coordinator
The University Compliance Officer is responsible for overseeing the process by which complaints areinvestigated within the University. The University Compliance Officer also serves as the Title IX Coordinator andregularly reports to the President and the Chair of the Board of Trustees the categories of complaints brought
forth and makes any recommendations for change. This position is appointed by the President. The current
appointment is:
Carrie Stevens
Director of University Compliance/Title IX Coordinatorcarrie.stevens@ottawa.edu • 785-248-2326
Compliance Hotline
The Compliance Hotline is an externally managed call center independent of the University, staffed by intake
specialist professionals. Individuals calling the hotline are not required to disclose who they are. This
information is welcomed, however, only if a person wishes to do so. Calls are not recorded. A person may
contact the Compliance Hotline service at 844-719-2846 oron the internet at www.ottawa.ethicspoint.com. The Intake Specialist takes notes of the conversation,summarizes the call, and forwards it to the University Compliance Officer for investigation. The goal of thehotline, for non-emergency situations, is to have an initial response back from the University in five (5)business days, so that the caller may call the hotline back for an update to the original call. The caller is able todo this anonymously, if they choose, using the case number assigned when he/she first called the hotline. At
that time the caller may be asked toprovide additional information or to call back at a later date for an update. Emergency situations are expedited
and will be addressed as quickly as possible.
Student Complaint Policy
Students may also submit complaints in writing to the Vice President and Provost or other officials of a site or
to University level personnel including vice presidents and the President. In compliance with federal regulations
as interpreted by the Higher Learning Commission (accrediting agency), the University maintains a record ofcomplaints sent by enrolled students to the president, vice presidents, provosts, and deans or directors ofacademic programs. The complaints recorded include only complaints submitted in writing and signed by astudent.
No information identifying the individual(s) making the complaint is made available to the accrediting
association. Students may review a record of anonymously tracked complaints that include academic
grievances. The University Registrar maintains the database of formal complaints, and at least once a year,
issues a report summarizing the complaints and their status.
The following information is recorded in the complaint database:• The date the complaint was formally submitted• The nature of the complaint• The steps taken to resolve the complaint• The University’s final decision regarding the complaint.
• External actions, if known, initiated by the student to resolve the complaintand outcome of such actions.

NOTE: Within 10 days of the final resolution of the grievance, the Academic Dean (or CE) must report thedetails of the grievance to the University Registrar. The University Registrar will maintain an official record of all
grievances filled with the University.
Military Students
Military students have an additional option, as follows:
The Department of Defense provides the Postsecondary Education Complaint System which provides acentralized online reporting system for service members and their families to use in reporting problems witheducation institutions. Agency partners including the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Education are also
launching online feedback tools providing a centralized system for veterans, service members and eligible
family members to file student complaints.
Students can submit a complaint if they believe their school is failing to follow the Principles of Excellence
through the centralized online reporting system accessed via the Department of Defense website. Examples of
education-related issues may include, but are not limited to, misrepresentation or deceptive actions withregards to private or institutional loans, high-pressure recruitment tactics, false representations about degree
programs, and misleading statements regarding accreditation.
The complaint system is part of the President’s Executive Order establishing Principles of Excellence foreducational institutions serving Service Members, Veterans, Spouses, and other Family Members; designed toempower beneficiaries to report experiences related to misleading or unfair acts or practices by educational
institutions serving veterans, service members and their families.
Military-connected students using Tuition Assistance (TA) or Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts(MyCAA) Scholarships can submit feedback at: www.militaryonesource.mil/deployment-andtransition/separating-from-the-military?content_id=287986. Once a complaint is received, agency staff willcontact both the student submitting the complaint as well as the referenced school, working with both parties
to fully understand the issue raised and seek resolution.
All verified cases will be submitted to the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network accessibleby over 650 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies for use in enhancing and coordinating law
enforcement investigations. Appropriate cases will be referred to the Department of Justice and/or Consumer
Financial Protection Bureau.

State of Kansas Complaint Procedures
Should the institution not be able to resolve the student complaint, the student has the right to contact thestate of Kansas and it's appropriate agency to determine the course of action. Complaints can be filed with thefollowing agencies in Kansas:
Complaints related to the application of state laws or rules related to approval to operate or licensureof a particular professional program within a postsecondary institution shall be referred to theappropriate State Board (i.e., State Boards of Health, State Board of Education, and so on) within theKansas State Government and shall be reviewed and handled by that licensing board(www.kansas.gov/agencies/ and then search for the appropriate division);
Complaints related to state consumer protection laws (e.g., laws related to fraud or false advertising)shall be referred to the Consumer Protection Division in the office of the Kansas Attorney General andshall be reviewed and handled by that Unit (http://ag.ks.gov/in-your-corner-kansas/home)

State of Arizona Complaint Procedures
If the student complaint cannot be resolved after exhausting the Institution's grievance procedures, thestudents may file a complaint with the Arizona State Board for Private Post-Secondary Education. The student
must contact the State Board for further details. The state Board Address is:
1400 W. Washington, Room 26
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-542-5709
Website: www.azppse.gov
State of Wisconsin Complaint Procedures
Educational Approval Board
431 Charmany Drive, Ste. 102
Madison, WI 53719
Phone: 608-266-1996
State of Indiana Complaint Procedures
101 West Ohio Street, Ste. 550
Indianapolis, IN 46204-1984
Phone: 317-464-4400
Email: complaints@che.in.gov
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Allegations regarding noncompliance with accreditation standards, policies, and procedures may be made to:
HLC
230 South LaSalle StreetSuite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604

The Commission's complaint policy, procedure and the Complaint form may be found on theirwebsite, www.hlcommission.org/Student-Resources/complaints.html?highlight=WyJjb21wb.