STUDENT CONDUCT

PNWU is committed to maintaining a culture of academic integrity where all members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that will maintain and strengthen the public’s trust and confidence in the integrity of the University and to take no actions incompatible with their obligations to the University.

PNWU requires those acting on behalf of the University to carefully follow federal, state, local, and other laws and regulations, and University policies related to their duties and responsibilities.

Expected ethical behavior includes, but is not limited to:

  • Acting with honesty, integrity, and independence, avoiding actual or apparent conflicts of interest.
  • Providing full, fair, accurate, complete, objective disclosures when appropriate.
  • Acting in good faith with due care and diligence and without knowingly misrepresenting material facts or allowing better judgment to be subordinated.
  • Acting in a reliable and dependable manner.
  • Treating others with impartiality, civility, and decency.
  • Protecting the integrity and security of University information such as student records, employee files, patient records, and contract negotiation documents.
    • PNWU has implemented technology and security policies, rules and other measures to protect personal data from unauthorized access, improper use, alteration, unlawful or accidental destruction, and accidental loss. PNWU requires that all employees and others who have access to or are associated with the processing of personal data respect confidentiality. Personally identifiable information is stored on the organization’s database servers. There are firewalls in place to prevent individuals from accessing information without authorization. Data centers are physically secure and protected from unauthorized access by unauthorized persons. Physical access to the servers requires individual authorization and authentication.  Information in the data centers is backed up routinely, to aid in the recovery of information in the event of accidental damage of information or due to a natural disaster. The backup media is stored in a physically secure storage facility.

Policy link: Ethical Conduct policy

Student Rights and Responsibilities

PNWU is dedicated to supporting and maintaining a scholarly community.

When students choose to accept admission to PNWU, they accept the rights and responsibilities of membership in the University’s academic and social communities. Students sign off prior to matriculation that they have read and understand the PNWU Student Catalog and applicable student handbooks. As members of the University community, students are expected to uphold its values by maintaining the highest standard of professional and ethical conduct at all times.

The University has developed policies that outline standards of conduct governing its constituents and provides procedures for sanctioning violations of those standards.

Student Rights
As members of the University community, students have the right to not be subjected to discrimination or harassment and to express their own views. Students must also take responsibility for affording the same rights to others.

Students have the right to be protected from capricious decision-making by the University and to have access to University policies that affect them. The University commits to provide students with a balanced and fair system of dispute resolution. The University will not deprive students of due process protections to which they are entitled.

Student Responsibilities
Students at PNWU are expected to act consistently with the values of the University community; follow University policy and procedure; and obey local, state, and federal laws.

PNWU students are required to sign, abide by and uphold the PNWU Honor Code.

Policy link: Student Rights and Responsibilities policy and Due Process policy

Professionalism

Professionalism and trust are the basis of health care’s contract with society. The contract demands placing the interests of patients above those of the healthcare professional, setting and maintaining standards of competence and integrity, and providing expert advice to society on matters of health. The principles and responsibilities of professionalism must be clearly understood by both the profession and society.

Health care professionals should be respectful of one another and participate in the processes of self-regulation, including remediation and discipline of members who have failed to meet professional standards. The professions should also define and organize the educational and standard-setting process for current and future members. Health care professionals have both individual and collective obligations to participate in these processes. These obligations include engaging in internal assessment and accepting external scrutiny of all aspects of professional performance (i.e. professional promise).

Students who do not adhere to this policy may face corrective action.

Policy link: Student Professionalism policy

Social Media

Be professional at all times including any use of social media. Keep in mind these are public media sources and students should not post inappropriate and/or unprofessional postings, regardless of privacy settings. Students should be conscientious of their professional reputations when interacting via social media. Be thoughtful about messages and photos posted, remembering that those words or images might reappear elsewhere in a context different than the one in which it was originally posted. Remember that things said on personal social media pages could be interpreted as representing the opinions or practices of your academic program and/or University, even if that was not the intent. The safest bet is to act (and post) professionally at all times, using restrained language and professional etiquette.

Posting pictures or information about a patient on social media is strictly prohibited and is considered a violation of professional conduct. This includes references to the patient’s family employment, relatives, conditions, locations of treatment, or any circumstances surrounding the patient’s situation. This could potentially violate patient privacy and HIPAA guidelines. Posting pictures or information about a patient may result in immediate dismissal from the clinical experience. Professionalism should extend to social networking sites and other user generated media. Avoid postings that might be contrary to state and federal laws or University policies such as those dealing with privacy issues (FERPA and HIPAA).

