Student Grievance Policy – 2025-2026

Purpose statement: Provide a fair, equitable, orderly, and efficient pathway for students to find a solution for grievances in academic and student services matters.
Recipients of services: Current CCS students
Provider of services: Student Grievance Counsel (Dean of Students, chair; Dean of Academics, Administrative Dean, and one faculty member)
Examples of academic grievances: Arbitrary and /or capricious action by a faculty member, application of academic policy, final course grade dispute, unjust dismissal from a program.
Examples of Student services grievance: Arbitrary and/or capricious action by staff, interpretation of college policy, unfair application of college policy.
The purpose of this grievance policy is to provide a fair, equitable, orderly, and efficient process of additional formal support for students who cannot find resolution through the information steps in problem solving at the college. Students who initially have a problem will take the following steps prior to filing a formal grievance report with the Student Grievance Counsel.
Level 1 Academic grievance:
1. The student will meet with the professor for a resolution. If that is not sufficient, the student takes step two below.
2. The student will meet with the academic dean to find resolution.
Level 1 Student services grievance:
1. The student will meet with the staff or faculty member in charge of the service for a resolution.
If that is not sufficient, the student takes step two below.
2. The student will meet with the administrative dean to find resolution.
Students are expected to follow the above informal grievance steps prior to filing a formal grievance complaint with the Student Grievance Counsel. If the student is not satisfied with the outcome from the level 1 process, the student will then proceed to a level 2 complaint.
Level 2 Academic or Student Services Grievance
Upon receiving a student formal grievance form, the student grievance counsel will fact find, meet with the student, meet with the involved staff or faculty members, and formulate an action plan, and render a written decision within 15 business days unless additional time is needed due to extenuating circumstances. Students must file a formal grievance form within 30 business days or six weeks from the date of the situation. The grievance form may be submitted to the Dean of Students through the grievance form link: https://forms.gle/oUtC2y5cT4NB5P1T9
The grievance form may also be found on the college website under student services.
Level 3 Academic or Student Services Grievance
Should a student continue to be unsatisfied with the formal grievance decision by the Student Grievance Counsel, the student may make an appeal to the college president. The student must email the Dean of
Students to make this request within 20 business days of the counsel’s grievance decision. The appeal decision from the college president is final and the president’s decision will be delivered to the student via email.
The Student Grievance Counsel will investigate and take appropriate disciplinary action with any student who retaliates against staff, students, faculty, or the college based on the final grievance decision.
The college maintains written and/or electronic records of all grievances. Counsel meetings with students will be recorded.
Unless there is a risk to the safety of students, staff, or others, the student may continue in the class and/or program while the counsel investigates and a final decision is made.
Once the counsel makes a Level 2 decision, the student may be removed from the class, program, and/or college.
The Student Grievance Counsel can neither formulate nor change college policies.