Student Grievance Process, Complaint Procedures

Citrus College is committed to ensuring that all students receive fair and equitable treatment in the application of district procedures and regulations. If a student believes there has been a violation or misapplication of the college catalog, board policies or operating procedures — or feels they have been denied due process — they have the right to file an informal complaint and/or a formal grievance.

Complaint Process

Students who have a complaint relating to a course grade or the right to free expression should complete the student grievance form and read the instructions for the student grievance process and procedure in the next tab.

All other complaints may be filed with any department and/or division by completing the student complaint form.

Complaint forms should have a detailed explanation of the complaint. Students should explain, as clearly as possible, why they are filing a complaint and include all the necessary information (including names, dates, etc.) to support their statements so the complaint can be appropriately addressed. Completed forms should be submitted to the office, department or division where the incident occurred.

Grievance Process and Procedures

Citrus College and its employees are committed to serving students and visitors courteously and efficiently, in alignment with college policies and state and federal laws.

Students who believe they have been treated unfairly by a district employee are encouraged to make a reasonable, good-faith effort to resolve the matter informally with the parties involved before requesting a formal grievance hearing.

PROCESS
Please follow these steps prior to filing a grievance.

STEP 1: Discuss the incident with the instructor or college employee involved in your grievance.
STEP 2: If the situation is not resolved after meeting with the college employee, then proceed to meet with the employee's supervisor or dean of the division (for the instructor).
STEP 3: If the situation is not resolved after meeting with the supervisor or dean of the division then download and complete the student grievance form and attach a type-written, detailed explanation of your grievance. Explain as clearly as possible why you are filing a grievance. Be sure to include all the necessary information (including names, dates, etc.) to support your argument so that an impartial review and decision can be reached.
STEP 4: Submit the completed form to office of the vice president of student services and a grievance review board will conduct a hearing to review your documents and determine the merits of the grievance.

The office of the vice president of student services will ask the employee and supervisor named on the grievance to provide a response. If the employee or their supervisor does not respond to the grievance in ten business days, the vice president of student services may help in contacting the appropriate persons. The vice president of student services will then do a preliminary evaluation the grievance as to its timeliness and appropriateness. Upon meeting those minimum requirements, a hearing with the grievance review board will be scheduled to evaluate the merits of the grievance.

Citrus College students have the right of protection against capricious, arbitrary, unreasonable, unlawful, false, malicious or professionally inappropriate evaluations or actions by an employee of Citrus College.

The process includes student disputes over course grades and/or the ability to exercise the right of free expression.

BP 5530 Student Rights and Grievances
AP 5530 Student Rights and Grievances

PROCEDURES
The student grievance procedures provide every student with a prompt and equitable means of seeking an appropriate resolution for any alleged violation of his or her rights. The rights protected under these procedures include, but are not limited to, those guaranteed by the established rules and regulations of the Citrus Community College District and the Education Code of the State of California. Students are advised that grievances must be filed within 20 school days of the occurrence. The procedures do not apply to the employment rights of students.

Sexual harassment or discrimination complaints are made to the human resources office.

All formal grievances must be submitted on a student grievance form and must include specific details regarding the event involved and the rule, regulation or law alleged to have been violated by the district. All formal grievances must be filed with the office of the vice president of student services or designee.

For information regarding student grievance procedures, contact the office of the vice president of student services at (626) 914-8532.

Discrimination Complaints

Citrus College does not tolerate harassment on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation of any person or the perception that a person has one or more of these characteristics is illegal and violates district policy.

Citrus College encourages any student who believes he or she has been subjected to such harassment to report the harassment, including complaints regarding gender equity, to Yasmine Andrawis, director of employee relations and Title IX, at yandrawis@citruscollege.edu or (626) 914-8830. All college employees are obligated to report alleged, suspected or known harassment to the Title IX director. The college will conduct a prompt investigation of any reports of harassment.

Any person, who has a disability and believes the district failed to provide accommodations, should contact the disabled students programs and services director at (626) 914-8675.

Affiliated Board Policies and Administrative Procedures

BP 7101 Non-Discrimination
AP 7101 Discrimination Complaint Procedure: Employees and Job Applicants
AP 7101.1 Discrimination Complaint Procedure: Students
BP 7102 Prohibition of Harassment: Students and Employees
AP 7102 Prohibition of Harassment: Employees
AP 7102.1 Prohibition of Harassment: Students

Grade Grievance

Citrus College seeks to establish a positive learning environment for all students. Students who believe they received a substandard grade in error may file a grievance. The grade grievance procedure — AP 5530 Student Rights and Grievances — is intended to provide all parties with due process in the event of a disagreement or misunderstanding regarding course grades.

The student rights and grievance policy does not address personality, character or teaching styles; this process takes into account only the grading concerns of the student to determine if the California Code of Section 76224(a) was violated. The final grade that is assigned to a student is the purview of the course instructor who teaches the course.

The California Code of Regulations (Title 5, Section 55025) states, “When grades are given for any course of instruction taught in a community college district, the grade given to each student shall be the grade determined by the instructor of the course and the determination of the student's grade by the instructor, in the absence of mistake, fraud, bad faith or incompetency, shall be final."

If you feel you have evidence that would support a grade grievance, contact the office of vice president of student services at (626) 914-8534 on how to file a petition for a grade grievance review.

Right to Free Expression Grievance

The district has rules and regulations relating to the exercise of free expression by students upon its premises, which shall include reasonable provisions for the time, place and manner of conducting such activities.

The district shall not prohibit the right of students to exercise free expression including but not limited to the use of bulletin boards, the distribution of printed materials or petitions and the wearing of buttons, badges or other insignia, except that expression which is obscene, libelous or slanderous according to current legal standards or which so incites students as to create a clear and present danger of the commission of unlawful acts on community college premises, the violation of lawful community college regulations or the substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the community college shall be prohibited.

Students who believe their freedom of expression was violated may file a grievance by following the information in the grievance process and procedures tab.

Additional Reference

Sexual Misconduct Statement and Information

Student Services Board Policies and Administrative Procedures (5000 Series)

SB 1491 Equity in Higher Education Act
In alignment with Senate Bill 1491, also known as the Postsecondary Education: Equity in Higher Education Act, Citrus College reaffirms its commitment to supporting LGBTQIA+ students, faculty and staff. SB 1491 expands the legal definition of sexual orientation to include asexuality and pansexuality and mandates stronger protections against harassment and bullying. As required by the law, Citrus College has designated Ty Thomas, Ed.D., director of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility+, as the confidential campus contact for LGBTQIA+ support. The director of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility+ is not a mandatory Title IX reporter, ensuring a safe and private resource for those seeking guidance. For additional support, visit the Pride Center website or contact Dr. Thomas at tthomas@citruscollege.edu.