Complaint/Grievance Procedures
Grievances
Any individual wishing to file a complaint or grievance with SCC must use the Student Complaint Information Sheet and Form, link here, or hardcopy form that can be found in each Deans’ office. Individuals are encouraged to resolve concerns or grievances at the informal level with the individual(s) involved, as outlined in Policy 6.03.05. If the grievance cannot be resolved at the informal level, a formal grievance may be filed in writing with the supervising dean or director of the instructor/staff member. The written grievance must contain with specificity the facts supporting the grievance and the attempt to resolve the grievance at the informal level. In order to be considered, a formal grievance must be submitted in writing using the Student Complaint Information Sheet and Form, signed and two copies sent to: Southwestern Community College, 447 Drive, Sylva, NC 28779 in c/o the Dean of the area in which the complaint is against. SCC will entertain neither complaints that are not in writing or which are anonymous, nor will the college consider complaints sent electronically or through facsimile transmission. In addition, the College will not act on complaints submitted on behalf of another individual or complaints forwarded to the College. Formal grievance resolution will be followed as outlined in Policy 6.03.05.
In filing a grievance, individuals should first refer to the related policy or procedure found online, in the student handbook, or SCC catalog.
| Examples of an Academic Grievance | Grievance submitted to: |
| Classroom instruction | Appropriate Academic Dean: Barb Putman - Arts and Sciences; Danell Moses - Career Technologies; Mitch Fischer - Health Sciences; Curtis Dowdle - Public Safety Training; Cheryl Davids - Macon Campus |
| Classroom syllabi | |
| Grading/grades | |
| Student Code of Conduct violations, academic in nature | |
| Examples of a Non-Academic Grievance | Grievance submitted to: |
| Personal Records (FERPA) | Cheryl Contino-Conner, Dean of Students |
| Student Life | |
| Student Services | |
| Disability Services | |
| Student Code of Conduct violations, non-academic in nature | |
| Sexual Harassment | |
| Safety | |
| Parking or facilities | William Brothers, VP for Financial and Administrative Services |
| Bookstore |
| If students are unable to resolve a complaint against SCC through the college's own grievance processes, there are other agencies listed below that students may appeal to, including the state of North Carolina. |
- The North Carolina Post-Secondary Education Complaints Unit.
After a student has exhausted the college's complaint grievance procedure, if a matter remains unresolved, a formal complaint may be filed with the online Student Complaint Portal. The Portal is hosted by the Licensure Division of the University of North Carolina System Office.
The NCCCS Compliant/Grievance Procedure website can be found at this link.
- SARA-NC (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement-North Carolina)
NCSEAA
PO Box 14103
Research Triangle
Park, NC 27709 or email to
complaint[at]saranc[dot]org
SARA-NC Complaint Process
SARA-NC Complaint Form
- Regional Accreditor (SACSCOC) Complaint Process
If a student has evidence that an institution is in significant non-compliance with SACSCOC standards, policies or procedures, the individual should inform SACSCOC using the Complaints Against Institutions: Policy and Form.
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
1866 Southern Lane
Decatur, GA 30033
404.679.4500
- Filing out-of-state complaints (for non NC-SARA states)
Please click the following link to file a complaint within your home state: State Complaint Process
Questions? Please submit a Help Ticket to SCC E-Learning
(under "Select Type of Help," choose "Moodle Assistance")
