Appendix III - Student Grievance
I. Purpose
The purpose of the student grievance procedure is to provide a system to channel and resolve student complaints against a college employee concerning decisions made or actions taken. A decision or action can be grieved only if it involves a misapplication of a college’s policies, procedures, or regulations, or a state or federal law. This procedure may not be used in the following instances: 1) to grieve a claim against a college employee for any matter unrelated to the employee’s role or position at the college; 2) for complaints or appeals of grades awarded in a class or for an assignment, unless the complaint is based upon alleged discrimination on the basis of age, gender, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth, other categories protected by applicable law on the basis of alleged sexual harassment; or 3) to grieve a decision for which other grievance or appeal procedures exist (e.g., appeal of a disciplinary case, academic complaints, a residency appeal, a financial aid appeal, FERPA grievances, transfer credit evaluations, etc.).
The student filing the grievance must have been enrolled at the college at the time of decision or action being grieved and must be the victim of the alleged mistreatment. A grievance cannot be filed on behalf of another person.
II. Definitions
When used in this document, unless the content requires other meaning,
A. “College” means any college in the South Carolina Technical College System.
B. “President” means the chief executive officer of the college.
C. "Administrative Officer" means anyone designated at the college as being on the administrative staff, such as the President, Vice Presidents, Provost, and Vice Provosts.
D. "Chief Student Services Officer" means the Vice President for Student Development Services at the College who has overall management responsibility for student services.
E. "Chief Academic Officer" means the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at the College who has overall management responsibility for academic programs and services.
F. “Grievable Act or Decision” means a misapplication of a college’s policies, procedures, or regulations, or a violation of a state or federal law.
G. “Instructional Weekday” means any day except Saturday and Sunday, and any other day on which the college is closed or instruction is not offered.
H. "Student" means a person taking any course(s) offered by the college.
I. "Instructor" means any person employed by the college to conduct classes.
J. “Staff" means any person employed by the college for reasons other than conducting classes.
K. "Campus" means any place where the college conducts or sponsors educational, public service, or research activities.
L. “Preponderance of Evidence” means more likely than not, or the standard used to evaluate the evidence for purposes of making findings and drawing conclusions for an investigation conducted under this regulation.
M. “Approved Method of Notification” means any communication from college personnel through a communication channel to which the student has consented or which confirms receipt of the communication by the student, such as a hand-delivered notice, or MTC student email account. A student who communicates with the college via email or otherwise provides an email address in connection with communications relating to a grievance thereby consents to the service of documents and all other correspondence associated with the grievance by email, and the date and time of such email(s) shall be deemed the date and time of service.
N. "Close of Business” means the time that the administrative offices of the college close on that specific workday.
III. Grievance Process
A. Filing a Complaint
This procedure must be initiated by the student within fifteen (15) instructional weekdays of becoming aware of the decision, action, or event giving rise to the grievance. This time limit may be extended by the President or his/her designee, if the student requests an extension within the fifteen (15) weekday period.
Before initiating the Student Grievance process, a student may go to the college employee who originated the alleged problem and attempt to resolve the matter informally. In instances alleging discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment and violence, the student is not required to initially try to resolve the matter with the person alleged to have committed the violation under this policy. Where applicable, if the student is not satisfied with the outcome of this meeting or if the student prefers to ignore this step, then the student may file a written complaint and initiate the grievance process. This written complaint should describe the decision or action that is being grieved, the date of the decision or action, and the college employee(s) involved in the decision or action.
1. Written complaints about alleged discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, gender, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth, other categories protected by applicable law or on the basis of alleged sexual harassment or violence shall be submitted to the Chief Compliance Officer who is designated to coordinate Section 504, Title II, and Title IX compliance.
2. Written complaints about decisions and actions not related to discrimination on the basis of age, gender, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth, and other categories protected by applicable law or on the basis of alleged sexual harassment shall be submitted to the college’s Director of Student Affairs.
3. Any written complaint naming the college’s President as the person whose alleged action or decision originated the problem shall be submitted to the President of the South Carolina Technical College System.
B. Preliminary investigation and Findings
The person receiving the student’s written complaint will send a written acknowledgement to the student no later than two (2) instructional weekdays after receiving the written complaint.
1. When the complaint is against anyone other than the President of a College:
The person receiving the complaint will forward the complaint to the immediate supervisor of the employee named in the complaint no later than two (2) instructional weekdays after it has been received. .
