| Contact Us |
|---|
Have a suggestion or opinion for our website?
E-mail us here. |
|
| Student Rights and Responsibilities |
|---|
|
| Student Grievance Policy |
It is the stated policy of the Board of Trustees of the San
Bernardino Community College District that "the relationship between
students and college personnel is of vital importance to the
learning process." With this principle comes the recognition that
there may be many divergent viewpoints and that a process by which
these viewpoints can be aired and resolved must be established.
In accordance with Board Policy 6090, a student may initiate a
grievance against a college employee for any of the following
reasons:
- An act or threat of intimidation, harassment, discrimination
or physical aggression.
- Any arbitrary action without proper regard to academic due
process.
- Any violation of student rights.
No individual or group has the authority to change a grade
assigned by an instructor unless persuasive evidence of instructor
error, fraud, bad faith or incompetence is presented.
The San Bernardino Community College District has established a due
process procedure that has as its goal the satisfactory resolution
of the problem at the lowest possible level. The procedure has
several levels:
| Level I |
Informal Discussion |
| Level II |
Review of Request
for Student Grievance
Committee Hearing |
| Level III |
Student Grievance Committee Hearing |
| Level IV |
Recommendation of Grievance
Committee/Action by College President |
At the beginning of each school year, a standing panel is
appointed from which one or more Student Grievance
Hearing Committees may be appointed. The panel
consists of five to fifteen faculty members, five to fifteen
students and four to ten administrators/supervisors. The
Hearing Committee will consist of a maximum of two
faculty members, two students, and one administrator /
supervisor to hear each grievance.
Level I: Informal Discussion
A student who wishes to discuss a grievance relating to a
condition or practice of the district/college, including but
not limited to alleged unlawful discrimination, must first
attempt to resolve the issue by contacting the
instructor/administrator/supervisor of the class, service or
office most closely related to the origin of the alleged
problem. A student not satisfied with the outcome of that
conference may next attempt to resolve the alleged
problem by conferring with the immediate supervisor of the
person with whom the initial conference was held. In most
cases, this will be the Division Dean.
Level II: Review of Request for Student Grievance
Committee Hearing
If the alleged problem is still unresolved, the student may
request a formal hearing. A request for a hearing shall be
submitted in writing to the Vice President of Student
Services. This written notice shall state the condition,
practice or alleged act, injustice, or unlawful discrimination
that is being grieved and, if possible, should include a
proposed resolution to the problem.
Within three working days of receipt of the grievance
notice, the Vice President of Student Services shall
determine if the allegations were filed in a timely manner.
If the grievance notice meets the above criterion, the Vice
President of Student Services, within five working days,
shall appoint a Student Grievance Hearing Committee
following the guidelines of the "Standards of Student
Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures."
The student and any college personnel involved in the
allegations shall be notified of the time and place of the
hearing in writing. The notice shall include the names of
the Hearing Committee and all documentation relating to
the allegation(s).
Level III: Student Grievance Committee Hearing
The hearing shall convene within ten working days.
Persons appearing before the committee have the right to
be assisted by an advocate and/or legal counsel. The
burden of proof rests upon the party bringing the charge.
The committee renders a written report and a
recommendation.
Level IV: Recommendation by Student Grievance
Committee/Action by College President
Within five working days following receipt of the report of
the Hearing Committee Chairperson, the college President
or designee shall provide a written notification to the
student and to other parties directly involved in the issues
as to the recommendation. In the case of a designee, the
college President will advise all parties directly involved of
the decision within five working days.
Note: If either party is not satisfied with the final college level
disposition of the grievance, he/she shall, through the
District Chancellor's Office, appeal directly to the San
Bernardino Community College District Board of Trustees
within ten working days. Person's wishing to do so should
contact: Chancellor's Office, San Bernardino Community
College District, 114 S. Del Rosa Drive, San Bernardino,
CA 92408. |
|