The student will be held responsible if they are discovered doing something illegal on social networking sites. Be aware that PNWU staff may monitor social networking sites on occasion and egregious unprofessional postings (including negative comments about other students or clinical site/school personnel) could lead to disciplinary actions. Look out for fellow students, if their posts are alarming, talk with them and/or tell someone (faculty, program director, class president, police). Never use a PNWU logo or seal without permission.

Student/Patient/Faculty/Preceptor Relationships

The relationship between a student and faculty/preceptor or patients must always be kept on a professional basis. A student may not date or become intimately involved with faculty/preceptor or a patient. Concerns involving these issues should begin with contacting Student Affairs or the Title IX Coordinator.

Policy link: Ethical Conduct Policy

Student Misconduct

Filing of a Complaint of Professional or Personal Misconduct
If an individual has violated PNWU policy regarding professional and/or ethical conduct, a written complaint should be filed using the form Complaint Regarding Ethical Misconduct or Lack of Professionalism. The complaint should be filed within 30 calendar days of the incident. The Dean of Students and/or their designee will review the complaint and determine next steps within eight business days of receipt of the complaint. These steps may include, but are not limited to, calling in the student about whom the complaint is made, proceeding with a Documentation of Counseling with the Dean of Students, appropriate Associate Dean/Program Director, or bringing the student before the Student Progress Committee.

Notice to Appear
If any of the above meetings are warranted, a written Notice to Appear will be delivered certified mail or via secured email to the student within ten business days of the receipt of the complaint. Failure of addressee to accept mail or maintain a deliverable address with Student Affairs may result in immediate disciplinary action.

Appearance Before the Student Progress Committee
Student Progress Committee meetings with students are private and confidential including, but not limited to, the names of participants, proceedings, discussion, minutes, and findings. The following are prohibited in all Student Progress Committee meetings unless otherwise authorized in writing by the Dean/Program Director and Student Progress Committee chairperson: 1) electronic recording of the meeting, except for official minutes; 2) legal counsel; and 3) uninvited individuals.

In the meeting(s) the student will be given reasonable opportunity to address the allegation(s) against them. The Committee will review all submitted documents and may interview all persons reported as having knowledge of the incident. The Committee may have more than one meeting with the student in order to address the concerns of the Committee and give the student an opportunity to fully respond to the questions and allegations.

Criminal Background Check

PNWU requires that all student, prior to matriculation, will undergo a criminal background check. A clinical experience or rotation may require an updated criminal background check.

Criminal Background Check (CBC) Process:

  1. Newly accepted students are notified of the requirement to purchase and complete an approved CBC prior to matriculation. A student who is challenging any part of the CBC may enroll if they acknowledge that the challenge must be cleared prior to attending classes.
    1. If required for clinical experiences or rotations, students are notified of the requirement to purchase and complete an approved CBC.
  2. The e-mail notification provides information regarding authorization and payment of the CBC. The student will assume the cost of the background check.
  3. A fully detailed copy of the report will be delivered directly to the student with a copy to Enrollment Services.
  4. Any questionable or adverse information provided through the CBC is referred to the Admissions Committee for newly accepted students and the Student Progress Committee for current students for further evaluation. An adverse or questionable report may result in the denial of admission or dismissal from PNWU.
    1. Findings are reviewed for severity, frequency/pattern, time period, rehabilitation, unprofessional behavior, accountability, and outcome. The student should investigate possible consequences on future licensure eligibility.
    2. Notification from PNUW of denial of admission or dismissal is provided by certified letter and secure email to the student.

Challenged Results of the Criminal Background Check

  1. Students who question the accuracy of the report should immediately contact the entity that performed the CBC regarding the area they believe to be incorrect.
  2. Re-verification and issuance of a new report will follow the process and procedure laid out by the company conducting the CBC.
  3. If the student does not challenge the questionable or adverse information from the entity that conducted the CBC and when the CBC findings are such that the student does not meet the admission requirement or the healthcare site’s CBC requirement, the student will be referred to the Admissions Committee for accepted applicants or the Student Progress Committee for current students for further evaluation.
  4. Any adverse decision by the Admissions Committee and the Student Progress Committee may have a final appeal through the dean/program director.
    1. Students who wish to appeal must submit a detailed letter to the dean/program director within five business days after receiving the notice from the Admission Committee or Student Progress Committee. The decision of the dean/program director is final.

