WAC 132M-300-010   Grievance procedure.  (1) Any applicant for admission, enrolled student, applicant for employment, or employee of Lower Columbia College who believes he/she has been discriminated against on the basis of sex or on the basis of a handicap may lodge a formal institutional grievance according to the following procedure:

     (a) Step 1: Informal meeting. In an attempt to informally resolve the concern, the complainant may request a meeting with the individual believed to have committed the discriminatory act or with the appropriate supervisor as determined by the affirmative action officer. The time period in which attempts to informally resolve the concern are made shall not exceed thirty days from the time the complaint is lodged.

     (b) Step 2: Official hearing. If not satisfied by the results of the informal meeting or if the informal meeting has been waived, the complainant may request a meeting with the college affirmative action officer.

     (i) The request for an official hearing must be made in writing and must set forth the specific grievance(s) raised by the complainant.

     (ii) Within thirty calendar days of receiving the written request, the college affirmative action officer shall arrange a meeting to hear the complaint. It shall be at the discretion of the complainant to determine whether the affirmative action officer will meet with the complainant and the person to whom the complaint has been directed separately or in a single meeting. If the complainant requests a single meeting, the meeting shall be attended by the complainant, the person to whom the complaint is directed, and the affirmative action officer, who shall chair the meeting.

     (iii) Following the hearing and within thirty calendar days of receiving the written request, the affirmative action officer will report his/her findings in writing to both the complainant and the person to whom the complaint has been directed.

     (c) Step 3: Presidential appeal. If the complaint is not resolved as a result of the hearing conducted by the affirmative action officer, either the complainant or the person to whom the complaint has been directed may request an appeal to the college president.

     (i) The request must be made in writing within ten days after receipt of the written results of the official hearing.

     (ii) Within fifteen days after receiving the request, the college president or the president's designee will conduct the presidential appeal hearing and report the findings in writing to both the complainant and the person to whom the complaint is directed.

     (iii) Attendance at the presidential appeal hearing shall be limited to the college president or his/her designee, the affirmative action officer, the complainant, and the person to whom the complaint is directed unless otherwise mutually agreed by the parties. The college president or his/her designee shall preside.

     (iv) Either the complainant or the person to whom the complaint is directed may call witnesses at the discretion of the person presiding.

     (v) The written findings of the presidential appeal will be considered final. No further intrainstitutional appeal exists.

     (2) If desired, inquiries or appeals beyond the institutional level may be directed to:

     (a) Regional Director, Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education, 915 Second Avenue, Room 3310, Seattle, Washington 98174-1099, (206) 553-1636.

     (b) Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2815 Second Avenue, Suite 500, Seattle, Washington 98121, (206) 442-0968.

     (c) Human Rights Commission, 402 Evergreen Plaza Building, M.S. FJ-41, 711 S. Capitol Way, Olympia, Washington 98504.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.50.140 and 29 USC ss 794, 20 USC ss 1681 et seq and 42 USC ss 200 et al. 92-09-092, § 132M-300-010, filed 4/17/92, effective 5/18/92.]