STUDENT COMPLAINT AND GRIEVANCE POLICY

Policy

Students enrolled in or taking courses at Pacific College of Technology (Pacific Tech, PCT) are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of personal integrity and to conduct themselves as professionals. Similarly, students should expect faculty and staff members to be persons of integrity who apply the principles of honesty, fairness, respect, and trust that characterize the professional/academic community. Thus, when student grievances concerning faculty and staff members arise, they are taken very seriously and are treated with sensitivity and urgency. The Director of Administration is responsible for managing this policy.

These procedures are to provide a framework and mechanism for an objective review of student grievances about the equity and fairness of PCT faculty, staff, or procedures that affect their academic standing and progress toward their degree. Such issues may arise regarding fair and equal treatment in the conduct of a class or in the grading or evaluation of academic work. Other issues may concern the equity and fairness of program or PCT policies. Other college policies and procedures apply to allegations of faculty and staff misconduct; such matters will be governed by appropriate policies administered under other college units: Complaints that a member of the faculty or staff has engaged in research misconduct, violated the college’s nondiscrimination and harassment policies, or violated employment contracts will be investigated by the President. 

A student who alleges misconduct by a faculty or staff member must pursue the grievance by following the resolution procedure below:

Student Grievance Resolution Procedure

Informal Action

In many cases, academic disputes can be quickly and effectively resolved when addressed informally at the local level. Misunderstandings, miscommunications, and disagreements often can be resolved through such conversations. In such cases, the best way for a student to resolve a grievance is to approach the faculty or staff member directly involved in the situation and attempt to reach a resolution informally.

Formal Action

If informal discussion does not resolve the disagreement, the student may file a formal Student Grievance. 

Step   1: The complainant completes a   grievance form. The grievance is available on the College website and at the   reception desk of the College.

Step   2: The complainant submits the   grievance form to the Director of Administration. 

Step   3:  A Complaint Officer will be   assigned. The complainant will receive a letter via email with the   Complaint Officer's information as appropriate. The Director of Administration   will provide written notification of the grievance to the accused within five   working days of receiving the grievance. In some instances, the Director   of Administration may choose to hear the complaint at his/her discretion.

Step   4: The Complaint   Officer will conduct an investigation.

Step   5: The Complaint   Officer notifies the complainant and the accused of their findings.   Notification of findings will be sent within 20 working days of the grievance   being filed. The complainant will receive the results of the   investigation in writing. The complainant will review the findings and   decide if they are satisfied with the results. If they are not satisfied   with the results, they may proceed to Step 6.

Step   6: The complainant may appeal the   ruling by notifying the Director of Administration in writing within five   days.  The Director of Administration reviews the investigation and   findings. The Director of Administration may refer the appeal to a   hearing committee at his/her discretion. If the Director of   Administration was the original decision maker in the grievance, the appeal   will go to the President.

Step   7: A final decision is   made. The Director of Administration, or the President depending on   the appeal, will make the final decision on the appeal and notify the   complainant and the accused in writing within 10 working days.

Step   8: If the complainant is not   satisfied with the final institutional decision, he or she may file a formal,   written complaint with the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education   Commission (GNPEC) or with ACICS, the College’s accrediting agency, or with   both. Contact information for each of these agencies is listed below:

Georgia     Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC)

2082 East     Exchange Place, Suite 220

Tucker, Georgia     30084

Tel: 770-414-3300

https://gnpec.georgia.gov/student-resources/student-complaints

Accrediting     Council for Independent Colleges and Schools

750 First Street     NE, Suite 980

Washington, DC     20002-4241

Tel: 202-336-6780

www.acics.org