Notification from PNWU that a prospective student is denied enrollment, or a currently enrolled student is denied participation in clinical experience or rotations due to CBC finding will be provided by certified letter and secure email to the student from Student Affairs. PNWU will review CBC findings with felony/misdemeanor charges for severity, frequency/pattern, time period, rehabilitation, unprofessional behavior, accountability, and outcome. The student should investigate possible consequences on future licensure.

The CBC search may include, but not be limited to, sources such as the following: Social Security Number Trace, Washington State Patrol Criminal Background check, Criminal Histories Background check, Nationwide Wants & Warrants, HHS/OIG list of excluded individuals, GSA list of Parties Excluded from Federal Programs, Consumer report information related to character, general reputation and credit that may be subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Sex Offender Background check, Anti-Terrorism, USA PATRIOT Act Sanctions.

Criminal or Civil Convictions

After a criminal background check has been completed all admitted students must notify Enrollment Services, current students must notify Student Affairs, within three days of any criminal or civil recordable event that occurs. The recordable event must be reviewed to determine the student’s academic standing and eligibility for clinical experiences. Students are expected to fully cooperate with Enrollment Services or Student Affairs in documenting the recordable event.

General Dress

Students will, during regular business hours (e.g., PNWU campus Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.), year around, be dressed appropriately with awareness to personal hygiene (e.g., wearing deodorant, remain odor neutral, no fragrances are to be worn), cleanliness, professional demeanor, safety, and professional dress. Modest professional apparel, or scrubs (top and bottom), will be required for all activities in PNWU buildings. In the case of special events, students must adhere to professional dress. Additional dress guidelines are found in each program’s student handbook.

Employment

A health professions curriculum content and time required for completion is such that any outside employment by the student is strongly discouraged.

Requesting a Letter of Recommendation

When a student requests a letter of recommendation from a PNWU employee, a letter of recommendation request form must be completed and provided to the letter writer a minimum of 14 days prior to the date the letter is to be submitted.

Communication

Students are herby advised to comply with the following communication guidelines.

  • PNWU email is the official form of communication used by PNWU. Whenever communicating with PNWU faculty, staff and administrators, the PNWU email must be used exclusively. PNWU personnel are not required to respond if other email addresses are used (e.g., Hotmail, Gmail, etc.). Students are expected to check their PNWU email inbox daily.
  • The Weekly Bulletin is an official communication tool for PNWU to deliver important information directly to students, including just-in-time announcements, deadlines, reminders, and answers to questions received recently from students.
  • Cell phone – make sure important contact numbers (e.g., assistant dean, regional site administrator, Director of Clinical Education) are stored in personal cell phone for easy access.
  • Staff may not communicate with a spouse or significant other, family members, or other students regarding student schedules or clinical education unless the student completes a Consent for Third Party Access form. If a staff member has reason for concern regarding the student’s well-being, the individual may contact the student’s emergency contact(s) to assist verifying the student’s safety.
  • Having accurate contact information for students on clinical experiences is very important. Student address, cell phone, and all pertinent information needs to be current, and updated on Self-Service as soon as change occurs. Changes will be reflected in PNWU Connect, Exxat, and eValue.

Students with International Travel Plans

Students who are visiting international destinations, are recommended to complete the International Travel form and submit documentation to Student Affairs 60 days before leaving the country. Resources and the form are available on the International Travel webpage of PNWU.edu.

Netiquette

Practicing appropriate internet etiquette is considered a matter of professionalism that facilitates productive interactions in an online classroom environment. You should observe the following rules when participating in a webcast through Zoom or another video platform:

  • Join 5 minutes early whenever possible to resolve any technical issues before class begins.
  • Mute yourself when you are not speaking.
  • Ensure your teleconference identity matches your class list name.
  • Follow instructors’ directions regarding turning on your video. If video is being used, consider dress, lighting, background, and camera position. You should adhere to the PNWU dress code, be lit from the front, have a relatively neutral background that limits distractions, and position your camera at eye level.
  • Follow instructors’ directions for asking questions.
  • Practice the “Zoom Pause” to avoid interrupting another speaker.
  • Avoid distractions like checking your phone, engaging in private chats with classmates, or opening other tabs on your browser. Your focus should be on the classroom activity.
  • Use the chat and discussion board functions only as instructed. Use appropriate language and avoid sarcasm.
  • Your instructors may have additional netiquette expectations specific to their online classroom.

Page revision date: June 6, 2024