A. Reporting an alleged violation close to its occurrence is important to the effective investigation and evaluation of evidence as well as to the wellbeing of all people involved.
1. The time limit is ten years for a complaint alleging sexual exploitation and one year for a complaint not involving sexual exploitation. A definition of sexual exploitation is found in the Definition of Terms manual.
2. Time limits begin with the event that occasions the complaint.
B. Exception to time limit: In extraordinary circumstances, time limits may be waived by the PEC chair in consultation and agreement with three other PEC members and ethics consultant, at their discretion, when initiated by request of the Executive Director, an Initial Review Panel (IRP), or other Commission where to do otherwise would seriously jeopardize the safety or welfare of a program or students in the opinion of those waiving the time lines. Examples of cases where a time limit may be waived include circumstances where the delay is caused by:
- fraud, intimidation or other unethical conduct that prevents the earlier emergence of the complaint;
- circumstances where a complainant shows that he or she was unable to file a complaint within the required time period due to an ongoing educational/employment experience or relationship with respondent or complainant’s place of employment.