| Procedure: | Student Complaint Procedure: Informal |
| Department: | Student Services |
Contact: |
Ms. Ellen Burleson 449-7563 |
Purpose
The informal complaint procedure is designed to resolve problems for students who are having difficulties with other students, staff or campus procedures short of investigation and disciplinary action.
Record Keeping
The only college record that will be kept of the informal complaint will be by type of incident, department and the nature of the complaint. No information that would identify the complainant or the accused will be included in this report.
How to File an Informal Complaint
Step 1: If the complainant has a problem with another student or a staff person they should initially discuss the problem with the individual or the complainant may contact someone on staff with whom they are comfortable and trust. Problems with policy, class grades, or content must first be discussed with the instructor and/or the division/department chair.
Step 2: The complainant considers other informal options available. These options include dropping the complaint; or filing a formal, written complaint (see Student Complaint Procedure: Formal).
Step 3: The complainant decides on a course of action. If, after discussing the incident with persons mentioned above the complainant decides to go no further with the complaint, it will be dropped. The only report of the incident will be in the informal complaint report that summarizes all informal complaints.
If the complainant wishes to go ahead with the informal complaint, they decide how to proceed. (See Step 1 for examples).
Step 4: The complainant takes the action decided upon.
Step 5: The complainant decides if they are happy with the results. If they believe that additional informal action will not resolve the situation, then they can exercise the formal complaint option.