Student Grievance Rights

PCCD Administrative Procedure 5140, section III

Students with disabilities have the right to an informal disagreement resolution when a student
does not agree with the academic adjustments that are offered by Student Accessibility Services (originally Disabled Student Programs
and Services) or when an instructor refuses to allow the academic adjustment or use of auxiliary
aids in the classroom. If the issue/disagreement cannot be resolved to the student’s satisfaction
through the informal process, the student has the right to follow the formal grievance procedure
provided below. Authorized academic adjustments should be delivered during the informal and
formal process.

Every effort will be made to expedite the process during the informal disagreement resolution and
written grievance process.

C. Informal Disagreement Resolution – First Level

1. Students with a disagreement against SAS for not authorizing an academic adjustment
or not providing an academic adjustment as authorized should first attempt to resolve the matter by means of an informal meeting with the person(s) against whom the student has the disagreement , generally the SAS Counselor, SAS Coordinator (or Counselor/Coordinator), the LD Specialist, or other faculty member responsible for providing the academic adjustments. This discussion should be timely,
optimally within ten (10) instructional days of the alleged incident.

2. Students who believe an authorized academic adjustment is being denied or
ignored by an instructional faculty member should first attempt to resolve the matter by means of
an informal meeting with the instructor whom the student believes is not complying with the
academic adjustment. The student should contact the SAS professional who
authorized the academic adjustment(s). The SAS professional will schedule a
meeting with the instructor to discuss and resolve the issue. The student may request that the
SAS attend the meeting. This discussion should be timely, optimally within ten(10) instructional
Days of the alleged denial.

D. Informal Disagreement Resolution – Second Level

1. Students who are dissatisfied with the outcome of the meeting with either the SAS
professional or instructional faculty member can schedule an appointment with the SAS Coordinator (or Counselor/Coordinator) or the Dean who oversees SAS when the disagreement
is with the SAS Coordinator. Students should bring their referral for academic adjustment
along with the relevant information about dates of requests, services not
received, and responses to their previous inquiries. Students should address these concerns
within ten (10) instructional days of the first level meeting.

2. The SAS Coordinator or the Dean who oversees SAS may conduct an informal inquiry with
various parties involved in the alleged incident and inform students verbally of the resolution. The
SAS Coordinator or the Dean who oversees SAS should communicate this resolution to the
student within ten (10) instructional days of the second level informal disagreement
meeting.

E. Formal Written Grievance Procedure

1. If the informal disagreement resolution process does not resolve the issue to the student’s
satisfaction, the student has the right to file a formal written grievance. The student must submit
in writing the formal written grievance to the Vice President of Student Services within ten (10)
instructional days after being informed of the decision determined in the second level informal
disagreement resolution.

2. The Vice President of Student Services will be responsible for notifying the student of his/her
rights, responsibilities, and the procedures.

3. The Vice President of Student Services will review the written grievance and may confer, as
appropriate, with the SAS Coordinator or Dean who oversees SAS and other appropriate
college professionals, as necessary, before making a determination. The Vice President of
Student Services will make every effort to resolve the grievance in accordance with applicable
laws.

4. The Vice President of Student Services shall review the issues presented and shall render a
written decision within ten (10) instructional days. The student will be provided the written
decision