Any student who feels that he or she has been the victim of a violation of college policies can make a report to the Dean of Student Services, or other appointed administrator, including reports of non-sexual harassment or physical assault. (For reports of sexual harassment or sexual assault, see the Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy). If the Dean of Student Services (or other appointed administrator) is not available, the matter may be brought to the attention of any division director, dean, director, supervisor, advisor, or Campus Police Officer. Employees who believe that they have been the victim of a violation of this policy can make a report to the Human Resources Director. Employees and students who are found in violation of College policy shall be disciplined as deemed appropriate to the severity of the offense, with final approval by the President. If the allegations against a student are sufficiently grave, the President or designee has the authority and responsibility to suspend the student at any time pending further disciplinary proceedings.
General Complaint Policy (Against Students for Reasons not Related to Title IX Sexual Harassment/Sexual Assault)
A general complaint can be lodged against any student by another student, employee, vendor, or organization connected with the college with information or knowledge concerning the subject of the complaint. General complaints for reasons other than sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, or sexual assault should be reported to the Dean of Student Services (or other appointed administrator). All records of the proceedings will be kept confidential, unless it is deemed necessary to release information for the safety of the campus and/or community.
Procedures for Filing a General Informal Complaint Against a Student
- The complainant shall meet with the Dean of Student Services (or other appointed administrator) to lodge an informal complaint.
- After receiving a complaint, the College shall make every reasonable effort to attain an informal resolution. The informal complaint investigation record may include informal statements from the complainant, the respondent, witnesses, and/or others deemed by the investigator to have pertinent knowledge of the facts involved in the complaint. The investigation will afford the respondent a full opportunity to respond to the allegations.
- If an informal resolution of the complaint is accepted by the complainant, and he or she desires no further action against the respondent, the complainant will sign a statement requesting that no further action be taken and that the informal resolution is accepted by him or her. The respondent will sign a statement attesting to his or her acceptance of the informal resolution.
Procedures for Filing a General Formal Complaint Against a Student
- If the complainant does not accept the informal resolution to the complaint or desires to make an immediate formal complaint, he or she may file a formal, written complaint with the Dean of Student Services (or other appointed administrator). The complainant must provide a written statement that clearly and specifically states the alleged violations, names the person(s) whom the complaint is against and provides the date of the alleged violation. The complainant is advised to keep a copy of all written statements.
- The Dean of Student Services (or other appointed administrator) will immediately notify the President of receipt of the complaint.
- The Dean of Student Services (or other appointed administrator) shall investigate the complaint and make a preliminary decision. If the Dean of Student Services (or other appointed administrator) finds that there is no probable cause for the complaint, the Dean of Student Services (or other appointed administrator) shall take no further action and will notify the respondent and complainant of the findings. If there is probable cause to believe that the complaint is well-founded, the Dean of Student Services (or other appointed administrator) will compose a written complaint, submit the written complaint to the Disciplinary Committee, and notify the complainant that the complaint has been filed with the Disciplinary Committee. The Disciplinary Committee is composed of faculty and staff members appointed by the President.
- Upon receipt of a written complaint from the Dean of Student Services (or other appointed administrator), the Disciplinary Committee shall convene a hearing and shall give reasonable notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing, together with a copy of the written complaint, to the respondent and the complainant. Before the hearing, the Dean of Student Services (or other appointed administrator) and the respondent may provide supporting documentation and the names of witnesses to the Disciplinary Committee to aid in the hearing.
- The hearing shall consist of informal fact finding by the Committee. The respondent may present facts and may also present witnesses; the Dean of Student Services (or other appointed administrator) shall present facts and witnesses. Those present at the hearing may only consist of the respondent, complainant, witnesses, Dean of Student Services (or other appointed administrator), and Committee members. After the hearing, the Disciplinary Committee, by majority vote, shall make a written recommendation to the President if the Committee finds that the complaint is supported by the facts. The Disciplinary Committee shall recommend an appropriate sanction in its written findings, if appropriate. If the Disciplinary Committee finds that the complaint is not supported by the facts, the Disciplinary Committee will take no further action and will notify the respondent, the complainant, the Dean of Student Services (or other appointed administrator), and the President of the findings.
- The President of the institution shall approve or disapprove the suggested sanction, or the President may further alter or amend the suggested sanction.
- The President shall, within ten (10) business days after receipt of the Disciplinary Committee’s finding, notify the respondent, complainant, and the Dean of Student Services (or other appointed administrator) in writing of the sanction(s) to be imposed.