As a part of the effort to resolve the matter, the supervisor, or designee, will consult, as needed, with the employee named in the complaint, the student filing the complaint, the Chief Administrative Officer of the division or component concerned, and any other parties relevant to the resolution.
The supervisor, designee, shall respond in writing to the student within ten (10) instructional weekdays of receipt of the complaint. The response, sent through an approved method of notification, shall include a summary of the findings and, as needed, propose the steps that shall be taken to resolve the complaint. If the student does not agree with the proposed resolution, the student may request to have the complaint heard by the Student Grievance Committee.
2. When the complaint is against the President of a College:
The South Carolina Technical College System’s Executive Vice President, or designee, will be responsible for the preliminary investigation and findings.
As a part of the effort to resolve the matter, the South Carolina Technical College System’s Executive Vice President, or designee, will consult, as needed, with the College President named in the complaint, the student filing the complaint, the Chief Administrative Officer of the division or component concerned, and any other parties relevant to the resolution of the complaint.
The South Carolina Technical College System’s Executive Vice President, or designee, shall respond in writing to the student within ten (10) instructional days of receipt of the complaint. The response, sent through the approved method of notification, shall include a summary of the findings and, as needed propose the steps that shall be taken to resolve the complaint. If the student does not agree with the proposed resolution, the student may request to have the complaint heard by an ad hoc committee.
The President of the South Carolina Technical College System will convene a three person ad hoc committee consisting of System Presidents or a three person ad hoc committee from within the System to hear the student’s complaint.
C. Student Grievance Hearing
1. Requesting a Hearing
a) When the complaint is against anyone other than the President of a College:
1) The student must submit a written request for a Grievance Hearing to the Director of Student Affairs within seven (7) instructional days after receiving the supervisor's written response. The request must be related to the original complaint, written complaint, and include a statement describing why the supervisor's response was unsatisfactory.
2) If the student does not submit the written request for a hearing within seven (7) instructional days after receiving the supervisor’s written response, and the student can demonstrate that extenuating circumstances resulted in the failure to meet this deadline, the Director of Student Affairs may allow the hearing to take place.
3) Within two (2) instructional weekdays of receiving the request for a hearing, the Director of Student Affairs shall notify the Vice President for Student Development Services about the need to convene an MTC Grievance Committee. A committee may be formed each time a grievance covered by this procedure is filed.
b) When the complaint is against the President of a College:
1) The student must submit a written request for a Grievance Hearing to South Carolina Technical College System’s Executive Vice President, or designee, within seven (7) instructional days after receiving the Executive Vice President’s written response. The request must be related to the original complaint, and include a statement describing why the Executive Vice President's response was unsatisfactory.
2) If the student does not submit the written request for a hearing within seven (7) instructional days after receiving the Executive Vice President’s written response, and the student can demonstrate that extenuating circumstances resulted in the failure to meet this deadline, the Executive Vice President may allow the hearing to take place.
3) Within two (2) instructional days of receiving the request for a hearing, the Executive Vice President shall notify the South Carolina Technical College System President about the need to convene an ad hoc committee of System Presidents or a three person ad hoc committee from within the System to hear the student’s complaint. These committees shall be formed to hear specific complaints and a new committee may be formed each time a grievance covered by this procedure is filed.
2. Grievance Committees
a. When the complaint is against anyone other than the President of a College:
1) Student Grievance Committee--The President must approve all recommended members. The committee shall be composed of the following:
a) Two (2) students recommended by the Student Advisory Board, the governing body of the student body.
b) One (1) faculty member recommended by the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.
c) One (1) Student Development Services staff member recommended by the Vice President for Student Development Services.
d) One (1) administrator, other than the Vice President for Student Development Services or Director of Student Affairs, appointed by the President to serve as the Grievance Committee's chairperson.
e) The Vice President for Student Development Services and Director of Student Affairs, who serve as ex-officio, nonvoting members of the committee.
2) The Vice President for Student Development Services will send copies of the student’s request for a hearing to the committee members, the employee, and the employee's supervisor. The employee against whom the grievance was filed has an opportunity to submit his/her response to the request for a hearing to the Committee prior to the hearing.
