Academic dispute complaints must follow the academic policies of the college found in the College Catalog and Student Handbook.

A student who submits a written complaint to the appropriate college official and who is not informed of a satisfactory resolution or Plan of Resolution of the complaint within ten (10) business days of the complaint then has the right to file a grievance with the Vice President of Student Affairs within fifteen (15) business days. Grievance Procedure Forms are available online here and in the Office of Student Development and Success and the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs.

The written grievance statement will include at least the following information:

• Date the original complaint was reported,
• Name of person to whom the original complaint was reported,
• Facts of the complaint, and
• Action taken, if any, by the receiving official to resolve the complaint.

The grievance statement may also contain other information relevant to the grievance that the Grievant wants considered by the Vice President of Student Affairs.

In 2015, the Alabama Legislature vested oversight of the state’s public two-year institutions of higher education (known as the Alabama Community College System (ACCS)) with the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees. The Alabama Legislature further directed the Board of Trustees to delegate to the System’s Chancellor the authority to act and make decisions concerning the management and operation of the community and technical colleges. The Chancellor is assisted in these duties by the staff of the System Office, formerly known as the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education. Consumer and student complaints that are not resolved at the institutional level are thus arbitrated at the state level by the ACCS System Office.

The ACCS is committed to respecting and supporting the work of its member institutions and to providing a quality educational experience for all students. The objective of the student complaint process is to ensure that the concerns and complaints of students are addressed fairly and are resolved promptly. The Alabama Community College System requires each institution to establish its own procedures to address student grievances and complaints. A student must exhaust his/her rights under the institution’s official complaint/grievance policy before advancing any complaint to the System Office of Alabama Community College System. Students may file consumer/student complaints with the Alabama Community College System by following these procedures:

1. If, after exhausting all available institutional processes, a student’s complaint remains unresolved, the student may appeal to the Alabama Community College System using the System’s official Student Complaint Form, which is contained in this document and also available online at the ACCS Student Complaint website (www.accs.edu). Students may submit completed complaint forms by printing the form, signing it, and then either
   • (1) scanning it and e-mailing it to [email protected] or
   • (2) mailing it to:
     • Alabama Community College System
     • Attention: Office of the Vice Chancellor for Instructional and Student Services
     • P.O. Box 302130
     • Montgomery, AL 36130-2130
2. The Vice Chancellor for Instructional and Student Services or an appropriate administrator designated by the Vice Chancellor will investigate the complaint within 30 days of receipt.
3. The institution which is the subject of complaint has 30 days to provide a written response to questions and/or concerns raised during the investigation. Such response may or may not contain a resolution.
4. The Vice Chancellor or designated administrator will adjudicate the matter and write a report or letter to the institution and student detailing corrective action, if any is necessary, or stating that the school has no violation of policies.
5. If corrective action is needed the institution will have 30 days to comply or develop a plan to comply with the corrective action.
6. The System Office will monitor the institution’s compliance to ensure the completion of any required corrective action.