UMSV 605 Student Mistreatment: Prevention, Reporting, and Resolution

• • Policy Name: Student Mistreatment: Prevention, Reporting, and Resolution
  • ARC-PA Standard: A1.02j; A3.15f (5th Edition); A1.02g (6th Edition)
  • Date Reviewed and Adopted: 09-01.2026

Purpose and Statement of Commitment

The University of Mount Saint Vincent (UMSV) and its Physician Assistant (PA) Program are committed to a learning environment in which every student is treated with dignity and respect. Students learn best, and patients are served best, in an environment that is free from mistreatment. The Program seeks to prevent mistreatment of PA students in every setting in which instruction occurs, including classrooms, laboratories, simulation, and all supervised clinical practice experience sites, and to respond promptly, fairly, and consistently when mistreatment is reported. This policy defines student mistreatment, identifies who is covered, describes how a student may report an allegation, explains how allegations are investigated and resolved, and protects students who report from retaliation. It is a program-specific policy adopted by the University and applies in addition to, not in place of, the University policies referenced under Related University and Program Policies below.

Definition of Mistreatment

Mistreatment is any behavior that disrespects the dignity of a student or interferes with the learning process. It can be intentional or unintentional. Mistreatment may occur between a student and a faculty member, preceptor, clinical site employee, staff member, or another student, and may occur in person, in writing, or through electronic communication (for example, text message, email, or social media). Examples of mistreatment include, but are not limited to:

1. Discrimination: denying opportunities or treating a student differently on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, or any other status protected under the University Non-Discrimination Policy.
2. Humiliation: publicly belittling, ridiculing, or humiliating a student, including in front of patients, staff, or peers.
3. Physical or psychological punishment: threatening or inflicting physical harm; repeated episodes of psychological punishment such as threats, intimidation, or removal of learning privileges as punishment.
4. Unfair treatment: intentionally singling out a student for arbitrary treatment; using grading or evaluation to punish rather than to assess objective performance; assigning tasks for punishment rather than for educational purposes.
5. Exploitation: requiring a student to perform personal services or errands; taking credit for a student’s work; asking a student to perform duties outside the educational purpose of the rotation.
6. Abuse of authority and unprofessional relationships: using a position of authority over a student to obtain personal benefit; initiating or pursuing a romantic or sexual relationship with a student; requesting or offering favors in exchange for grades, evaluations, or opportunities.
7. Abusive or intimidating behavior: yelling, cursing at, or verbally abusing a student; threatening a student’s academic standing or future career; sexual harassment or sexual assault.
8. Intentional neglect: deliberately withholding instruction, supervision, feedback, or communication necessary for the student to meet learning outcomes.

Not all uncomfortable experiences are mistreatment. Constructive feedback on performance, high expectations, correction of errors, assignment of demanding clinical or academic work, and enforcement of program policies are part of professional education and are not mistreatment when delivered respectfully and for an educational purpose.

Who Is Covered

This policy protects every student enrolled in the PA Program and applies to the conduct of:

1. The Program Director, Medical Director, principal faculty, and program staff
2. Instructional faculty, including guest lecturers and adjunct faculty
3. Preceptors, residents, and all clinical site personnel who interact with PA students, whether or not they are employed by the University
4. Other PA students and other health professions students
5. Any other individual interacting with a PA student in an educational setting

The policy applies regardless of location, including at clinical affiliate sites. Where a clinical affiliation agreement specifies that site policies also apply, the student may report under this policy, under the site’s policy, or both.

How to Report

A student who experiences or witnesses mistreatment is encouraged to report it. A student may report to any of the following individuals or offices; no student is required to report to the person alleged to have engaged in the mistreatment or to that person’s supervisor. Contact information should be verified against the University Directory at https://mountsaintvincent.edu/directories/.  

