VCOM College Catalog and Student Handbook

Grievance Hearing Board shall consist of the appropriate Associate Dean, two faculty members, one staff member, and one student. The Campus Dean shall Chair the Grievance Hearing Board and shall vote only in case of a tie. Prior to convening the grievance hearing meeting, the Grievance Hearing Board shall be trained on the specific grievance hearing procedures relating to the individual grievance and will be provided with additional educational material as appropriate. c. The Grievance Hearing Board shall hear the allegations of discrimination by the student. The person filing the grievance, as well as the person whom the grievance is against, shall, at this time, bring all witnesses and/or evidence to the hearing for the Grievance Hearing Board to consider. The Grievance Hearing Board shall also review documentation related to the grievance, including the final report from the Director of Human Resources and Associate Dean for Student Affairs, and, as necessary, shall interview the Director of Human Resources and/or Associate Dean for Student Affairs as a witness in the grievance. d. Following this initial hearing, the Grievance Hearing Board shall recess for a period of not greater than ten calendar days without making a decision unless further investigation is warranted. If warranted, the Grievance Hearing Board shall conduct further investigation of the alleged grievances and reconvene the Hearing Board in ten calendar days or less. The Grievance Hearing Board may also meet with VCOM's legal counsel, who has further expertise in the law regarding discrimination. e. The second meeting of the Grievance Hearing Board, which shall occur within the ten-day period, shall be to further discuss the grievance, additional findings of the investigation, the educational materials provided, and the legal counsel advice. The Grievance Hearing Board may require second interviews with the person filing the grievance or with those whom the grievance is filed against. The Grievance Hearing Board shall make a final ruling at this meeting. Minutes will be taken of all Grievance Hearing Board meetings. A letter shall be sent to the student and other parties involved within 14 calendar days of the final determination by the Grievance Hearing Board. Step Three: Final Appeal Procedure The student has the right to appeal the decision of the Grievance Hearing Board to the Provost if there is new, relevant, and material information that was not provided to the Grievance Hearing Board or if there is evidence that bias in the decision making process has occurred. The student has seven calendar days after receiving the Grievance Hearing Board decision letter to file for an appeal. All such requests must be in writing, signed by the student, and be sent via certified mail. The Provost will generally respond to the student and other parties involved, in writing, within 14 calendar days of receiving the appeal. However, the decision may take 30 days or longer depending upon the investigation of the case. The Provost’s decision is final. Appeal Whenever a student of VCOM is aggrieved by the decision of a board, committee, or any other type of tribunal by virtue of a hearing, review, or proceeding as set forth in this College Catalog and Student Handbook, and for which no specific process of appeal is specified, the following shall be considered applicable. Such decision may be appealed to the Provost within seven days of receipt of the decision being appealed. The appeal shall be in writing and shall include a copy of the decision being appealed and all grounds for appeal and must be based upon new, relevant, and material information that was not available to the board, committee, or tribunal at the time of the hearing. After receiving the appeal, the Provost will consider the appeal and will notify the appellant of her decision within 14 calendar days of receiving the written appeal. The decision of the Provost is final.

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