WAC 132F-121-060   Student complaints generally.  (1) The procedures in this chapter are to be used for the processing and disposition of complaints by students (complainants) against college employees or other students, except to the extent that a complaint is against a college employee and the processing is dictated otherwise by a collective bargaining agreement or other applicable process. These procedures are available to all students and are intended to protect the rights of both the complainant and the respondent.

     (2) For the purposes of this chapter, a "complaint" is a good faith claim, based on personal knowledge, that the respondent employee or student (a) has violated a specific legal or district requirement or has otherwise acted without reasonable care (b) on district property or during an event or activity that the district conducts, participates in, or sponsors, (c) in a manner that had or has a significant detrimental effect on the complainant. However, an objection to disciplinary action under the student conduct code is only appealable under that code, and cannot constitute a complaint.

     (3) Each college president shall appoint a complaints officer to handle student complaints. This position shall be filled by an employee whose position is below the level of vice-president. The district chancellor shall designate a complaints officer to handle complaints against Siegal Center employees. If the president or chancellor determines, upon request, that the complaints officer has a disqualifying personal interest in a particular matter, he/she may appoint a substitute complaints officer for that matter.

     (4) The complaints officer shall be responsible for taking appropriate actions to try to resolve complaints. Information on the identity and location of the complaints officer(s) and about this procedure shall be readily available within each college.

     (5) A complaint may be initiated under either the informal process or the formal process, as set forth below.

     (6) No respondent or district employee shall take adverse action or otherwise retaliate against a student because that student initiated a complaint or assisted another student with a complaint.

     (7) If more than one type of complaint or more than one respondent is included in one complaint, the complaints officer may, upon request, provide for appropriate modification(s) of these procedures.

     (8) If a respondent employee is unavailable, or otherwise fails or refuses to participate timely in a complaint proceeding, the respondent's supervisor may, upon request and in her/his discretion, act or designate another person to act in the complaint proceeding on that employee's behalf. However, no action by a substitute may subject the respondent employee to discipline.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.50.100, [28B.50].130, and/or[28B.50].140 . 03-16-015, § 132F-121-060, filed 7/28/03, effective 8/28/03.]