Student Grievance Complaints

1. Students with complaints should first attempt to resolve them locally and informally through discussion with the following campus officials, in the order listed:
   1. Instructor (for course/grade-related matters) Note: see Item 3 below
   2. Associate dean (East Campus, North Campus, Porter Campus, or Spring Hill Campus), appropriate academic dean (West Campus)
   3. Assistant dean of student development
   4. Provost (East Campus, North Campus, Porter Campus or Spring Hill Campus) or vice president of student development and enrollment management (West Campus)

Each official, upon receipt of an issue or concern, shall investigate the circumstances (to include interviews with the individuals involved where necessary) and shall attempt to resolve the problem. If unable to do so, the official will refer the matter to the next level of responsibility, as indicated above.

2. If the issue or concern is not settled at the campus level within ten business days, then it shall be referred in writing on the Student Petition for Grievance Resolution (SCN-26) which shall be available in the offices of the assistant dean of student development, to the vice president of student development and enrollment management. The vice president of student development and enrollment management shall attempt to resolve the matter within ten business days of receipt. If this effort is unsuccessful, then the vice president of student development and enrollment management will forward the form to the vice president of instruction/provost, West Campus who will review the prior investigation with the appropriate parties. If the vice president of instruction/provost, West Campus is unable to resolve the issue, then he or she may recommend to the president the appointment of a special board to conduct a formal administrative hearing as the basis for final action by the president.
3. The basis on which a grade was awarded may not be challenged under this grievance procedure. The accuracy of recording the grade may, however, be challenged under the provisions of District Board of Trustees Rule 6Hx19-6.11, Privacy of Student Records.
4. The student involved in a grievance resolution process may request assistance from the district director of multicultural student affairs and equity services at any point during the process. The district director of multicultural student affairs and equity services is not to represent the student grievant, but is only to aid the complainant in defining the issue(s) and in arranging appointments with campus officials. When such assistance is requested, the director of multicultural student affairs and equity services shall monitor the progress of the case to its conclusion.
5. Some decisions involving transfer or course substitution credit awarded, meeting of graduation requirements, or access to courses (i.e., collegewide availability of courses needed for graduation), may be appealed to the student ombudsman (assistant dean of instructional services).
6. All grievance proceedings shall be considered confidential and no information regarding the grievance shall be released to any person or entity unless such person or entity is involved in the investigation or subsequent disposition. Any person violating this provision may be subject to disciplinary action.
7. No person filing a complaint under this section shall be subject to any adverse action by the College or any employee or student of the College. Any person acting in a manner deemed to be retaliatory for the filing of a complaint under this procedure shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action. Any person filing a complaint under this procedure, which complaint is determined to have been filed in bad faith or for purposes of harassment, embarrassment or to disrupt the orderly operation of the College, may be subject to disciplinary action.