APPIC Standards & Review (ASARC) Complaint Form

Sometimes, after completing the APPIC Informal Problem Consultation process, a serious problem cannot be adequately resolved via the informal consultation process and there may be concerns that an individual or a training program is not following APPIC Policies and procedures. For these situations, a formal complaint may be filed with the APPIC Standards and Review Committee (ASARC). ASARC does NOT reverse decisions of training programs, though that may occur, ASARC has a focus on program policies and procedures to ensure they meet and follow APPIC membership criteria, APPIC Policies and their own policies. Programs may be removed from membership if they are unable to make required changes or provide evidence that they have made changes to ensure they follow their policies, APPIC policies and APPIC membership criteria.

The purpose of ASARC is: (a) to investigate alleged violations of APPIC policies and procedures, (b) to recommend an appropriate response to the APPIC Board of Directors upon determining that a policy violation has occurred, and (c) to serve in a consultative or educative role when queries are made regarding APPIC policies and procedures. In response to a complaint filed with ASARC, the APPIC Board may decide to impose sanctions on individuals or training programs that violate APPIC policies with the expected outcome that programs will improve both the training program and competency of trainees. Programs that are non-responsive will be deemed withdrawn from APPIC if they do not respond to complaints within the timelines provided.

While the ASARC process may not resolve an individuals' or training program's immediate concerns, this process helps ensure the APPIC policy and procedures are consistently enforced in the future.

For more information on the formal complaint procedures, please see the ASARC Procedures for Handling Grievances and Violations of APPIC Policies. Please note that there are time limitations on the filing of formal complaints; see the full ASARC Policy for specifics. In addition, APPIC policies state that concerns must first be brought to the Informal Problem Consultation process before a formal complaint is filed. Any formal or informal complaint that becomes the subject of legal action (either where a legal action has been commenced or a party has engaged counsel) The APPIC Board may determine, in APPIC’s sole discretion and on a case by case basis, whether to proceed with ASARC’s investigation or stay further ASARC action pending the resolution of legal proceedings.

Review: ASARC Policies

Link to File an IPC: Informal Problem Consultation (IPC)

Did you complete the Informal Problem Consultation (IPC) process through APPIC?*

Complainant (Person(s) Making Complaint) FIRST NAME / LAST NAME*

APPIC Will Not Accept Anonymous Complaints.

Have you or your attorney begun legal action?

Your Email Address*

Your Mailing Address (Street / City / State / Zip)*

Phone Number (Best Contact)*

Alleged Violator/Agency*

Name of This Site's Training Director / DCT (if applicable)

The name of your internship, postdoc or Doctoral Program

4 Digits for Internships or Postdocs, 3 digits for DPA programs.

Please identify if you are*

Your Doctoral (Academic) Program and name of your DCT, if applicable

Please set forth in narrative form, the facts of the alleged violation, including where and how it occurred. Please be as specific as possible.*

Please Review the APPIC Match Policies that were in force at the time of this complaint and describe how you believe the action(s) complained of, violated the APPIC Match Policy or policies*

Please identify what other APPIC Policies were violated and please describe how you believe the action(s) complained of, violated such policies

What attempts if any, have you or others already made to resolve this issue with the person(s) mentioned in the complaint *

If applicable, regarding your ultimate internship or postdoctoral placement, state whether you secured an acceptable position that was consistent with your own professional goals. If no, please discuss as appropriate

Approximate Date You Became Aware of This Violation