|
|
|
7.09 Grievance Process for Students
|
|
|
|
I. Definition
|
|
|
A grievance is a student allegation that a College action or
decision is discriminatory or has a negative effect on the student's status
at the College.
|
|
|
II. Regulation
|
|
|
Any student may request a review of any College decision or
action alleged to be discriminatory or to have a negative effect on the
student's status at Central Piedmont Community College. If the grievance
concerns a course grade, then the student should follow the steps in
section V.
|
|
|
III. Procedure
|
|
|
A. The student shall first informally discuss the matter in
question with the College employee most directly involved unless the issue
is a claim of discriminatory harassment. In that case, the student may
appeal directly to the employee's immediate administrator.
|
|
|
B. If the student is unable to resolve the matter in question
through discussion with the College employee directly involved, the student
may file an appeal with the employee's immediate administrator. All such
appeals shall be in writing and state the basic facts in the case.
|
|
|
C. During the grievance process a student may seek
mediation after he/she has discussed the grievance with the College
employee most closely involved in the dispute and with that employee's
immediate administrator. See Policy 7.15 Student
Mediation.
D. If the matter is not resolved, the appeal
may be processed through the employee's supervising administrators in
succession until a satisfactory resolution is obtained or until the appeal
reaches the President. The President's decision will be final.
|
|
|
E. A student may at any stage of the process consult
with the Associate Vice President for Student Services to obtain advice
regarding the grievance procedure.
|
|
|
IV. Timeliness
|
|
|
A grievance must be presented within 30 days after the action
or decision being questioned. Processing at each step cannot exceed 30
working days; however, the time may be extended by agreement of both
parties or by extenuating circumstances as decided by the administrator to
whom the grievance is presented. If administrator at each step does not
meet processing time limitations, the grievant may then request higher
administrative assistance in obtaining requested relief. If the grievant
does not meet the stated time limitations, the process will be terminated
and such grievance cannot be resubmitted.
|
|
V.
Course Grade Appeals Procedure
|
|
|
A
part of faculty responsibility at Central Piedmont Community College is the
assignment of student course grades according to methods which are
professionally acceptable, communicated to everyone in the class, and
applied to all students equally.
Any student who contests a course grade should
attempt first to resolve the matter with the faculty member who assigned
the grade. Failing to reach a satisfactory resolution, the student may
appeal the course grade in accordance with the procedure outlined below.
While a grade is being appealed, a student is obligated to abide by the written
division policies concerning continuation in programs or continuation in
courses with prerequisites.
|
|
|
A. The student must consult initially with the faculty member
who assigned the course grade.
|
|
|
B.
Students may seek mediation during the Course Grade Appeals Procedure after
they have discussed the grade in question with the faculty member who
assigned the grade, but prior to presenting the Grade Appeal form to the
division director as described in V. C. below. If the matter is not
resolved through discussion with the faculty member, the student may
request mediation.
|
|
|
C.
If the conference between the
student and the faculty member does not resolve the matter, then the
student must complete and submit the Grade
Appeal Form to the division director where the contested course
grade was awarded. This written appeal must be filed within 30 calendar
days after the grade has been posted and cannot be appealed beyond this
period. The written appeal will become the document of record. The
30-day period will be extended if mediation is a part of the process.
|
|
|
D.
The division director will then confer with the student and the faculty
member to seek resolution by mutual agreement. When appropriate, the program
chair/coordinator in which the course grade was assigned will be involved
in this conference.
|
|
|
E.
Failing such resolution, the student may contact the appropriate
instructional dean for an appointment. The dean will request all
documentation, including the Student Grade Appeal Form from the division
director prior to meeting with the student. Within 10 working days after
receiving the documentation, the dean will confer with the student, faculty
member, division director, and when appropriate, program chair/coordinator.
Based on these discussions, the dean with either render a decision or
convene the Grade Appeal Committee.
|
|
|
F.
If the dean renders a decision, he/she will communicate that decision in
writing to the student, the faculty member, the program chair/coordinator,
and the division director. If the grade is to be changed, the dean
will change the grade. The dean's decision will be final.
|
|
|
G.
If the dean determines that further evaluation of the student’s work is
warranted, the dean will convene a Grade Appeal Committee. This committee
will consist of the convening dean and three faculty members. The Faculty
Senate will appoint one member. The student will select one member, and the
instructor who assigned the contested grade will select one member. The
faculty member who assigned the grade, the student, the division director,
and when appropriate, the program chair/coordinator, will be present at the
meeting. The student may bring one guest. The student and faculty member
will be given an opportunity to address the committee and to answer
questions. The student’s guest, the division director and the program chair
may not address the committee. The three faculty members will vote to
affirm the grade or to change the grade. The committee’s decision will be
final. The dean will communicate the committee’s decision in writing to the
student, the division director, program chair, and the faculty member who
assigned the grade. If the grade is to be changed, the dean will change the
grade.
|
|
|
H. If the dean changes the grade, the College will assist the
student in resuming studies at the College.
|
Last updated 1/11/05; 3-3-08
PPM7.09 Top of this page
Next section
|
|