- If the complainant and/or respondent is not satisfied with the decision of the President, he or she may file a written appeal with the President specifically stating the objections to the decision within five (5) business days after receipt of the notice of sanction. Copies of the appeal must be provided to the Dean of Student Services (or other appointed administrator). The appeal will be reviewed by an Appeals Committee made up of college administrators appointed by the President. The Appeals Committee will review the appeal solely on the following grounds, and none other:
- to determine if there was substantial evidence to support the decision;
- to determine if the student had a fair and impartial hearing; and
- to determine if there is new evidence which would affect either the guilt or innocence of the student or the degree of sanctions.
- The findings of the Appeals Committee are presented to the President for approval and notification of the results are provided to the respondent, complainant, and Dean of Student Services (or other appointed administrator).
- If, after exhausting all available institutional processes, a student complaint remains unresolved, the complainant may appeal to the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) using the System’s official Student Complaint Form, which is available on the ACCS website (www.accs.cc). Students may submit completed complaint forms by electronically submitting the form or printing the form, signing it, and then either (1) scanning it and e-mailing it to complaints@accs.edu or (2) mailing it to:
Alabama Community College System
Montgomery, AL 36130-2130
Attention: Division of Academic and Student Affairs
P.O. Box 302130
The Division of Academic and Student Affairs will investigate the complaint. The institution which is the subject of the complaint has 15 days to provide a written response to questions and/or concerns raised during the investigation. Such response may or may not contain a resolution. The Division of Academic and Student Affairs will adjudicate the matter within 30 business days of receipt of complaint and write a report or letter to the institution and student detailing corrective action, if any is necessary, or stating that the school has no violation of policies. If corrective action is needed the institution will have 30 days to comply or develop a plan to comply with the corrective action. The System Office will monitor the institution’s compliance to ensure the completion of any required corrective action. The decision made by the Alabama Community College System is final and cannot be appealed.
Each complainant has the right to proceed with or withdraw from the formal complaint process once it has been submitted. The issues involved in the complaint should not be changed from the information provided when the charge was originally made. However, these procedures may be revised to accommodate issues arising during the investigation which were not known to the complainant or to the institution when the initial complaint was filed. The investigation will afford the respondent a full opportunity to respond to the allegations.
General Complaint Policy (Against Employees for Reasons not Related to Title IX or Sexual Harassment/Sexual Assault)
A student who has a difference or dispute with a college employee with respect to the application of the rules, policies, procedures, and regulations of the College which has affected the student may file a complaint. These processes do not apply to the contesting of disciplinary decisions, ADA concerns, or Title IX sexual harassment complaints since separate complaint processes exist to address these issues. The purpose of the general complaint policy is to provide fair and orderly processes to resolve these issues. Procedures for complaints made by students against college employees will be based on the procedures as set forth in Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees Policy 620.01 for employee-related complaints.
Procedures for Filing an Informal General Complaint Against an Employee
- The complainant shall meet with the College employee who would be best able to handle the complaint (i.e., the person with whom the student has a difference or a dispute) to lodge an informal complaint. The employee will evaluate the complaint and let the complainant know if an informal resolution can be achieved.
- The complainant can appeal to the employee’s immediate supervisor if the complainant is not satisfied with the informal resolution. The supervisor will determine if another informal resolution can or cannot be achieved.
- If the complainant is not satisfied with the determination and/or informal resolution of the supervisor of the employee involved, he or she may appeal to the appropriate dean who will make a final determination regarding the original complaint and any proposed informal resolutions.
After receiving a complaint, the College shall make every reasonable effort to attain an informal resolution. The informal complaint investigation record may include informal statements from the complainant, the person or subject of the complaint, witnesses, and/or others deemed by the investigator to have pertinent knowledge of the facts involved in the complaint. The investigation will afford the respondent a full opportunity to respond to the allegations. If an informal resolution of the complaint is accepted by the complainant, and he or she desires no further action against the person or subject of the complaint, the complainant will sign a statement requesting that no further action be taken and that the informal resolution is accepted by him or her. The respondent will sign a statement attesting to his or her acceptance of the informal resolution.
Procedures for Filing a Formal General Complaint Against an Employee
If the complainant does not accept the informal resolution to the complaint, he or she may file a formal, written complaint. All formal general complaints should be reported to the College employee’s immediate supervisor. Each complainant has the right to proceed with or withdraw from the formal complaint process once it has been submitted. The issues involved in the complaint should not be changed from the information provided when the charge was originally made. However, these procedures may be revised to accommodate issues arising during the investigation which were not known to the complainant or the institution when the initial complaint was filed. The investigation will afford the respondent a full opportunity to respond to the allegations.