Reporting Option	Contact
Program Director	For any allegation; required contact when the allegation involves a preceptor or clinical site
Director of Clinical Education	For allegations arising during supervised clinical practice experiences
Director of Medical Education	For allegations arising during the didactic phase
Any principal faculty member or faculty advisor	Faculty will document the report and forward it to the Program Director within one business day
Dean of the College of Professional and Graduate Studies	718.405.3377, cristobal.stewart@umsv.edu – for any allegation, including allegations involving the Program Director
Dean of Students/Office of Student Affairs	Founders Hall 103, 718.405.3253, studentaffairs@umsv.edu
Title IX Coordinator	Founders Hall 100, 718.405.3212, title9coordinator@umsv.edu – for sex-based harassment, sexual misconduct, or sexual assault
Anonymous report	Reports can be submitted anonymously; however, anonymous reporting generally restricts the University’s ability to conduct a full formal investigation or take disciplinary action against an accused party without a known complainant. Anonymous reports are reviewed and acted on to the extent the information allows.
Counseling Center (confidential support; not a reporting office)	Founders Hall 231, 718.405.3332, counseling@umsv.edu
Campus Safety and Security	Maloney Center 1, 718.405.3722, security@umsv.edu; call 911 in an emergency

Names, telephone numbers, and email addresses for the Program Director, Director of Clinical Education, Director of Medical Education, and principal faculty are listed on the PA Program faculty page: https://mountsaintvincent.edu/graduate-adult/graduate-programs/pa-studies-program/pa-studies-program-faculty/

Names and contact information for the Dean of the College of Professional and Graduate Studies and other University administrators are listed on the Senior Administration page: https://mountsaintvincent.edu/about/leadership/senior-administration/

Anonymous and Alternate Reporting: Reports can be submitted anonymously, but anonymous reporting generally restricts the University’s ability to conduct a full formal investigation or take disciplinary action against an accused party without a known complainant. Students who wish to remain anonymous may still receive support and interim measures to the extent possible, and the Program will use anonymous reports to identify patterns and address concerns at the site or course level.

Reports may be made in person, by telephone, by email, or through the anonymous form. Reports should be made as soon as possible, ideally within 15 days of the event or within 15 days of the end of the course or rotation, whichever is sooner; however, reports made later will still be received and reviewed.

Every clinical rotation evaluation completed by students includes a question asking whether the student experienced or witnessed mistreatment during the rotation. A “yes” response is reviewed by the Director of Clinical Education within five business days and handled under this policy.

Routing of Reports

Because some conduct that constitutes mistreatment is also governed by other University policies or by law, reports are routed as follows:

1. Sex-based harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, or stalking: referred to the Title IX Coordinator and handled under the University Sexual Misconduct Policy (Title IX). The Program Director remains available to the student for academic support and interim measures.
2. Discrimination or harassment based on a protected status that is not sex-based: referred to the Dean of Students or the Director for Human Resources under the University Non-Discrimination Policy and the procedures referenced in UMSV 604.
3. Conduct that may be criminal: the student is encouraged to contact Campus Safety and Security or local law enforcement; the University may also refer the matter. Call 911 in an emergency.
4. All other mistreatment (humiliation, intimidation, unfair treatment, exploitation, abuse of authority, unprofessional relationships, intentional neglect, and similar conduct): investigated and resolved by the PA Program and the Dean of the College of Professional and Graduate Studies under the Investigation and Resolution Procedure of this policy.

A referral to another office does not close the report under this policy. The Program Director tracks every report to resolution regardless of which office handles it, and the student may continue to receive support from the Program throughout.

