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The Administration at Big Sandy Community and Technical College (BSCTC) is responsive to students' questions
and concerns involving complaints. Students are informed of the policies and procedures involving complaints and
of their rights and responsibilities through the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) Code of
Student Conduct
[1]
. Information about the Code of Student Conduct is disseminated to students through various avenues such
as: New Student Orientation
[2]
; GE 100 Course
[3]
; BSCTC Course Syllabi
[4]
; BSCTC Student Handbook
[5]
, and the BSCTC Website
[6]
. The policies and procedures governing student complaints can be found within the KCTCS Code of Student Conduct
under Article II, Section 2.4, Student Appeals and Responsibilities
[7]
.
The appeal process begins when a student submits the written appeal specifying which academic right has been violated
to his/her Instructor's Division Chair (after August 2005, Division Chair positions changed to Associate Dean of
Academic Affairs positions at Big Sandy Community and Technical College). This must be done no later than ten calendar
days after the first day of class the following semester. Within 15 calendar days, the appropriate Associate Dean of
Academic Affairs must either resolve the case or refer it to the College President (or C.E.O. as it appears in the KCTCS
Code of Student Conduct). The student will be notified of the decision. Upon receipt of the appeal, the President
(or C.E.O) must resolve the case within ten days and notify the student. If the student chooses to pursue the appeal
process further, he/she must file a written request within ten days for a hearing before the College Appeals Board.
The following is an example of a resolution of a complaint:
During the course of the Fall 2004 semester, a student enrolled in the AAS/ADN (Associate of Applied Science/Associate
Degree Nursing) Nursing Program at BSCTC was discharged from the clinical portion of NSG 203 Nursing Practice III.
The instructor for the clinical portion of this course explained to the student that she had committed what was observed
by the instructor to be an unsafe/unsound practice in her group leadership skills patient care. The student was removed
from the clinical portion of NSG 203. The student was informed that she could remain in the lecture portion of the course
until the issue was resolved. The student approached the Provost of BSCTC regarding this matter and was referred to the
KCTCS Code of Student Conduct. The student alleged that the course syllabus did not define the expectations and/or
course competencies required of students.
The student submitted a written appeal to the Nursing Program Coordinator who found that the Course Syllabus for NSG 203
was explicit in defining the expectations and course competencies for students in the course. After being notified of
the decision in writing, the student appealed her complaint to the college president. The syllabus was reviewed by the
President and found to be detailed as to the expectations for students in the course. The student was notified by the
President of the decision and of the next step in the appeal process. All other individuals involved were also notified
of the decision.
The student filed a written request for a hearing with the College Appeals Board. The College Appeals Board convened
within two days (a ten-calendar day maximum is allowed) after receiving the request. The student submitted to the
Board all written documentation she had completed during the Appeals Process. Based on the nature of her written
complaint, the Board requested that she submit the syllabus she was given on the first day of class.
The NSG 203 syllabus was reviewed by the College Appeals Board. In making their decision regarding this case, the
Board relied upon the KCTCS Code of Student Conduct Article II, Academic Policies and Procedures Section 2.2 Academic
Rights of Students, subsections 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.3 and 2.2.4
[8]
. The finding of the College Appeals Board was as follows:
"From our review of the syllabus for the course NSG 203, we (the Board collectively) feel that you had been informed
in reasonable detail in writing (being the content of the syllabus) regarding this course which causes the academic
offense you are alleging not to fall within Section(s) 2.2. In accordance with Section 2.6 College Appeals Board
Responsibilities; subsection 2.6.1
[9]
, your request for an appeals hearing is therefore denied."
Additional examples of the complaint process can be found in the President's office where a log is maintained and the
written complaints are filed in a secure location in the President's office
[10]
.
In the event that a student should have a complaint or a concern that cannot be addressed by the formal appeals process
described in the KCTCS Student Code of Conduct then a student may implement the informal process established locally by
BSCTC Student Affairs and described in the BSCTC 2006-2007 Student Handbook
[5]
. With this process, a student should seek to resolve the issue with the party involved and if unsuccessful contact the
party's supervisor. If the student does not receive satisfaction at this level, the student should contact the
Assocaite Dean or vice president for the department involved. If satisfaction is still not obtained, the student
should follow the formal process requiring a written review submitted to the Dean of Student Affairs
[11]
.
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