SACS Compliance Certification Report (PDF) - South Florida State ...

SFCC College Catalog 2010-2011, pp. 70-137Student Services | SFCC College Catalog 2010-20114.5Student complaintsThe institution has adequate procedures for addressing written student complaints and is responsible fordemonstrating that it follows those procedures when resolving student complaints. (See Commissionpolicy “Complaint Procedures for the Commission or its Accredited Institutions.”)JudgmentCompliant Non-Compliant Not ApplicableNarrativeSouth Florida Community College (SFCC) has adequate procedures for addressing student complaints orgrievances and maintains evidence that the procedures are followed.The SFCC District Board of Trustees (DBOT) has developed several policies to address studentcomplaints. DBOT Policy 1.09 addresses the authority of the President under Florida Statute (FS)1001.64 to establish procedures for due process that will ensure satisfactory resolution of grievancesfor students, faculty, and staff. DBOT Policy 1.10 ensures the college’s compliance with Floridalaws regarding equal opportunity and equity and freedom from discrimination. DBOT Policy 3.33identifies and defines disruptive and obstructive behavior and empowers the President to developprocesses and procedures to protect the rights of accused students. Each of the DBOT policies aresupported by SFCC Administrative Procedures.SFCC Administrative Procedure 1095 addresses concerns of discriminatory treatment and allows forappeals in the application of college rules and regulations. SFCC Administrative Procedure 1102details the grievance process, and SFCC Administrative Procedure 1103 provides instruction onreporting sexual misconduct and harassment. SFCC Administrative Procedure 3331 details themechanisms of appeal and due process for students who are accused of violations of college rules andregulations.The policies and procedures are summarized in the Student Handbook and the SFCC CollegeCatalog, and are disseminated online through the college Web site and in print. The complaint andappeal processes clearly indicate who to contact, the expected timeframe in which to report, expectedtimes of response, progressive levels of review, and the last contact point for resolution of the problem.All SFCC regulations regarding student rights, expression of grievances, and disciplinaryprocedures comply with College procedures and are applied in a fair and consistent manner. Studentcomplaints are logged and tracked to resolution, and the files are maintained in the Office of the Deanof Student Services.The college recognizes that many concerns and issues can be addressed and resolved by informaldialogue. Each fall and spring term, the Student Government Association (SGA) hosts a student forumwith the President and members of the President's Council. This is an informal forum where the studentshave the opportunity to ask questions and present concerns and/or issues directly to the collegePresident. The President submits to the students a summary (e.g., Spring Student Forum 2009, FallStudent Forum 2009, and Spring Student Forum 2010) of the issues presented and his response tothose issues and concerns.Students or other individuals who wish to register a complaint against the college with the SouthernAssociation of Colleges and Schools will find the address and phone number of the Commission onColleges South Florida published Community College in a number of SFCC documents. Federal Requirement 4.6 demonstrates the Page degree 197 / 202to which the public and students are made aware of contact information in college publications.