Equal Opportunity Complaint or Appeal

Savannah Technical College, in compliance with the rules and regulations pertaining to the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Title IX barring sex discrimination, Title VI barring discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin and Title VII barring discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, or national origin has established this procedure whereby a complaint related to the violation, interpretation, or application of any of the laws may be quickly and smoothly resolved. Complaints regarding sexual harassment shall be handled in accordance with the procedure in the section entitled Unlawful Harassment and Discrimination Complaints.

To Contact a Compliance Coordinator

Informal Resolution Procedure

Claimant should contact the Counselor/Coordinator of Special Populations Services or Registrar as appropriate and his/her Academic Dean to resolve the complaint informally. If this process does not result in a resolution of the grievance, the student may need to proceed to the formal grievance procedure.

Formal Resolution Procedure

A formal complaint shall be in writing and shall set forth a statement of the facts, the Technical College policy, procedure or law allegedly violated and the specific remedy sought. Students shall utilize Savannah Technical College’s Standardized Student Grievance form located on the STC Website or by hard copy from the Student Affairs Office.

The formal complaint normally shall be filed as follows:

1. If the complaint concerns a non-academic student issue, such as application of policy or procedure, student advisement, improper disclosure of grades, unfair testing procedures, etc., the complaint shall be filed with the Vice President for Student Affairs. If the complaint alleges sexual harassment, the complaint shall be filed with the Title IX Coordinator, 912.443.5708. ADA/Disability complaints shall be filed with the Disability Coordinator listed by campus in the above table. These individuals or their offices shall also continue to monitor and coordinate the complaint resolution.
2. Savannah Technical College shall forward the complaint to the appropriate Director for Step 1 resolution. For the sake of clarity, the term “Director” in this procedure shall mean the appropriate individual for referring such complaints. If the complaint is against the appropriate Director, Step 1 of the complaint procedure shall be by-passed and the grievance shall be filed with the appropriate Vice President.
3. If the complaint is against a Vice President Step 1 and Step 2 of the complaint procedure shall be by-passed and the Complaint shall be filed directly with the President.
4. If the complaint is against the President Step 1, Step 2, and Step 3 of the complaint procedure shall be by-passed and the complaint shall be filed in accordance with the following Appeals procedure.

Hearings

Step 1: Absent extraordinary circumstances, the Director to whom the complaint was forwarded shall, within five (5) business days, conduct a formal conference with the complainant, permitting her or him to provide any necessary information relevant to the complaint. The Director shall also meet with the respondent and conduct such additional investigation as he or she deems necessary. Absent extraordinary circumstances, a written recommendation shall be rendered within five (5) business days of the formal conference unless an extension is mutually agreed to by the parties. The recommendation shall be sent to the complainant and respondent. The written recommendation shall state the background information the rationale for the recommendation, and the recommended remedy (if any). No transcript or recording of the conference shall be made by either party. For monitoring purposes a copy of the report shall be sent to the Department officer who received the initial complaint.

Step 2: If the complaint is not resolved at Step 1, the complainant or respondent may, within ten (10) business days of receipt of the Step 1 recommendation, appeal to the Vice President administratively responsible for the unit of the Department(s) in which the alleged policy violation(s) occurred. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the Vice President or President shall hold a hearing within fifteen (15) business days of receipt of the appeal or complaint. Absent extraordinary circumstances, a written recommendation shall be rendered within ten (10) business days of such hearing. The complainant and the respondent shall be afforded the opportunity to testify, to call witnesses and to introduce documentary evidence. No transcript or recording shall be made of the hearing. For monitoring purposes a copy of the report shall be sent to the Technical College officer who received the initial complaint.

Step 3: In the event that the complaint is not resolved at Step 2, the complainant or respondent may file an appeal with the President, within ten (10) business days of the receipt of the recommendation.

Step 4: Absent extraordinary circumstances, the President shall, within five (5) business days refer the complainant or respondent to a Grievance Hearing Officer that is appointed by the President. The Step 3 hearing shall be held as soon as practicable and normally within twenty (20) business days of referral of the complaint to the Grievance Hearing Officer or by the President. The complainant and the respondent shall have the right to call witnesses, to testify and to present relevant documentary evidence. The complainant and the respondent shall have the right to cross-examine all witnesses. A tape recording of the proceeding shall be made and a copy shall be provided, at cost, to the complainant and to the respondent. Following the hearing, the Grievance Hearing Officer shall, absent extraordinary circumstances, render a report and recommendation to the President within twenty business days following the hearing. The report shall contain specific findings of fact and recommendations. Upon consideration of the report and recommendation, the President shall render a decision in writing and communicate the same to the complainant, the respondent, and to the TCSG monitoring officer.

Mediation

At any point in the procedure, a grievance may be referred to mediation upon the concurrence of the parties. The Grievance Coordinator shall assist the parties in locating either an in-house or external mediator.