WAC 174-120-055   Student conduct code -- Grievance officer review process.  (1) Reaching a settlement agreement: If the campus grievance officer decides to pursue a case in the name of the college, the student may accept or deny responsibility for the violation. If the student accepts responsibility, she or he may propose a sanction in writing to resolve the case. The campus grievance officer may also propose a sanction. If agreement on responsibility and sanction(s) are reached, the settlement agreement shall be made in writing and signed by the student and the campus grievance officer. The student may withdraw the settlement by submitting a written statement of withdrawal which is received by the office of the vice-president for student affairs within twenty-four hours after being signed by the student.

     (2) Settlement agreement: An agreement on responsibility and sanctions, if appropriate, shall be written and contain:

     (a) A description of the violation for which responsibility is accepted;

     (b) The agreed upon sanction, if any;

     (c) Signatures of the student and the campus grievance officer.

     (3) Temporary no-contact order: The campus grievance officer may impose a temporary order to restrict contact between parties or access to facilities for the duration of the student conduct code grievance and appeals process.

     (4) Failure to respond to the campus grievance officer's request for a meeting: Failure to respond to a request for a meeting will result in an adjudicator hold on a student's registration file and could result in more serious sanctions.

     (5) Decision by campus grievance officer of no cause finding: If the campus grievance officer determines, based on the evidence collected, that the accused has not violated the student conduct code, the accuser may request in writing within twenty calendar days that the vice-president for student affairs review the process and evidence collected by the campus grievance officer. No further review will be allowed if the vice-president for student affairs agrees that the process followed by the campus grievance officer was appropriate and that the act did not constitute a violation of the student conduct code.

     (6) Failure to reach a settlement agreement: If the campus grievance officer is satisfied that sufficient evidence exists to substantiate a violation and if a settlement has not been reached, he/she shall send to the student a notice of the formal charges, recommended corrective action, and the right to a hearing. If a student is not charged with a violation potentially punishable by emergency suspension, he/she must petition the vice-president for student affairs for a formal hearing within twenty calendar days after receipt of the campus grievance officer's charges. If the student fails to petition the vice-president for student affairs for a formal hearing, the recommended disciplinary action shall go into effect (unless emergency suspension has already occurred).

     Except in cases of emergency suspension, the student's status at the college shall not be altered until the final opportunity for appeal has passed.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 28B.40.120(12). 96-13-086, § 174-120-055, filed 6/18/96, effective 7/19/96.]