3) The Student Grievance Committee’s meeting(s) shall be conducted within twenty-one (21) instructional weekdays following the date of the request. The chairperson may grant a postponement if either party submits a written request no later than five (5) instructional weekdays prior to the scheduled meeting. The chairperson of the Grievance Committee, at his/her discretion, may postpone the hearing due to circumstances beyond the control of the parties. The re-scheduled hearing must take place within ten (10) instructional weekdays of the date of the previously scheduled hearing.
b. When the complaint is against the President of a College:
1) Ad hoc committee- The President of the South Carolina Technical College System will select three College Presidents from the System to serve on this committee and identify one of the three College Presidents to serve as the chairperson for the hearing. The President of the South Carolina Technical College System may also choose to select a three person ad hoc committee from within the System to hear the student’s complaint.
2) The President of the South Carolina Technical College System, or designee, will send copies of the student’s request for a hearing to the committee members, and the President at that college. The President against whom the grievance was filed has an opportunity to submit his/her response to the request for a hearing to the Committee prior to the hearing.
3) The ad hoc committee hearing shall be conducted within twenty-one (21) instructional days following the date of the request. The chairperson may grant a postponement if either party submits a written request no later than five (5) instructional days prior to the scheduled hearing. The chairperson of the ad hoc committee, in his/her discretion, may postpone the hearing due to circumstances beyond the control of the parties. The re-scheduled hearing must take place within ten (10) instructional days of the date of the previously scheduled hearing.
3. Hearing Procedures
a. When the complaint is against anyone other than the President of a College:
1) The Vice President for Student Development Services shall send a certified letter and electronic mail to the student’s MTC e-mail account to the student filing the complaint and to the employee(s) named in the complaint at least five (5) instructional weekdays before the scheduled hearing. This letter shall include:
a) a brief description of the complaint, including the name of the person filing the complaint;
b) the date, time, and location of the meeting;
c) the name of any person who might be called as a witness.
d) a list of the student’s procedural rights. These rights follow:
1. The right to review all available evidence, documents or exhibits that each party may present at the meeting. This review must take place under the supervision of the Vice President for Student Development Services, or designee.
2. The right to appear before the Grievance Committee and to present information and additional evidence, subject to the Committee’s judgment that the evidence is relevant to the hearing.
3. The right to consult with counsel/advisor. The person serving as counsel/advisor may not address the committee, question the employee(s) named in the complaint, or any witnesses. The student will be responsible for paying any fees charged by the counsel/advisor.
4. The right to present witnesses who have information relating to the complaint. Witnesses will be dismissed after presenting the information and responding to questions posed by the Grievance Committee, the student filing the complaint, and the employee(s) named in the complaint.
2) At least ten (10) instructional weekdays before the scheduled hearing, the parties must submit the names of persons that the parties anticipate calling as witnesses as well as any evidence that the parties intend to introduce at the hearing.
3) Grievance hearings are closed to all persons except the student filing the complaint, the employee(s) named in the complaint, respective advisor/counsel for the student and the employee(s), witnesses authorized by the Committee to participate in the hearing, committee members, and one or more persons designated by the Committee to be responsible for making an official written record or audio recording of the hearing.
4) The hearing will be recorded with the exception of deliberations. No other party in the hearing may record the proceedings, and no other party is entitled to a copy of the recording. The recorded testimony will be maintained in the office of the Vice President for Student Development Services. The student may review the recording under the supervision of the Vice President for Student Development Services or designee, but the student is not entitled to a copy of the audio recording or written record.
5) Witnesses shall be called in one at a time to make a statement and to respond to questions, as permitted by the Chair. The Committee may question the student and the employee(s). The Committee may also question the any additional witnesses that it considers necessary to render a fair decision. Questions must be relevant to the issues of the grievance. Both parties to the grievance may ask questions of the other during the hearing. These questions must be relevant to the issues stated in the written complaint. The Chairperson of the Committee will receive all questions and direct questions as appropriate.
6) The Committee bears the burden of determining whether the allegations are supported by the information available through the hearing. The “preponderance of the evidence” standard shall apply to the deliberations, which means that the Committee members must determine if the information presented at the hearing leads them to conclude that it is more likely than not that the violation(s) grievance occurred as alleged. The Committee shall decide the solution of the grievance by a majority vote. In case of a tie, the chairperson will vote.
