PURPOSE
To ensure fairness and equality in the handling of student grievances and appeals.

DEFINITIONS
Grievance - a student's verbal concern related to fair and equitable treatment.

Appeal - a student's written concern related to fair and equitable treatment of:

• a concern not resolved at the grievance level
• a concern affecting his/her status as a student

NOTE: This policy does not apply to decisions resulting from a disciplinary hearing as referred to in the Withdrawal, Probation, Suspension and Dismissal Policies.

GUIDELINES
Grievance:

• 1. student may meet with any member of the College's faculty, staff or administration at any mutually agreeable time about any concern.
• 2. This meeting should be scheduled at a time when College or clinical activities for either party are not interrupted.
• 3. A grievance not resolved to the satisfaction of the student may be appealed.
• 4. To insure that the student's unresolved grievance is being considered in a timely manner, the student must obtain a Grievance Appeal Tracking form from the College office or faculty member. The Tracking Form will serve as the process guide for responding to the student grievance.

Appeal:

• 1. A student with:
  • a grievance not resolved to the student's satisfaction
  • a concern affecting his/her status as a student
• 2. Within five (5) working days, the student must notify the faculty or staff person that initiated the concern that the grievance is being appealed.
• 3. To insure that the student's appeal is being considered in a timely manner, an original Grievance Appeal Tracking form must be attached to the written statement of appeal and will serve as the process guide for responding to the student's appeal.
• 4. The appeal may then continue to the appropriate party: course instructor, course coordinator, program chair/coordinator, dean, chancellor or designee. The academic dean is the final appellant for academic appeals. The chancellor or designee dean is the final appellant for non-academic appeals.
• 5. Depending on the nature of the appeal, each decision maker involved in the process will meet with the student when possible and must provide a written response to the student's appeal. Upon request the decision maker must identify the next level of appeal if not resolved, and attach a copy of the decision letter to the Tracking Form which the student must sign.
• 6. All decision makers involved in the appeal process will submit a copy of the signed tracking form and any written communiqués related to the appeal to the Director of Student Services for filing.
• 7. The appeal process should normally be completed within 30 work days of the initiation of the appeal.