STUDENT GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE POLICY - Gainesville State ...

STUDENT GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE POLICY
1. Purpose - To hear the civil rights or other complaints of any student of Gainesville State
College who has exhausted all other normal channels up to the President, but who has not
received satisfaction. At any point in the grievance process, the student and the
complainee may utilize alternative dispute resolution strategies to reach a solution to the
disagreement. The Vice President for Student Affairs will specifically discuss this as an
alternative to the use of the Grievance Committee.
II. Limitations - This Committee will handle questions related to Gainesville State College
campus, facilities, and all college-sponsored activities on or off the immediate campus,
except for grade appeals which have a separate process through the Academic Affairs
Office.
Procedures for Requesting a Hearing
The complainant within thirty (30) calendar days, while school is in session, after becoming
aware of the alleged act, shall file a written request for a hearing with the Vice President for
Student Affairs (and in situations of discrimination or sexual harassment complaints, the
Affirmative Action Officer) including the following information:
1. Date, time, and place
2. Names of any witnesses
3. The facts of the complaint
THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURAL RULES SHALL BE OBSERVED BY THE COMMITTEE
IN HEARING COMPLAINTS OF STUDENTS OF GAINESVILLE STATE COLLEGE.
1. The Committee should be composed of (1) the Vice President for Student Affairs,
(2) a faculty member from the Student Affairs Committee named by the Student
Affairs Committee at the beginning of each academic year, (3) a faculty member
from the Academic Affairs Committee named at the beginning of each academic
year, (4) a staff member named by the Vice President for Business and Finance at
the beginning of each academic year, and (5) three students. The students will be
chosen as follows:
1. The complainant may choose one student.
2. The complainee may choose one student.
3. The third student will be chosen by the Student Government Association
at the beginning of each academic year.
(In situations involving discrimination or sexual harassment complaints, the
Affirmative Action Officer shall serve as a consultant to the committee during the
hearing and the deliberations.)

2. The parties concerned shall be given written notice of the time and place of the
hearing at least ten (10) calendar days while school is in session, in advance
thereof. Such notice may be delivered by hand or by certified or registered mail,
return receipt requested, to the complainant's last known address.
3. The Committee hearing will be conducted in private and follow parliamentary
procedure.
4. During the proceeding, the parties concerned will be permitted to have a
nonparticipating advisor of his or her choice.
5. A tape recording, transcript or written summary of the proceedings shall be kept
and made available to the parties concerned in the event an appeal is filed.
6. The parties concerned shall be afforded an opportunity to obtain and present
witnesses and documentary or other evidence.
7. The Hearing Committee shall have the right to investigate all facets of the
student's grievance. The Committee will not be bound by strict rules of legal
evidence. The Committee may receive any evidence of probative value in
determining the issues involved. Every possible effort will be made to obtain the
most reliable evidence available. All questions relating to admissibility of
evidence or other legal matters will be decided by the Chairperson or presiding
office.
8. An oath or affirmation shall be administered to all witnesses by a notary public.
9. Where the witness cannot appear because of illness or other cause acceptable to
the Committee, the sworn statement (Affidavit) of the witness may be introduced
into the record. In such event the opposite party shall have the right to file
counter-affidavits within three (3) days following the completion of the hearing.
10. The recommendation of the Committee will be based on the evidence introduced
at the hearing and should be made within ten (10) calendar days, while school is
in session, after the date of the hearing or within ten (10) calendar days while
school is in session, after receipt of the transcript of the hearing if one is deemed
necessary before a decision is rendered. The Committee will report its
recommendations, based upon a preponderance of the evidence, to the President.
If the President does not concur with the report, he/she should state his/her
reasons in writing to the Committee for response before rendering his/her final
decision.
11. Public statements and publicity about the complaint should be avoided.

12. In making his/her decision, the President will not be bound by recommendations
of the Committee. The President shall, within ten (10) calendar days while school
is in session, after receipt of written notification of the recommendations of the
Committee, advise the complainant and other parties concerned in writing of
his/her decision.
13. After complying with the foregoing procedures, the President shall send an
official letter to the student notifying him/her of his/her decision. Such letter shall
be delivered to the addressee only, with receipt to show to whom delivered, when
delivered, and address where delivered.
14. The complainant shall also be advised in writing of his/her right to apply to the
Board of Regents for review of the President's final decision in accordance with
the provision of Article VIII of the Bylaws of the Board of Regents.
15. The complainant shall not be harassed or penalized for proper utilization of the
complaint procedures.
(Editorially Revised, July, 2011)