| 1. |
Student
Grievance Procedure for Non-Academic Matters |
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a. |
Scope
of Coverage
The purpose of the Student Grievance Procedure
for Non-Academic Matters is to provide a system
to channel student complaints against faculty
and staff concerning the following: Alleged
discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race,
disability or other conditions, preferences
or behavior, excluding sexual harassment complaints. |
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1. |
Alleged
discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race,
disability or other conditions, preferences
or behavior, excluding sexual harassment complaints. |
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2. |
Any
complaint of sexual harassment against an
employee of the college will be addressed
through procedure 4.17.1.
This procedure may be accessed through any
administrative office of the college or the
Library. Complaints are directed to any one
of the following: |
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a. |
Supervisor
of the alleged offender |
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b. |
Vice
President or Dean/Director for the appropriate
division or department |
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c. |
Director of Human Resources and Facility Development
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b. |
Grievance
Steps |
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1. |
First
Step
The student must go to the instructor or staff
member where the alleged problem originated.
An attempt will be made to resolve the matter
equitably and informally at this level. The
conference must take place within five (5)
working days of the incident which generated
the complaint. |
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2. |
Second
Step
If the grievance is not resolved at the informal
conference, the student may file a written
grievance. A grievance form shall be made
available to the student by the Vice President.
The Vice President will explain the grievance
process to the student. The completed grievance
form must be presented to the Vice President
within five (5) working days after satisfying
the first step in the grievance process. The
Vice President will then refer the grievance
to the immediate supervisor involved. The
supervisor shall respond in writing to the
student within ten (10) working days of receipt
of the grievance form. |
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3. |
Third
Step
If the written statement of the supervisor
does not satisfy the grievant, a request
to appear before the Student Grievance Committee
for Non-Academic Matters may be made. The
student must submit a written request within
five (5) working days after receiving the
written response of the supervisor. The
request shall include a copy of the original
grievance form and the reason why the supervisor’s
response is unsatisfactory. A copy of the
supervisor’s response must be attached
to the request by the student.
The
Vice President shall immediately notify
the President who shall insure that the
Student Grievance Committee for Non-Academic
Matters is organized in a manner consistent
with Section c of this procedure. The Vice
President will send copies of the appeal
to the members of the Committee, the employee,
and the employee’s supervisor. The
employee against whom the grievance was
filed shall be given an opportunity to respond
in writing to the Chairperson of the Committee.
Meeting(s) shall be conducted between five
(5) and fifteen (15) working days following
the date of the request. A postponement
may be granted by the Chairperson upon written
request of either party, if the reason stated
justifies such action.
The Committee shall hold interviews with
the grievant, the employee, and the supervisor,
singularly, and in the absence of other
witnesses. The Committee may interview any
additional witnesses that it considers necessary
to render a fair decision.
The Committee shall decide by a majority
vote the solution of the grievance. In case
of a tie, the Chairperson shall vote to
break the tie. The Committee shall make
written findings of fact, conclusions of
law, and recommendation for action. The
chairperson shall forward a copy of the
Committee’s decision to all parties
involved and to the office of the President
within two (2) working days. |
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4. |
Fourth
Step
The Committee’s decision may be appealed
by either party involved to the President
within ten (10) working days of the Committee’s
decision.
The President shall review
the Committee’s findings, conduct
whatever additional inquires that are deemed
necessary, and will render a decision within
ten (10) working days of receipt of the
appeal.
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5. |
Fifth
Step
The President’s decision may be appealed
by either party involved to the Board of Trustees
within the first ten (10) working days of
the President’s decision.
The Board of Trustees or a committee of
the Board shall review any information to
date, conduct whatever additional inquiries
deemed necessary and render a decision within
twenty (20) working days of receipt of the
appeal. |
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c. |
The
Student Grievance Committee for Non-Academic
Matters
The Disciplinary Review Committee may serve
as the Student Grievance Committee for Non-Academic
matters or, at the direction of the President,
a new committee will be formed for each grievance.
The Committee makeup and method of appointment,
will be the same as for the Disciplinary Review
Committee. This Committee will not address
academic complaints about grade, methods of
instruction, or routine classroom policies
and/or procedures.
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d. |
Right
of Parties Involved in a Grievance
When a meeting of the Student Grievance Committee
for Non-Academic Matters is scheduled, the
parties involved are entitled to: |
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1. |
A
written notice of the complaint. |
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2. |
A
written notice of the time and place of the
meeting. This notice shall be forwarded to
all parties at least five (5) working days
prior to the meeting unless they waive this
requirement. |
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3. |
Review
all available evidence, documents, or exhibits
that each party may present at the meeting. |
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4. |
Have
access to the names of the witnesses who may
testify. |
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5. |
Appear
in person and present information on his or
her behalf, call witnesses, and ask questions
of any person present at the meeting. |
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6. |
The
right to counsel. The role of the person acting
as counsel is solely to advise the client.
The counsel shall not address the Committee.
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| 2. |
Student
Grievance Procedure for Academic Matters |
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a. |
Purpose
The purpose of the Student Grievance Procedure
for Academic Matters is to channel the student
complaints about grades, methods of instruction,
and/or classroom policies or procedures. |
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b. |
Grievance
Steps |
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1. |
The
student must first discuss his or her complaint
with the instructor at a mutually agreed-upon
time. If the complaint concerns a final grade
in a course, the student must appeal this
grade within the following academic term. |
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2. |
If
the situation is not resolved, the student
may appeal to the appropriate faculty supervisor. |
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3. |
If
the situation is still not resolved, the student
may then appeal to the Vice President for
Instruction and Services or the Vice President
for Extension Education and Economic Development
as appropriate. The decision of the Vice President
for Instruction and Student Services is final. |
