Student Greivance Procedure

Purpose
The purpose of the Student Grievance Procedure shall be to provide equitable and orderly processes to resolve any differences or dispute between a student and a staff or faculty member about College policies or learning activities affecting the student. This may include but is not limited to grading, instructional procedures, class attendance policies, instructional quality, and other situations where the student believes he/she is being treated unfairly or
arbitrarily.

Procedure

• Step 1
  The student with a grievance must first discuss the grievance with the staff or faculty member involved. Every reasonable effort should be made by both parties to resolve the matter at this level. The initial conference must occur within ten (10) class days of the event, or, if a grade appeal, within ten (10) class days after the start of subsequent school term not including summer sessions.
• Step 2
  If the student continues to be dissatisfied with the results of step one, he/she may, within five (5) class days after the conference with the instructor or staff member, file a written appeal with the immediate supervisor of the individual instructor or staff member involved. The supervisor may attempt a resolution satisfactory to the parties involved, but if no agreement is reached, he/she will set a date for a meeting of all parties with a Student Grievance Committee. The Student Grievance Committee is an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of five (5) members--two students appointed by the SGA Advisor/counselor (in conjunction with the Student Government Association) and two faculty members and a Chairperson appointed by the Chief Academic Officer or his/her designee. Both student and faculty members of the committee shall have the authority to determine whether an academic or other process was fair, prejudicial and/or capricious, and to recommend to the appropriate Vice President a suitable remedy.
  
  The Student Grievance Committee shall meet under the following guidelines:
  • The chairperson shall vote only in case of a tie.
  • The student shall have the right to be accompanied by a representative of his/her choice from the institution. Such representative may consult with, but may not speak on behalf of, the student or otherwise participate directly in the proceedings, unless he or she is given specific permission to do so by the Chairperson of the Student Grievance Committee. If the representative is to be an attorney, the student must notify the Office of the Chief Academic Officer of this fact within a minimum of five (5) working days in advance of the Student Grievance Committee meeting.
  • Both the student grievant and the faculty or staff member against whom the grievance has been filed may present witnesses or relevant materials during the proceeding.
  • All parties to the grievance must remain present for the entire meeting.
  • The meeting shall be closed to all others.

The committee shall form its recommendations within five (5) working days of its final session. All recommendations for grievances related to grades, faculty, or academic policy shall be forwarded to the Chief Academic Officer. In other matters, the committee may refer its recommendations to the Vice President for the area the Committee deems appropriate.

The Vice President receiving the committeerecommendation shall, within seven (7) working days after the meeting, prepare a statement of
his/her decision on the matter with copies to the student, the faculty or staff member against whom the grievance was filed, and the President.

• Step 3
  If the student, faculty, or staff member is not satisfied with the decision of the Vice President, he/she may, within a period of ten (10) working days, make a written appeal to the President. The President may at his/her discretion hold a meeting to hear both parties in the grievance or may make a decision based on the record of the Student Grievance Committee hearing and/or the recommendation of the Vice President. The President will notify the parties involved in the grievance of his/her decision in writing, within ten (10) working days after receiving the written appeal.