Most complaints, grievances, or disciplinary matters should be resolved at the campus level. It’s the quickest and most successful way to resolve any issues involving Copper Mountain College or any California Community College.

Complaint Process for CCC Students in Compliance with HEA Title IV, CFR 34, Sections 600.9 (a)(1) and 668.43 (b)

COMPLAINT PROCESS NOTICE

Most complaints, grievances or disciplinary matters should be resolved at the campus level. This is the quickest and most successful way of resolving issues involving a California Community College (CCC).

The Copper Mountain College Academic Catalog defines the official processes for student grade grievances and student grievances. In both cases, the process begins with speaking to the CMC employee first to bring up the concern and work toward a resolution. Then, the concern is brought to the dean overseeing the program/class.

STUDENT GRADE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE:

By law, an instructor is solely responsible for the grades assigned; no instructor may be directed to change a grade except in certain narrow circumstances authorized by the California Education Code, Section 76244(a), which reads as follows: “When grades are given for any courses of instruction taught in a community college, the grade given to each student shall be that determined by the instructor of the course and its determination, in the absence of mistake, fraud, bad faith, or incompetency, shall be final.”

When a student believes that the District grading policy has not been followed, and that the grade received in class was the result of “mistake, fraud, bad faith, or incompetency,” the student must discuss this concern with the course instructor by the end of the fourth week of the following semester. Any student who is not satisfied after meeting with the instructor, may choose to pursue a grade grievance.

To initiate a grade grievance, please email Mariana Wright at mwright@cmccd.edu or visit the Academic Services office in the 100 Quad.

STUDENT GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE:

If a student has a reason to believe that he/she has been unfairly treated and wishes to lodge a complaint against a member of the academic community, the following procedures are followed with respect to the faculty and/or administrators. The student shall first discuss the matter with the staff member in question. If, however, the student cannot discuss the matter with the staff member, or if the student is not satisfied with the discussion, he/she may then initiate a complaint.

To initiate a grievance, please email Mariana Wright at mwright@cmccd.edu or visit the Academic Services office in the 100 Quad.

DISCRIMINATION OR HARASSMENT COMPLAINT PROCEDURE:

Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures related to discrimination or harassment may be directed to the District’s Title IX Coordinator, Jane Kwon (jkwon@cmccd.edu), Vice President of Student Services, or Jenn Baker (jbaker@cmccd.edu), Chief Human Resources Officer, 6162 Rotary Way, Joshua Tree, CA 92252, (760) 366-3791. To initiate a complaint, please complete the Unlawful Discrimination Complaint Form and mail or email the form to either of the contacts above.  You may also call the number above and ask for a meeting with either of the individuals to discuss the situation.

Issues that are not resolved at the campus level may be presented:

To the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) at

http://www.accjc.org/complaint-process if your complaint is associated with the institution’s compliance with academic program quality and accrediting standards. ACCJC is the agency that accredits the academic programs of the California Community Colleges.

To the CCC Chancellor’s Office website at

http://www.cccco.edu/ if your complaint does not concern CCC’s compliance with academic program quality and accrediting standards.

To the State Attorney General using online forms available at

Complaint Process | CRD (ca.gov)    

To the Public Inquiry Unit of the California State Department of Justice:

(Toll-free in California) (800) 952-5225

Fax: (916) 323-5341

Nothing in this disclosure should be construed to limit any right that you may have to take civil or criminal legal action to resolve your complaints.

The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) has provided this disclosure to you in compliance with the requirements of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, as regulated in CFR 34, Sections 600.9 (b) (3) and 668.43(b). If anything in this disclosure is out of date, please notify the CCCCO at 1102 Q St., Sacramento, CA 95814. This disclosure was last revised on 5-09-11.