S t u d e n t H a n d b o o k : C o m p l a i n t s , G r i e v a n c e s , G r a d e A p p e a l s & C o d e o f C o n d u c t
Student Responsibilities: Grievance Procedures & Requirements
If a student submits a formal grievance (challenging a Dean’s Resolution), a grievance must be filed online (via the Advocate System) in writing (within 5 business days after the Dean’s Resolution has been issued) and contain: 1. The student's name and address; 2. Student’s Lawson State email account; 3. The detailed nature of the grievance; why you are filing and what evidence you are presenting in order to counter the Dean’s Resolution reached. 4. The corrective action sought (what you would like the college to do); and 5. Submit any relevant information requested to establish grounds for the grievance. Simply disagreeing with the Dean’s Resolution, does not establish grounds for a grievance. You must provide a strong rationale for your request to go to hearing. As previously noted, the Informal and Formal Complaint Process should take no more than 30 days (typically). However, the formal Grievance Process could take a protracted amount of time in large part due to unforeseen legal entanglements. The college does work expeditiously to resolve all complaints in a reasonable amount of time to ensure and protect all parties considered, yet times can vary depending on the type of grievance filed and the complexities that each unique circumstance may yield.
In conducting any Grievance proceeding, administrators representing the College can:
1. Require any student or employee to provide a written statement, along with any documents concerning the events and circumstances that may have given rise to the grievance; 2. Require any student or employee to provide a written statement as to why (or under what grounds) do they object to the Dean’s Resolution filed; 3. Require any student, witness or employee to appear and testify before the Committee; 4. Require any student, witness or employee to maintain confidentiality as it relates to the information shared during the hearing. 5. Record proceedings (audio or video); 6. Require the signing of affidavits, if deemed necessary 7. Question each individual who testifies; and 8. Copy all documents.
Legal Representation at Hearings
Hearings are not an adversarial proceeding. The Committee shall conduct a Hearing in a professional and cooperative manner, and all participants are expected to do likewise. Students wishing to bring legal counsel, although rare, may do so only if pre-approved by the
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