Student Handbook and Catalog 2021-22 V2

College Catalog and Student Handbook | 85
Review Procedures
1. The Chair of the Grievance Resolution Committee will
be responsible for assembling the committee to hear
the review.
2. The decision of the Grievance Resolution Committee
is final.
3. In extenuating circumstances, the time frame(s) may
take longer than expected and the student with the
grievance will be notified with a new time frame.
4. The Grievance Resolution Committee has a maximum
of five working days from the date of the review to
respond to the student and employee with a decision
in writing.
Compact With Texans Complaint Handling Procedures
A. The Effective Customer Service Form must be
completed and submitted to the local Representative.
The form and the Representative’s name are available
online in the TSTC Catalog and Student Handbook.
B. The Representative shall acknowledge receipt of the
grievance in writing within five (5) working days. The
notice is intended to let the student know the matter
is receiving attention and to provide the student with
an estimate of the length of time needed to resolve
the issue.
C. The Representative shall contact the immediate
supervisor about the complaint. The supervisor shall
review the complaint and interview the employee
and/or any witnesses, if applicable.
D. The immediate supervisor shall provide a letter within
15 working days to the complainant that addresses
the complaint and what actions, if any, were taken
by TSTC. This letter shall also acknowledge that the
complaint has been addressed and resolved in a
reasonable time period and in a manner consistent
with TSTC policies and with applicable local, state, and
federal laws.
Student disciplinary decisions that involve severe
disciplinary penalties are not subject to the Student
Grievance Policy, but should be run through the student
conduct review process.
Discrimination of a student or a Title IX grievance will be
handled according to the appropriate policy.
Prohibiting Racial
Harassment Policy
TSTC prohibits any act, deed or speech interpreted as
racial harassment, by or against, students, employees, and
guests of the College. Students or employees engaging
in such conduct are subject to disciplinary action
ranging from probation or suspension to termination of
employment. For more information please see SOS HR
2.4.5 Racial Harassment.
Philosophy Statement
TSTC is committed to the principles of free inquiry and
free expression. Members of the College community have
the right to hold, vigorously defend and promote their
ideas and opinions to flourish or wither according to their
merits.
Respect for this right requires that students and
employees tolerate expression of views that they find
offensive. All members of the educational community
should however, voluntarily adopt standards of civility and
good taste that reflect mutual respect, understanding and
sensitivity among its diverse racial, ethnic and cultural
groups.
TSTC is also committed to the principles of equal
opportunity and nondiscrimination. Each student and
employee has the right to work and be educated without
discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, national
origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran
status.
Harassment of students or employees on the basis of race
contributes to a hostile work or school environment that
makes access to work or education for those subjected to
it less than equal. Racist behavior also brings dishonor to
the perpetrator, demoralizes and disrupts the academic
community as a whole and diminishes the stature of TSTC.
Racist communication and acts that demean, ridicule and
humiliate the victim and also can cause serious emotional
distress, impede the learning process and in the form of
“fighting words” may provoke a violent response.
For all these reasons, TSTC unequivocally condemns
racist behavior in all of its forms. The Conduct Officer
or designee at the local campus has the primary
responsibility for responding to an accusation or
complaint of racial harassment and will inform the student
of complaint, investigation and resolution procedures
during the initial meeting.
Upon receipt of an allegation of racial harassment, the
Conduct Officer or designee shall ascertain the facts
and provide mediation services to assist the student.
These mediation services may include consultation with
the student and alleged wrongdoer, either separately or
together, and with student services staff, vice president’s
or other approved administrative officials of the College.
If such mediation efforts result in a solution satisfactory
to the student, the student shall be asked to complete a
written and signed statement to the effect.
Texas State Technical College
tstc.edu