WAC 132D-120-260   Complaint procedure.  (1) The complaint procedures set forth in this section concern only those complaints that do not involve violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (sex discrimination) or section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (disability discrimination).

     (2) A student wishing to pursue a resolution to his or her concern may contact the office where counseling services are provided. That office will serve as a source of information and direction for complainants.

     (3) A student shall contact the faculty or staff member with whom he or she has a concern and attempt to resolve the matter through direct discussion. A student may ask a support person to accompany him or her in this discussion.

     (4) If direct discussion does not resolve the concern to the student's satisfaction, the student shall take the matter to the faculty/staff member's immediate supervisor. The supervisor shall attempt to resolve the matter promptly and fairly.

     (5) If the issue is not resolved, the supervisor shall forward the complaint to the appropriate administrator who shall meet with the student and, within three working days, write a letter to the student involved, copied to the faculty or staff member involved that details the resolution proposed. In appropriate cases, the student shall also be informed of his or her right to file a petition to have the complaint heard before the grievance review committee.

     (6) The procedure outlined in steps one through four shall be completed in twenty working days unless all parties agree to more time.

     (7) In order to have his/her complaint heard by the grievance review committee:

     (a) The student must submit this request to the office of the registrar within five days of his/her receipt of the administrator's letter;

     (b) The student's complaint must fall into one of the following categories:

     (i) Alleged deviation from course grading policies as specified in the syllabus;

     (ii) Alleged errors in applying grading procedures;

     (iii) Alleged lowering of grades for nonacademic reasons, including discrimination;

     (iv) Alleged sex and/or disability discrimination in accordance with procedures described in WAC 132D-120-270.

     Other complaints about college employees will be considered and acted upon at the discretion of the appropriate administrator and will not be heard by the grievance review committee.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.50.140. 09-19-135, § 132D-120-260, filed 9/22/09, effective 11/1/09; 05-24-059, § 132D-120-260, filed 12/2/05, effective 1/2/06; 94-01-028, § 132D-120-260, filed 12/6/93, effective 1/6/94; 88-24-014 (Order 88-01), § 132D-120-260, filed 12/1/88, effective 1/1/89.]