Students who have a grievance with CVCC may have their grievance reviewed in accordance with this student due process policy. A grievance for purposes of this policy is a dispute regarding a final course grade received, a dispute regarding a disciplinary action imposed, other allegation of unjust treatment, or discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex/gender, religion, creed, age, or disability. The "event date" for purposes of this policy is as follows:

For a grievance regarding a final course grade received, the date on which the grade was mailed to the student, made available to the student through an online portal or other electronic means, or otherwise made available to the student;

For a grievance regarding disciplinary action, the date on which written notice of the disciplinary action was mailed or otherwise provided to the student; or

For other grievances, the date on which the alleged unjust or discriminatory treatment occurred.

Steps that students must take to have their grievance reviewed are listed below. The student is not required in any step to confront alone the person he/she claims is responsible for the unjust or discriminatory treatment.

Step 1 - As soon as possible but no later than the 14th calendar day (excluding CVCC institutional holidays) following the "event date," the student is encouraged to initiate a discussion of the grievance with the CVCC employee who is allegedly responsible for the unjust or discriminatory treatment and/or with that employee's immediate supervisor (the "Step 1 Supervisor" for purposes of this policy). This discussion should include an attempt to resolve the grievance.

Step 2 - If the grievance is not resolved in Step 1, the student may initiate a Step 2 grievance review by completing the student portion of the CVCC Student Grievance Form ("the Form") and submitting the Form to the following CVCC official (the "Step 2 Supervisor" for purposes of this policy):

If the Step 1 Supervisor is other than an executive director, dean, or vice-president, the Step 2 Supervisor shall be the dean for the school in which the grievance originated; or If the Step 1 Supervisor is an executive director, dean, or vice-president, the Step 2 Supervisor shall be the immediate supervisor of the Step 1 supervisor.

The student must submit the Form as soon as possible after completion of Step 1 but no later than the 21st calendar day (excluding CVCC institutional holidays) following the "event date." Students may obtain the Form from the Step 2 Supervisor or from the Chief Student Services Officer.

The Step 2 Supervisor shall review the grievance and provide the student with a Step 2 written decision within 7 calendar days (excluding institutional holidays) following receipt of the Form. The Step 2 Supervisor shall also complete the supervisor portion of the Form and submit a copy to the Office of the President.

Step 3 - If the grievance is not resolved in Step 2, the student may initiate a Student Grievance Committee review by completing the student portion of the CVCC Student Grievance Committee Review Form (the "Committee Review Form") and submitting that Committee Review From to the Office of the President as soon as possible but no later than the 7th calendar day (excluding CVCC institutional holidays) following receipt of the Step 2 written decision. Students may obtain a Committee Review Form from the Office of the President or from the Chief Student Services Officer.

Following receipt of a Committee Review Form, a Student Grievance Committee ("the Committee") shall be selected. The Committee membership (5 voting members and a non-voting chair) shall be as follows and shall not include any members who have had any involvement in the grievance to date:

Committee Chair (a non-voting member) - A Vice President selected by the President;
2 voting representatives selected by the Committee Chair from a group of 9 faculty or non-credit professional staff representatives (3 from each academic school) appointed by the President;
1 voting representative selected by the Committee Chair from a group of 2 Student Services counselors or admissions representatives appointed by the President; and
2 voting student representatives selected by the Committee Chair from the group of 5 current SGA officers.

The Committee Chair shall schedule a review/hearing by the Committee within 7 calendar days (excluding CVCC institutional holidays) following the receipt of the Committee Review Form by the Office of the President.

Following the review/hearing, the Committee must decide if the student has been treated unjustly and if so, must recommend corrective action. Committee decisions shall be determined by a majority vote of the Committee members and are final. Decisions made by the Committee shall be provided in writing to the student by the Committee Chair within 3 calendar days following the completion of the review and hearing. Copies of the written decision shall be provided to the Chief Student Services Officer, to the Office of the President, and to the CVCC employees involved in Steps 1 and 2 of the grievance process.

The following exception applies if the CVCC employee who is allegedly responsible for the unjust treatment is a Vice President. The Step 1 Supervisor shall be another Vice President appointed by the President.

Compliance with these provisions does not constitute a violation of section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g), commonly known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).