STUDENT EQUAL OPPORTUNITY GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES
All grievances concerning discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin, veteran status, or physical disability shall be directed to the Title IX Contact (for students), Registrar, Peacock Hall, 478-934-3036. The Section 504 coordinator, Director of Student Services, Wiggs Hall, 478-934-3023, will be immediately notified that the process to address grievances has been started in order to insure appropriate fairness and a process which meets federal guidelines for handling grievances and complaints. Before any proposed resolution or decision has been communicated to any party to the grievance, the coordinators will review the process and issue a determination of compliance with federal requirements and guidelines.
Grievance procedures are designed to promote accessibility, simplicity, speed, and high standards of fairness that will encourage students to select an internal procedure route over an external route in seeking redress of perceived injustices.
Student matters relating to grades, matriculation, academic discipline, or other academic matters shall be subject to the procedures outlined in the Student Handbook and/or General Catalog. Grievances not involving rights provided for in this Plan shall be addressed to the vice president for student and institutional development for advice concerning procedures for students under applicable policies of the Board of Regents.
In the informal grievance process, the student should first discuss any problem of an academic nature with the faculty member involved. If the grievance is not resolved at this level, the student should discuss the problem with the appropriate academic division chair. Should circumstances be such that the above steps are not appropriate or if the matter is not resolved within five days, the student should discuss the problem with the vice president for academic affairs or his/her designee.
If the grievance is not of an academic nature, the student should first discuss the problem with the vice president for student and institutional development or designee. If appropriate, the vice president for student and enrollment services may refer the matter to the affirmative action officer or other College official.
If the grievance involves a question of judgment or opinion not covered by College policies, the vice president for student and enrollment services, the affirmative action officer, and other appropriate College official shall, after interviewing the student and all other parties involved, discuss the matter and make recommendations to the president to resolve the problem. There shall be no retaliatory action taken by any person against a student of the College as a result of the student seeking redress under any of these procedures or for participating in any investigation as a complainant or witness.
The purpose of a formal grievance hearing is to hear the complaint of a student who has exhausted all other normal channels, but who has not received satisfaction. The president will appoint a Grievance Committee of at least three persons, including a chair. The committee will meet within five working days after receiving the complaint to discuss the merits of the complaint and shall notify the parties concerned within ten working days of either its decision or of the time and place of a hearing if one is to be granted.
Formal grievance hearings shall be conducted during normal working hours and a tape recording shall be made of the proceedings. The Grievance Committee decision shall be made and reported in writing to the president and the student within ten business days. The student may appeal the decision of the Grievance Committee to the president. Such appeal shall be in writing and shall be made within ten business days. The decision of the president shall be communicated to the student in writing within ten business days of receipt of the appeal. The president's decision shall be final.
Revised 9/2008
