Student Grievances

Student Grievances

The student grievance procedure is designed to provide a prompt and equitable means for resolving student grievances, including but not limited to the grading process. The grievance procedure may be initiated by a student or group of students who reasonably believe that they have been subject to unjust action or denied rights that adversely affect their status, rights, or privileges as a student. To initiate a student grievance, please contact the Office of Student Services at 818-710-6418.


GRADING POLICY
Although the grievance procedures are established to enable a student to challenge a particular grade, students are advised of section 76224 of the California Education Code which provides: "When grades are given for any course of instruction taught in a community college district, the grade given to each student shall be the grade determined by the instructor of the course and the determination of the student's grade by the instructor, in the absence of mistake, fraud, bad faith, or incompetency, shall be final."


OTHER COMPLAINTS
Please also note that the student grievance procedure does not apply to the following.

1. Challenge process for prerequisites, corequisites, advisories and limitations on enrollment. Information on challenges to prerequisites is available from the Office of Academic Affairs.
   
2. Alleged violations of sexual harassment, actions dealing with alleged discrimination on the basis of ethnic group identification, religion, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability. These complaints are handled through the District's office of Diversity Programs at 213-891-2315.
   
3. An appeal for residency determination. Residency appeals should be filed with that Admissions and Records Office.
   
4. Eligibility, disqualification or reinstatement of financial aid. Procedures for eligibility, disqualification or reinstatement of Financial Aid may be obtained in the Financial Aid Office
   
5. Student Discipline: Actions dealing with student discipline are handled through the Office of Student Services.
   
6. Freedom of the Press: Issues pertaining to freedom of press and journalism are addressed in Administrative Regulation E-63 and Board Rules 9703 and 9704.
   
7. Employee Discipline. Students may file complaints about employee conduct with the appropriate administrator (see Board Rule 10101 – Unsolicited Written Derogatory Communications).
   
8. Challenges of established District policies, e.g. Board Rules and Administrative Regulations. Grievances regarding District policy, which are beyond the authority of a college president, shall be referred to the Chancellor or Chancellor’s designee for appropriate handling and response.
   
9. Financial claims against the District. Financial claims need to be made through the District’s Office of General Counsel.
   

Information about other procedures is listed in the schedule of classes and college catalogs or may be obtained from the Student Service Office.

Most complaints, grievances or disciplinary matters should be resolved at the campus level, before escalating issues to other resources.  Please follow the link below for more information at the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office:

http://californiacommunitycolleges.cccco.edu/complaintsform.aspx

INFORMAL RESOLUTION
All parties involved in a potential grievance are encouraged to seek an informal remedy.
The recommended steps for students to follow are:

• meeting directly with the faculty member(s) with whom the student has a problem
• meeting with the department chair of the faculty member(s)
• meeting with the department's Dean of Academic Affair
• meeting with the College Ombudsperson Ombudspersons are faculty members appointed by the Academic Senate to assist students in obtaining informal resolution of a grievance.
  

FORMAL RESOLUTION
Students unable to resolve their grievance through the informal process may file a "Formal Grievance Hearing Request Form" with the College Ombudsperson. The Ombudsperson will provide students with information about the formal grievance hearing process and their rights and responsibilities in this process.

RIGHT TO STUDENT ADVOCATE
Students pursuing a formal grievance have the right to be represented by a Student Advocate who will assist students in the formal grievance process.


Administrator Regulation E55 (Word Document)