7) The chairperson shall send an approved method of notification of the Committee’s decision to the student filing the complaint and to the employee(s) named in the complaint within two (2) instructional weekdays of the Committee’s decision. This notification will include a rationale for the Committee’s decision and inform the student and employee(s) that they have a right to appeal the Committee’s decision.
b. When the complaint is against the President of a College:
1) The South Carolina Technical College System President, or designee, shall send an approved method of notification to the student filing the complaint and to the College President named in the complaint at least five (5) instructional days before the scheduled hearing. This notification shall include:
a) a brief description of the complaint, including the name of the person filing the complaint;
b) the date, time, and location of the hearing;
c) the name of any person who might be called as a witness.
d) a list of the student’s procedural rights. These rights follow:
i. The right to review all available evidence, documents or exhibits that each party may present at the hearing. This review must take place under the supervision of the South Carolina Technical College System President, or designee.
ii. The right to appear before the ad hoc committee and to present information and additional evidence, subject to the Committee’s judgment that the evidence is relevant to the hearing.
iii. The right to consult with counsel. This person serving as counsel may not address the committee, question the College President named in the complaint, or any witnesses. The student will be responsible for paying any fees charged by the counsel.
iv. The right to present witnesses who have information relating to the complaint. Witnesses will be dismissed after presenting the information and responding to questions posed by the Committee, the student filing the complaint, and the College President named in the complaint.
2) At least ten (10) instructional days before the scheduled hearing the parties must submit the names of persons that the parties anticipate calling as witnesses as well as any evidence that the parties intend to introduce at the hearing.
3) Committee hearings shall be closed to all persons except the student filing the complaint, the College President named in the complaint, respective counsel for the student and the employee(s), witnesses authorized by the Committee to participate in the hearing, committee members, and one or more persons designated by the Committee to be responsible for making an official written record or audio recording of the hearing.
4) The Committee will arrange for an official audio recording or written record of the hearing (not including deliberations) to be made, and only the person(s) designated by the Committee may make any kind of record of the proceedings. No record of the Committee's deliberations shall be permitted to be made by any means. The official audio recording or written record of the hearing is the property of the College and will be maintained in the office of the President of the South Carolina Technical College System. The Student or College President named in the complaint may review the official audio recording or written record of the hearing (as applicable) under the supervision of the System President or designee, but neither are entitled to a copy of the audio recording or written record. Notes made by Committee members for use as a personal memory aid shall not be made a part of the written record and are not subject to review by the Student or College President.
5) Witnesses shall be called in one at a time to make a statement and to respond to questions, as permitted by the Chair.
6) After the portion of the hearing concludes in which all pertinent information has been received, everyone other than the Committee will be excused and its deliberations will begin. The "preponderance of the evidence" standard shall apply to the deliberations, which means that the Committee members must determine if the information presented at the hearing leads them to conclude that it is more likely than not that the violation(s) occurred as alleged. The Committee members will determine by majority vote whether the violation(s) occurred and, if so, the Committee members will decide upon the appropriate sanction(s) by majority vote. In case of a tie, the chairperson may vote.
7) The Chair of the Committee will send an approved method of notification to the Student and College President’s address of record within two (2) instructional weekdays of the Committee's decision. The letter shall inform both parties of the Committee's decision, the date of the decision, any sanction(s) imposed, and the appeal process.
D. Appeal Process
A. When the complaint is against anyone other than the President of a College:
If either party is not satisfied with the Student Grievance Committee's decision, that person may submit a written appeal to the President of the College within ten (10) instructional days of the Committee's decision. The written appeal must include a statement indicating why the person was not satisfied with the committee’s decision. The College President shall review the Committee's findings, conduct whatever additional inquiries are deemed necessary and render a decision within ten (10) instructional days of receipt of the appeal. The College President will notify both parties of his/her decision through an approved method of notification. The President's decision is final and this decision cannot be the sole reason for filing a grievance against the President.
B. When the complaint is against the President of a College:
If either party is not satisfied with the ad hoc committee decision, that person may submit a written appeal to the President of the South Carolina Technical College System within ten (10) instructional days of the Committee's decision. The written appeal must include a statement indicating why the person was not satisfied with the Committee’s decision. The System President shall review the Committee's findings, conduct whatever additional inquiries are deemed necessary and render a decision within ten (10) instructional days of receipt of the appeal. The System President will notify both parties of his/her decision through an approved method of notification. The System President’s decision is final.