- Students should make every effort to pursue an informal resolution before filing a formal complaint. If the complainant does not accept the informal resolution to the complaint, he or she may file a formal, written complaint stating the objections and requesting a meeting with the immediate supervisor of the employee involved within five (5) business days of receipt of the decision of the informal resolution. Within five (5) business days of the supervisor’s receipt of the formal complaint from the complainant, the supervisor shall notify the employee involved in the complaint. The supervisor shall also set a date for a meeting and notify the complainant where and when the meeting shall take place. The meeting date shall not be later than 14 business days after the supervisor’s receipt of the formal complaint. At this point, the College employee involved may respond in writing to the complaint. The supervisor must make a written report of findings/decisions and provide it to the parties involved within 10 business days of the meeting date.
- If the complainant is not satisfied with the decision by the supervisor of the employee involved, he or she may file a written appeal specifically stating the objections to the decision and request a meeting with the appropriate dean(s), if applicable, within five (5) business days after the receipt of the decision of the employee’s immediate supervisor. If the employee does not answer to a dean, the complainant will file the appeal with the president. The dean (or president) will render a decision to address the complaint or if, in the administrator’s judgment, the appeal and record of previous actions have addressed the complaint or do not warrant further action, no further action will occur. The involved administrator must make a written report of findings/decisions and provide it to the complainant, employee, and supervisor within 14 business days after receipt of the appeal of the decision.
- If the complainant is not satisfied with the decisions by the dean(s) involved, he or she may file a written appeal specifically stating objections to the decision and request a meeting with the president within five (5) business days after receipt of the decision of the dean. If in the president’s judgment the appeal and record of previous actions have addressed the complaint or do not warrant further action, the president shall notify the complainant, employee, supervisor, and dean(s) within 10 business days after receipt of the appeal. If the president grants the appeal, the president may either hear the appeal or appoint a hearing committee to hear the appeal. Such hearing committee will include student representation. The president will notify the complainant, employee, supervisor and dean(s) of this decision within ten (10) business days after the conclusion of the meeting. If the hearing committee is to hear the appeal, the chairman shall within five (5) business days after the appointment of the committee set a time and place for the hearing and notify the complainant, the employee, the employee’s supervisor, the appropriate dean (if applicable), and the president. The committee shall review the appeal and determine the facts. The committee may also choose to meet with the complainant, witnesses and the employee. The committee will communicate its recommendation in writing to the president within five (5) business days after the hearing is completed. Within 14 business days of the president’s receipt of the recommendation, the president shall make the decision and notify the complainant, the employee involved, the employee’s supervisor, and the appropriate dean (if applicable). If the president hears the appeal, the president will make his decision and notify the complainant, the employee involved, the employee’s supervisor, and the appropriate dean (if applicable) within 14 business days of receipt of the appeal. The decision of the president shall be final under the provision of this complaint process.
- If, after exhausting all available institutional processes, a student complaint remains unresolved, the complainant may appeal to the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) using the System’s official Student Complaint Form, which is available on the ACCS website (www.accs.cc). Students may submit completed complaint forms by electronically submitting the form or printing the form, signing it, and then either (1) scanning it and e-mailing it to complaints@accs.edu or (2) mailing it to:
Alabama Community College System
Montgomery, AL 36130-2130
Attention: Division of Academic and Student Affairs
P.O. Box 302130
The Division of Academic and Student Affairs will investigate the complaint. The institution which is the subject of the complaint has 15 days to provide a written response to questions and/or concerns raised during the investigation. Such response may or may not contain a resolution. The Division of Academic and Student Affairs will adjudicate the matter within 30 business days of receipt of complaint and write a report or letter to the institution and student detailing corrective action, if any is necessary, or stating that the school has no violation of policies. If corrective action is needed the institution will have 30 days to comply or develop a plan to comply with the corrective action. The System Office will monitor the institution’s compliance to ensure the completion of any required corrective action. The decision made by the Alabama Community College System is final and cannot be appealed.
General Complaint Policy (Against the College in General for Reasons not Related to Title IX or Sexual Harassment/Sexual Assault)
A student who has a difference or dispute with the College with respect to the application of the rules, policies, procedures, and regulations of the College which has affected the student may file a complaint. These processes do not apply to general complaints against a student or employee, to the contesting of disciplinary decisions, ADA concerns, or Title IX sexual harassment complaints since separate complaint processes exist to address these issues.
