Glendale Community College District is committed to providing a prompt and equitable
means of resolving student complaints against actions taken by the college and its
employees. In accordance with applicable State and Federal laws, the district maintains
grievance procedures that are available to any student who reasonably believes a college
decision or action has adversely affected his or her status, rights, or privileges
as a student.
What can a student grieve?
Students may file grievances against actions by GCC employees in areas including,
but not limited to the following: the exercise of rights of free expression; violation
of published GCC rules, Board policies, and administrative regulations; academic decisions
that may affect a course grade; and the assignment of final course grades (according
to prescribed legal limits).
Where can a student get a copy of the GCC student grievance procedures?
Copies of GCC Board Policy 5530 and Administrative Regulations 5530 can be obtained
from a division chairperson, the Dean of Student Affairs, the Dean of Instructional
Services, the Dean of Student Services, and the Director of Admissions and Records.
Additionally, students may access these regulations on the GCC web site at www.glendale.edu.
STUDENT GUIDE TO THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS
| SUBJECT |
STEP 1 |
STEP 2 |
STEP 3 |
STEP 4 |
STEP 5 |
| Academic Honesty |
Instructor |
Division Chair |
Dean of Instruction |
Vice President of Instructional Services |
Judicial Board |
| Accessibility Matters |
Program Manager, Center for Students with Disabilities |
|
Vice President of Student Services |
|
|
| Admission & Registration |
Director of Admission & Records |
|
Vice President of Student Services |
|
|
| Student Misconduct |
Instructor/ Staff Member |
Division Chair/Supervisor |
|
Dean of Student Affairs |
Judicial Board |
| Discrimination or Harassment |
Vice President, Human resources |
|
|
|
|
| Sexual Misconduct |
Vice President of Student Services |
|
|
|
|
| Financial Aid |
Assistant Director of Student Financial Aid |
|
Vice President of Student Services |
|
|
| Grade Appeals |
Instructor |
Division Chair |
Dean of Instruction |
Vice President of Instructional Services |
Judicial Board |
| Non-Grade Grievances |
Instructor/Staff member |
Division Chair/ Supervisor |
|
Appropriate Vice President |
|
| Student Success and Support Program |
Dean of Student Services |
|
Vice President of Student Services |
|
|
| Residency |
Director of Admission and Records |
|
Vice President of Student Services |
|
|
| College Police and Parking |
College Police Department |
Chief of Police |
|
Superintendent/ President |
|
Non-Grade Grievances
A student may address a complaint about an action taken by a college employee that
does not involve course grades through the grievance process. Informal meetings and
discussions between persons directly involved in a non-grade grievance are essential
at the outset of the dispute and are encouraged at all stages. If a student cannot
resolve a non- grade grievance directly with the involved GCC employee, the student
may request a meeting with the appropriate administrator/manager or division chairperson.
The administrator/manager or division chairperson shall meet with the student and
the employee in an attempt to resolve the issue and may meet with the student and
GCC employee either jointly or separately. If no informal resolution is reached with
the administrator/manager or division chairperson that is satisfactory to the student,
the student may request an administrative hearing with the appropriate senior GCC
administrator as follows: Instructional Services employees: Vice President, Instructional
Services or designee; Student Services employees: Vice President, Student Services
or designee; Administrative Services employees: Vice President, Administrative Services
or designee; College Administrators: Superintendent/President or designee.
The senior administrator shall meet with student and GCC employee either jointly or
separately to attempt to settle grievance through mediation, negotiated agreement,
or another mutually acceptable resolution. The final outcome or resolution will be
communicated to the involved parties within ten instructional days after the conclusion
of the hearing process.
Most complaints, grievances or disciplinary matters can be resolved at the campus
level. This is the quickest and most successful way of resolving issues involving
a California community college. Issues that are not resolved at the campus level may
be presented to:
- The CCC Chancellor’s Office if your complaint does not concern CCC’s compliance with
academic program quality and accrediting standards. Complete the web form at https://www.cccco.edu/Complaint-Process-Notice.
- The Chancellor's Office Legal Discrimination if your complaint involves unlawful discrimination.
- The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) at http://www.accjc.org/complaint-process if your complaint is associated with the institution’s compliance with academic program
quality and accrediting standards. ACCJC is the agency that accredits the academic
programs of the California Community Colleges.
Grade Appeals
This procedure provides a means of resolving a student’s dispute of an academic decision
(such as temporary removal from a lab or classroom setting) or the assigned final
grade for a course. A student has the right initially to an informal review and explanation
of his or her grade by the instructor who in turn is obligated to provide such a review.
However, a student may only appeal a grade or academic decision if he or she is prepared
to carry the burden of proving one or more of the following conditions as specified
by law: a mistake in the assignment of the grade or in the process of its recording,
fraud, bad faith, or incompetence.
A student shall initiate the process by filing a grade appeal with the instructor
within the next regular semester (as specified in the applicable class schedule) following
the award of the original grade. The student is expected to make a reasonable effort
to resolve the matter on an informal basis with the instructor. If the student and
instructor cannot settle the grade appeal, the student may request a meeting with
the appropriate division chairperson. The division chairperson will then meet with
the student and the instructor either jointly or separately to attempt to work out
the grievance.
If the student cannot resolve the grade appeal with the instructor and division chairperson,
then the student may request a conference with the appropriate dean. The dean will
meet with the student and instructor either jointly or separately to resolve the grade
appeal through compromise, negotiated settlement, or a recommendation that is satisfactory
to all involved parties. If the dean is unable to resolve the complaint, and the student
wishes to continue the grade appeal process, then the student may submit a written
request for a formal grade appeal hearing with the Campus Judicial Board.
The Campus Judicial Board will conduct a closed hearing and based on the examination
of supporting documents and testimony may take the following actions: Accept the formal
grade appeal and recommend an administrative grade change; reject the formal grade
appeal; make related recommendations as appropriate.
The Board will issue a written decision that includes a determination of whether the
student established a rationale for a grade change according to applicable laws, and
recommendations for the relief, if any, that should be afforded to the student. These
findings are then submitted to the Superintendent/President for a final review.
After receiving the report of findings and recommended actions from the Campus Judicial
Board, the Superintendent/ President will issue a written decision to the involved
parties that include his or her conclusions and directives. The Superintendent/President’s
decision shall be final and binding in all formal grade appeal hearings.