Investigation and Resolution Procedure

1. Receipt and acknowledgment. The Program Director (or the Dean of the College of Professional and Graduate Studies if the allegation involves the Program Director) acknowledges receipt of the report to the student within two business days, explains the process, and offers interim measures where appropriate, such as reassignment of the student to a different preceptor, site, or course section pending review.
2. Initial assessment. Within five business days of receipt, the Program Director determines whether the report falls under this policy or must be referred as described under Routing of Reports, and documents that determination.
3. Investigation. For matters handled by the Program, the Program Director or a designee who has no involvement in the matter gathers information, which may include interviewing the student, the individual alleged to have engaged in the conduct, and witnesses, and reviewing relevant documents. The student is not required to meet with the respondent. The standard of proof is whether it is more likely than not that mistreatment occurred.
4. Determination and response. The Program Director issues a written determination to the student within 15 business days of receipt of the report, or informs the student of the reason for any delay and the expected date. Outcomes may include education or counseling of the individual, a written warning, removal of a preceptor or site from use by the Program, referral to Human Resources for employment action, referral to the Student Conduct process for a student respondent, or a finding that mistreatment did not occur.
5. Preceptors and clinical sites. When a preceptor or site employee is found to have engaged in mistreatment, the Director of Clinical Education notifies the site’s designated educational contact, and the Program determines whether the preceptor or site may continue to be used. This determination is documented in the site and preceptor evaluation record maintained under UMSV 326.
6. Appeal. A student who is dissatisfied with the determination may appeal in writing to the Dean of the College of Professional and Graduate Studies within 10 business days of the determination. The Dean reviews the record and issues a written decision within 15 business days. The Dean’s decision is final at the University level. Matters handled under the Title IX or Non-Discrimination procedures follow the appeal provisions of those policies.
7. Documentation. All reports, determinations, and appeals are documented in a confidential mistreatment log maintained by the Program Director and kept separate from student academic records. The log records the date of report, the category of conduct, the setting, the office that handled the matter, the outcome, and the date of resolution.

Confidentiality and Protection from Retaliation

Reports are handled as confidentially as possible. Information is shared only with individuals who need it to assess, investigate, resolve, or provide interim measures for the report. The Program cannot promise complete confidentiality when the conduct reported creates a safety risk, involves sex-based misconduct that must be reported to the Title IX Coordinator, or requires action against the respondent; the student will be informed when a report must be shared. Students seeking a fully confidential conversation may contact the Counseling Center, which does not report to the Program. See also Mental Health Emergencies for after-hours contacts.

Retaliation against any student for reporting mistreatment in good faith, participating in an investigation, or supporting another student’s report is prohibited and is itself mistreatment under this policy. Retaliation includes adverse changes in grades, evaluations, rotation assignments, or treatment. Any student who believes they have experienced retaliation should report it as described under How to Report. A report made in good faith that is not substantiated is not a violation of any policy; a report the student knows to be false may be addressed under UMSV 306 (Guidelines for Ethical Conduct and Professional Behavior).

Related University and Program Policies

1. University Non-Discrimination Policy
2. University Sexual Misconduct Policy (Title IX)
3. UMSV 604 – Discrimination, Non-Sex Based Harassment, and Retaliation
4. PA Program Policies – including UMSV 204 (Student Academic Grievances) and UMSV 306 (Guidelines for Ethical Conduct and Professional Behavior)
5. Counseling Center
6. Preceptor Handbook and clinical affiliation agreements (available from the Director of Clinical Education)

Publication, Education, and Consistent Application

1. This policy is published on the PA Program Policies page and in the PA Program Policies and Procedure Manual, the PA Student Handbook, the Clinical Year Handbook, and the Preceptor Handbook.
2. The policy is reviewed with all students at new-student orientation and again at clinical-year orientation; students sign an acknowledgment that is retained in the student file.
3. A summary of the policy and the reporting contacts is provided to every preceptor at onboarding and is included in each rotation syllabus.
4. Program faculty and staff receive annual training on recognizing, preventing, and responding to student mistreatment.
5. The Program Director reviews the mistreatment log at least each semester to confirm that every report was handled according to this policy and within the stated timelines, and reports aggregate, de-identified data (number of reports, categories, settings, and outcomes) annually to the Dean of the College of Professional and Graduate Studies and to the Program’s Data Analytic Committee (UMSV 337) as part of ongoing self-assessment.
6. This policy is reviewed annually by the Program Director and the Dean of the College of Professional and Graduate Studies and revised as needed.