Procedures for Filing an Informal General Complaint Against the College
- The complainant shall meet with the Dean of Instruction to lodge an informal complaint. The Dean will evaluate the complaint and let the complainant know if an informal resolution can be achieved.
- The complainant can appeal to the President if the complainant is not satisfied with the informal resolution. The President will make a final determination regarding the original complaint and any proposed informal resolutions.
After receiving a complaint, the College shall make every reasonable effort to attain an informal resolution. The informal complaint investigation record may include informal statements from the complainant, witnesses, and/or others deemed by the investigator to have pertinent knowledge of the facts involved in the complaint. If an informal resolution of the complaint is accepted by the complainant, and he or she desires no further action, the complainant will sign a statement requesting that no further action be taken and that the informal resolution is accepted by him or her.
Procedures for Filing a Formal General Complaint Against the College
If the complainant does not accept the informal resolution to the complaint, he or she may file a formal, written complaint with the Dean of Instruction. Each complainant has the right to proceed with or withdraw from the formal complaint process once it has been submitted. The issues involved in the complaint should not be changed from the information provided when the charge was originally made. However, these procedures may be revised to accommodate issues arising during the investigation which were not known to the complainant or the institution when the initial complaint was filed.
- Students should make every effort to pursue an informal resolution before filing a formal complaint. If the complainant does not accept the informal resolution to the complaint, he or she may file a formal, written complaint stating the objections and requesting a meeting with the Dean of Instruction within five (5) business days of receipt of the decision of the informal resolution. Within five (5) business days of the Dean of Instruction’s receipt of the formal complaint from the complainant, the Dean shall notify parties involved in the complaint (if necessary), set a date for a meeting, and notify the complainant and any involved College personnel where and when the meeting shall take place. The meeting date shall not be later than 14 business days after the Dean’s receipt of the formal complaint. At this point, the College employee(s) (if any) involved may respond in writing to the complaint. The Dean of Instruction must make a written report of findings/decisions and provide it to the parties involved within 10 business days of the meeting date.
- If the complainant is not satisfied with the decision by the Dean, he or she may file a written appeal specifically stating objections to the decision and request a meeting with the president within five (5) business days after receipt of the decision of the Dean. If in the president’s judgment the record of previous actions have addressed the complaint or do not warrant further action, the president shall notify the complainant, dean(s), and any other appropriate College personnel within 10 business days after receipt of the appeal that the decision stands. If the president grants the appeal, the president may either hear the appeal or appoint a hearing committee to hear the appeal. Such hearing committee will include student representation. The president will notify the complainant, dean, and other appropriate College personnel of this decision within ten (10) business days after the conclusion of the meeting. If the hearing committee is to hear the appeal, the chairperson shall within five (5) business days after the appointment of the committee set a time and place for the hearing and notify the complainant, the dean, other appropriate College personnel, and the president. The committee shall review the appeal and determine the facts. The committee may also choose to meet with the complainant, witnesses, and appropriate College personnel. The committee will communicate its recommendation in writing to the president within five (5) business days after the hearing is completed. Within 14 business days of the president’s receipt of the recommendation, the president shall review the committee’s recommendation, make the final decision, and notify the complainant, the dean, and any other appropriate College personnel. The decision of the president shall be final under the provision of this complaint process.
- If, after exhausting all available institutional processes, a student complaint remains unresolved, the complainant may appeal to the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) using the System’s official Student Complaint Form, which is available on the ACCS website (www.accs.cc). Students may submit completed complaint forms by electronically submitting the form or printing the form, signing it, and then either (1) scanning it and e-mailing it to complaints@accs.edu or (2) mailing it to:
Alabama Community College System
Montgomery, AL 36130-2130
Attention: Division of Academic and Student Affairs
P.O. Box 302130
The Division of Academic and Student Affairs will investigate the complaint. The institution which is the subject of the complaint has 15 days to provide a written response to questions and/or concerns raised during the investigation. Such response may or may not contain a resolution. The Division of Academic and Student Affairs will adjudicate the matter within 30 business days of receipt of complaint and write a report or letter to the institution and student detailing corrective action, if any is necessary, or stating that the school has no violation of policies. If corrective action is needed the institution will have 30 days to comply or develop a plan to comply with the corrective action. The System Office will monitor the institution’s compliance to ensure the completion of any required corrective action. The decision made by the Alabama Community College System is final and cannot be appealed.