Grievance Procedure - Academic Standards

Students aggrieved by College actions of an academic nature shall have the opportunity for appeal.

The professional educator’s qualifications and rights to determine academic standards are respected and accepted. The professional educator shall be accountable for establishing and maintaining appropriate academic standards for coursework.

When a complaint about academic standards arises, with the exception of sexual harassment, the student shall subscribe to the following procedure to render the complaint legitimate. Complaints of sexual harassment should follow the procedure described in GCCCD 4730.00 Sexual Harassment. The student’s right for grievance shall be forfeited if the complaint is not addressed through the Official Review Process - Academic Standards. The Official Review Process - Academic Standards may not be applicable when services are delivered under the provisions of a negotiated contract. The appeal process does not suspend any actions which are being grieved.

Definition of Terms

Days: Calendar days exclusive of official holidays as identified in the College Catalog.

Complainant: Student complainant.

Professional Educator: College professional educator(s) responsible for the program or action for which the student complainant has a grievance.

Academic Affairs Officer: Campus official designated by the College President for oversight of academic affairs.

Admissions and Academic Standards Appeals Committee: College committee charged with responsibility to advise the College President on policies, standards, rules and regulations for academic standards and student admission; and to serve as an appeals committee for grievances concerning academic standards.

Academic Standard: All actions relating to grades, grading standards, professional educator conduct, materials presented in a classroom by the professional educator or adjunct, and professional educator discrimination against a student exclusive of discrimination as defined by federal or state laws.

Official Review Process – Academic Standards

Step 1. The Complainant shall seek out, within five (5) days of the action, the Professional Educator so both parties may be afforded an opportunity to clarify facts and to reach a mutually acceptable solution.

Step 2. If Complainant satisfaction is not achieved in Step 1, the Complainant shall provide a written request for a meeting to the Division Chairperson responsible for oversight of the standards employed by the Professional Educator. Within five (5) days of receipt of the request the Division Chairperson shall arrange for a meeting to include the following individuals: the Division Chairperson, the Professional Educator, and the Complainant. The Division Chairperson shall attempt to mediate an acceptable solution.

Step 3. If Complainant satisfaction is not achieved in Step 2, the Complainant shall provide a written request for a hearing by the Admissions and Academic Standards Appeals Committee. The request shall articulate the complaint and shall be delivered to the Academic Affairs Officer within five (5) days after receiving a recommended solution as provided in Step 2. Within ten (10) days of receipt of the request, but not less than three (3) days of receipt of request, the Chairperson of the Admissions and Academic Standards Appeals Committee shall arrange for a hearing. The Complainant, the Professional Educator and the Division Chairperson shall be in attendance at the hearing. Within ten (10) days of the conclusion of the hearing, the Chairperson of the Admissions and Academic Standards Appeals Committee shall set forth a written document addressing finding of fact and the decision reached by the Committee. Copies shall be addressed to the Complainant, the Professional Educator, the Division Chairperson, and the College President. Decisions made by the Admissions and Academic Standards Appeal Committee are binding.

Grievance Procedure - Non-academic Standards

Students aggrieved by College actions of a non-academic nature shall have the opportunity for appeal. When a complaint about a nonacademic action arises, with the exception of sexual harassment, the student shall subscribe to the following procedure to render the complaint legitimate. Complaints of sexual harassment should follow the procedure set forth in GCCCD Policy 4730.00 Sexual Harassment and described later in this section under “Sexual Discrimination/Harassment Complaints”. The student’s right for grievance shall be forfeited if the complaint is not addressed through the Official Review Process-Non-Academic Standards. The Official Review Process – Non-Academic Standards may not be applicable when services are delivered under the provisions of a negotiated contract. The appeal process does not suspend any actions which are being grieved.

Definition of Terms

Days: Calendar days exclusive of weekends, semester breaks, and official holidays as identified in the College Catalog.

Complainant: Student complainant.

Official: College official(s) responsible for the program or action for which the student complainant has a grievance.

Student Affairs Officer: Campus official designated by the College President for oversight of student affairs.

Judiciary Committee: College committee charged with responsibility to advise the College President on policies, standards, rules and regulations for non-academic standards; and to serve as an appeals committee for grievances involving non-academic standards.

Non-Academic Standards: All institutional actions exclusive of academic standards and discrimination as defined by federal or state laws.

Official Review Process

Step 1. The Complainant shall seek out, within five (5) days of the action, the Official so both parties may be afforded an opportunity to clarify facts and to reach a mutually acceptable solution.

Step 2. If Complainant satisfaction is not achieved in Step 1, the Complainant shall provide a written request identifying the problem and requesting a meeting with the Student Affairs Officer. Within five (5) days of receipt of the request, the Student Affairs Officer shall arrange for a meeting with the Complainant and attempt to mediate an acceptable solution.

Step 3. If Complainant satisfaction is not achieved in Step 2, the Complainant shall provide a written request for a hearing by the Judiciary Committee. The request shall articulate the complaint and shall be delivered to the Chairperson of the Judiciary Committee and Student Affairs Officer within five (5) days after receiving a recommended solution as provided in Step II. Within ten (10) days of receipt of the request for a hearing, but not less than three (3) days of receipt of the request, the Chairperson of the Judiciary Committee shall arrange for a hearing. The Complainant, the Student Affairs Officer and the Official shall be in attendance at the hearing. Within ten (10) days of the conclusion of the hearing, the Chairperson of the Judiciary Committee shall set forth a written document addressing findings of fact and the decision reached by the Committee. Copies shall be addressed to the Complainant, the Student Affairs Officer, the Official and the College President. Decisions made by the Judiciary Committee are binding.

If a resolution is not reached through the official review process, students may appeal in writing to the College’s District Governing Board within ten (10) days of the Judiciary Committee’s findings. Students who are still aggrieved may file a complaint or provide feedback to the following agencies:

NC-SARA Membership States. The Arizona State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Council (AZ SARA) has jurisdiction over AZ SARA-approved institutions regarding non-academic standards complaints. Academic standards complaints related to grades, grading standards, professional education conduct, materials presented, and other matters covered by Regulation 5810.02, Student Grievance Procedure – Academic Standards, are not subject to review by AZ SARA and should not be submitted for review. Prior to registering a non-academic standards complaint with the Council, the student must follow the institution's complaint process as outlined above. Students may appeal the institution's decision to the Council. For information on AZ SARA's complaint process, visit: https://azsara.arizona.edu/content/complaint-process.

All states. If conflict is not resolved using the above methods, residents of all states may submit non-academic complaints to:

Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500
Chicago, Illinois 60604-1411
1-800-621-7440