Students who feel their rights as a student have been violated by an instructor or staff member should first attempt in good faith to resolve the matter with the source of the complaint, prior to filing a report. If the student is dissatisfied with the outcome of this meeting, they may discuss their complaint with the Ombudsperson, then file the report. If a resolution is not reached, the process may continue with the informal complaint turning into a formal grievance to be addressed by the appropriate Dean/Supervising Administrator. Click here for the full procedure (Board Procedure 8.2.2P).
Email Ombudsperson to discuss next steps before filing a report
Sexual Misconduct and Discrimination
Complaints involving sexual harassment, race discrimination, sex discrimination and discrimination against those with disabilities, should contact the Vice President of Human Resources Office at (707) 527-4954. Additionally, reports may be made at: https://titleix.santarosa.edu/.
Reports of complaints of discrimination that proceed to investigation will be investigated by a person knowledgeable about discrimination matters and the investigation process will include, at a minimum, interviewing the complainant, other relevant witnesses, and gathering pertinent documentation. Complaints of discrimination, including harassment, are to be handled pursuant to the College's revised discrimination complaint procedure (2.7/2.7P) and not under the general grievance procedure (8.2.2/8.2.2P).
Financial Aid Appeals
Student appeals relating to Financial Aid decisions, rules and regulations should contact the Student Financial Services office in order to initiate the Financial Aid appeal process which follows established guidelines. The phone number is (707) 527-4471.
The Ombudsperson Role: Impartial Assistance and Consultation
For support and advice on the complaint/grievance process, a student may consult an Ombudsperson.
For the Santa Rosa Campus and other sites excluding Petaluma contact:
Hilleary Zarate, Student Support
Plover Hall, Room 553
(707) 527-4239 or hzarate@santarosa.edu
For the Petaluma Campus contact:
Deb Ziccone, Manager, Student Support Services, Petaluma Campus
Student Affairs Office, Richard Call Hall, Room 608
(707) 778-3637 or dziccone@santarosa.edu
Board Policies and Procedures
Click here for the full procedure (Board Procedure 8.2.2P). The procedure is the same for complaints about academic matters including grades and curriculum.
Further Information
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). You are obligated to work through the campus complaint process first before escalating issues to any of the following resources. 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 by completing the Web form at https://www.cccco.edu/Complaint-Process-Notice if your complaint does not concern CCC’s compliance with academic program quality and accrediting standards.
- If your complaint involves unlawful discrimination, to the Chancellor’s Office Web site at http://extranet.cccco.edu/Divisions/Legal/Discrimination.aspx. 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.
- http://www.sheeo.org/projects/state-authorization-postsecondary-education
Questions or comments about this page may be directed to rethington@santarosa.edu.