Grievances

Any student who believes he or she has a grade grievance should make a reasonable effort to resolve the matter on an informal basis with the faculty member who assigned the grade. If a resolution of the problem with the course faculty is not possible, the student should contact the dean of the instructional area for the class.

Deans of Instructional Areas

To initiate the formal grievance process, a student must complete the Statement of Grievance form stating the basis for the grade grievance. The student must file the form with the appropriate dean or designee no later than 45 college business days after the completion of the term in which the grade in question was completed. Students are required to submit the form before the deadline even if the efforts for an informal resolution are in progress.

Statement of Grievance form is available here.

The request for a grievance hearing can only be initiated upon the conclusion of the Grade Grievance review. The Request for a Grievance Hearing must be filed with the appropriate dean or designee within 30 college business days after the notification of the outcome from the Statement of Grievance review.

Students may obtain the Request for Grievance Hearing form from the respective course/instructional office. See the list above of Instructional Area Dean Contact Lists.

The Grievance Hearing Panel

Within 15 college business days following receipt of the Request for Grievance Hearing, the Grievance Hearing Panel meets to select a chair and review the Statement of Grievance. The panel consists of the appropriate dean or designee, a representative appointed by the Associated Student Government and a faculty member appointed by the Academic Senate. The grievance panel will review the statement and supporting documentation. The panel's determination is regulated by specific requirements set forth in Board Policy 5530.

These include but are not limited to whether the grievance is frivolous, without foundation, or filed for purposes of harassment, and whether it was filed by a duly enrolled student in a timely manner.

If the panel determines that the written Statement of Grievance does meet each of the requirements, the chair will schedule a grievance hearing no later than 45 college business days from the decision of the Hearing Panel. All parties to the grievance will be notified in writing by the chair of the date, time and location of the grievance hearing 10 college business days prior to the grievance hearing.

If the panel determines that the written Statement of Grievance does not meet the requirements as set forth in Board Policy 5530 section C.3., the chair will notify the student in writing within five college business days of the Hearing Panel decision that the Request for a Grievance Hearing has been denied. The notice will include the specific reasons for the denial of a hearing and the procedures for appeal.

Hearing Procedures

The hearing will be closed and confidential. It will include the presentation of oral and written testimony relevant to the issues alleged in the grievance by each party. The burden shall be on the grievant to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the facts alleged are true. Further details concerning the conduct of the hearing are described in AR 5530: Grade Grievance.

Hearing Panel Decision

Within 15 college business days following the close of the hearing, the Grievance Hearing Panel will prepare a written decision that includes the specific factual findings regarding the grievance and the specific conclusions regarding whether a legal basis for a grievance has been established.

The Hearing Panel decision will also include a specific statement regarding the relief to be afforded the grievant, if any. The Hearing Panel decision will be based only on the record of the hearing, and not on matters outside the record. The record consists of the written Statement of Grievance, any written response by the respondent and the oral and written evidence produced at the hearing.

Written Statement of Appeal

Within 10 college business days following the Grievance Hearing Panel decision regarding the merits of the grievance, any party to the grievance may file a written Statement of Appeal with the college president stating the specific basis for the appeal. This statement will be sent to all parties.

The college president will review the record of the hearing and the documents submitted in connection with the appeal but will not consider any matters outside of the formal record. The college president may decide to sustain, reverse or modify the decision of the Grievance Hearing Panel. The president's decision will be in writing and will include a statement of reasons for the decision. The college president's decision shall be final.

The decision on appeal will be reached within 20 college business days after receipt of the appeal documents, and copies of the decision will be sent to all parties.