Aerial view of North Park University campus with Chicago skyline.

About North Park University

Equal Opportunity

As a Christian institution of higher learning supporting the mission and embodying the faith heritage of the Evangelical Covenant Church, North Park desires to have a campus community “which truly values people and is characterized by integrity, diversity, collegiality, fairness, compassion, and joyful living.” (Excerpted from North Park University Strategic Plan.)

North Park is committed to providing and maintaining a welcoming environment, and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, relationship violence, retaliation, or any form of intimidation by any person in any form directed against students, faculty, or staff of the institution. To assure that its commitment is met, North Park has adopted a Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation. This Policy prohibits discrimination or harassment of any member of the University community because of his or her race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran’s status, or other protected status, as those terms are defined by applicable local, state, and federal law, subject to North Park’s right, as a religious institution, to make decisions on the basis of religious beliefs and lifestyle consistent with the religious principles espoused by the Evangelical Covenant Church.

North Park’s commitment to equal opportunity encompasses compliance with federal laws applicable to educational institutions that receive federal funds, including Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender, including any act of sexual violence or nonconsensual sex, Title VI, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race or national origin, the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, and the Age Discrimination in Federally Assisted Programs Act, which prohibits discrimination against students on the basis of age.

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Grievance Procedure

The Policy sets forth both informal and formal complaint procedures. These procedures may be used by any member of the North Park community who has experienced, or witnessed, behavior contrary to the University’s equal opportunity principles. The procedures provide a fair and impartial mechanism to justly and promptly resolve all complaints implicating equal opportunity, while maintaining, to the maximum degree possible, confidentiality.

Sexual Assault

Any act of sexual violence or nonconsensual sex violates equal opportunity. North Park has a special commitment to guarding against such violations, supporting victims, and promptly instituting remedial measures to ensure continuing equal educational opportunity for victims and accountability for transgressors. Our Campus Safety and Security Office, Health Services, and Counseling Support Services work in concert with Equal Opportunity Coordinators and Title IX Advocates to assure holistic attention to the continued wellbeing of students and assistance in pursuing all available remedies.

Coordination of Equal Opportunity Programs

All equal opportunity programs are coordinated by the University’s Human Resources Office, with the assistance of Student Engagement and Title IX. The Equal Opportunity Coordinator and Deputy Coordinators serve as primary resources to the University community for questions about equal opportunity and are responsible for implementation of the procedure for complaints or concerns. Additional support for questions or concerns relating to disabilities or a need for accommodation is provided by the Division of Student Engagement.