Students may file a grievance when they believe they have been deprived of a right granted to students by the Board of Trustees in any of the policies or regulations of the Rancho Santiago Community College District.

 

The purpose of these grievance procedures is to resolve differences as fairly and expeditiously as possible while preserving the right of students and staff members.

 Non-Academic Grievances

1.       Students shall first confer with the person who took the action or made the ruling to which they object no later than ten (10) days following the event which prompted the grievance.

    a.   The Associate Dean, Student Development will assist the student in arranging an appointment between the student and staff member.

2.       If the difference is not satisfactorily resolved, the student shall confer with the person’s supervisor.

    a.    The Associate Dean, Student Development will assist the student in arranging an appointment between the student and the staff member’s supervisor.

3.       If the grievance is still unresolved, the student may file a written statement setting forth the nature of the grievance on the prescribed form with the Vice President of Student Services, no later than ten (10) days after conferring with the person’s supervisor.

4.       The grievance form shall be completed in full and shall include a full description of the grievance, times, dates and pertinent facts and the remedy sought by the student.

    a.     A Student Grievance Staff Response form will be sent to both the staff member and a supervisor for completion.

5.       The Vice President of Student Services shall select a Student Grievance Panel.  The administrator involved then shall forward the completed forms to the panel chair for review and recommendation.  The panel shall have the power to make an appropriate investigation of the grievance and shall state the findings and make a recommendation.

6.       If the grievance is sustained by the panel, it will recommend appropriate action for relief of the grievance and communicate this in writing to the person(s) to whom the grievance was directed.  If the findings of the panel do not sustain the grievance, the panel shall communicate this finding in writing to the student who filed the grievance.  The ruling of the Student Grievance Panel is final.

Issues that are not resolved at the campus level may be presented to the State of California using the State Complaint Process. Students are encouraged to follow Santa Ana College Complaint and Grievance procedures before attempting to file a complaint with the State. To file a complaint with the State of California, use the following website:  http://californiacommunitycolleges.cccco.edu/ComplaintsForm.aspx

   1.    Student shall meet with the instructor to discuss the grade. If the issue is not resolved and the student believes that the grade is based on a mistake, fraud, bad faith, or incompetency (EC 76224), he/she may appeal in writing to the Division Dean. Such an appeal must be made within a one year period following the semester which the grade was assigned.

   2.    Forms for the written appeal may be found in any divisional Dean’s office or the Office of the Chief Student Services Officer of   the campus.

   3. The student may be requested to set-up an appointment with the appropriate Division Dean to discuss the written grievance.

    4.    The appropriate Division Dean will review the allegations and consult with the instructor.

    5.    The Division Dean will review the issue and will notify the student and instructor in writing of his/her decision.

    6.    The decision of the Division Dean is final.

The Rancho Santiago Community College District complies with all Federal and state rules and regulations and does not discriminate on the basis of ethnic group identification, national origin, religion, age, sex, race, color, ancestry, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability, or on the basis of these perceived characteristics or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. This holds true for all students who are interested in participating in educational programs and/or extracurricular school activities. Harassment of any employee/student with regard to ethnic group identification, national origin, religion, age, sex, race, color, ancestry, sexual orientation, or physical or mental disability, or on the basis of these perceived characteristics or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics is strictly prohibited. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to District’s Title IX Officer and/or Section 504/ADA Coordinator. RSCCD Title IX Officer and Section 504/ADA Coordinator:  John Didion, 2323 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, CA 92706, 714-480-7489

Discrimination complaints that are not resolved at the campus level may be presented to the State of California using the State Complaint Process. Students are encouraged to follow Santa Ana College Complaint and Grievance procedures before attempting to file a complaint with the State. To file a complaint with the State of California, You may download and print the Unlawful Discrimination Complaint from the California Community College Chancellors Office website.