Student Rights Policy

The following is an excerpt from the student handbook. For further information consult the student handbook.

Section 2: Student Grievance Procedure

1. Definition: A grievance is an allegation by a student that, as to him or her, an agent of the college has violated board or college policies relating to students other than assignment of grades or other academic evaluation (see Section 3).

2. How to file a grievance: A grievance is to be submitted in writing to the Dean of Students or such other college official as the President may designate (hereinafter, the Dean of Students), within thirty days of the date the grievant knew or reasonably should have known of the alleged violation. The written grievance shall specify the right claimed to have been violated and state briefly the underlying facts.

3. Procedure for grievance resolution: The Dean of Students shall investigate the grievance and, within thirty days from the time the grievance was submitted recommend to the President a disposition of the grievance, except as provided hereinafter:

a. In the course of each investigation, the Dean of Students shall consult with the dean responsible for the area of college operations in which the grievance arose

b. In the case of a grievance alleging discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, marital status, mental retardation or physical disability, prior conviction of a crime, political beliefs, veteran status, or sexual preference, the Dean of Students shall consult with the college’s Affirmative Action Officer during the course of the investigation

c. In the case of a grievance against a Dean, the grievance shall be filed with the President. The President may accept or reject the recommendation, or direct such further investigation as he or she deems appropriate. The President shall notify the student of the final disposition of the grievance within fifteen days of receiving the recommendation, except for good cause or as provided in Number 4.

4. Advisory Committee
The President may establish an advisory committee of students and staff which may be charged with the responsibility of making recommendations at either the level of the Deans or the President. The President may appoint and remove members of the committee. If an advisory committee is appointed, the President shall establish a reasonable time frame within which the committee must make recommendations.

Section 3: Review of Academic Standing

A student may seek review of the assignment of a grade or other decision affecting academic status in accordance with the following procedure:
1. The grade or academic decision affecting academic status should be discussed informally with the instructor or official responsible for the decision within fifteen calendar days of the student’s awareness of the decision.

2. If the matter is not satisfactorily adjusted within ten calendar days of this appeal or the instructor is not available, the student may refer the matter to the Academic Dean by filing a written appeal. The appeal must be filed with the Academic Dean within thirty calendar days of the student’s awareness of the decision, which is being appealed. Upon receipt of such appeal, the Dean shall meet with the instructor, if he or she is available, to determine that Step 1 has taken place or is not possible, and to receive relevant information from the instructor responsible for the decision. The Dean may then refer the matter to the academic supervisor for informal consideration prior to Step 3.

3. The Academic Dean or other designated official(s) shall afford review as provided below. The President may designate an official or an academic appeals committee to provide review at this step in lieu of the Academic Dean. The student shall be afforded the right to present a Statement of Appeal and relevant information in support of it. It is the student’s responsibility to show that the decision in question is arbitrary (i.e., without a reasonable basis) or was made for improper reasons in violation of Section 1 of this Policy. The student is entitled to a written response within thirty days of the completion of his or her presentation. A decision to change the grade or modify the decision, which has been appealed, is advisory to and subject to the approval of the President.

4. The foregoing decision may be appealed to the President by filing a Statement of Appeal within ten calendar days of the date of the decision. Review by the President shall be on the basis of the written record unless he or she decides that fairness requires broader review. The decision of the President shall be final.

The timeframes provided herein may be modified by the President for good cause.