Grievance Committee
- Membership: The Grievance Committee shall consist of three faculty members and two students. Faculty members for the pool will be identified by the Academic Senate and students will be identified by the Associated Students. No person shall serve as a member of a Grievance Committee if that person has been personally involved in any matter giving rise to the grievance, has made any statement on the matters at issue, or could otherwise not act in a neutral manner. Any party to the grievance may challenge for cause any member of the hearing committee prior to the beginning of the hearing by addressing a challenge to the Vice President, Instruction.
- Grievance Officer: The Vice President, Instruction shall appoint a staff member to serve as the Grievance Officer for the Grievance Committee.This individual shall not serve as a member nor vote. The Grievance Officer shall serve to assist all parties and the Grievance Committee to facilitate a full, fair and efficient resolution of the grievance.
Prior to scheduling the Grievance Hearing, the Vice President, Instruction shall collect the following information:
- The Statement of Grievance Form filed by the student
- A Written response to the grievance by the instructor who issued the grade. The instructor will provide this to the Vice President, Instruction, within 5 days of the request.
- Any materials relating the division dean's review and decision.
Hearing Process
- Prior to the scheduled Grievance Hearing, the Grievance Committee shall meet in private and without the parties present to select a chair and review the grounds for a hearing.
- The members of the Grievance Committee shall be provided with a copy of the grievance filed by the student, the written responses provided by the instructor and the division dean’s review and decision before the hearing begins.
- Each party to the grievance may call witnesses and introduce oral and written testimony relevant to the issues of the matter.
- Any relevant information shall be admitted. Formal rules of evidence shall not apply.
- Participants: Each party to the grievance represents himself or herself, and may also be accompanied by a friend of his or her choice who is an observer only. Each person present will be asked to identify themselves by name.
- Parties are not allowed to be represented by legal counsel. The instructor may request to be accompanied by a union representative.
- Hearings shall be closed and confidential.
- Witnesses: In a closed hearing, witnesses shall be present at the hearing only when testifying.
- Recording: The hearing may be recorded by the college and shall be the only recording made. If recorded, no witness who refuses to be recorded may be permitted to give testimony.
- Attendance: If the individual filing the grievance fails to appear at the hearing, only the written information will be used to make a recommendation.
| < Step 2: Review of Grievance | Step 4: Decision > |
