Formal Resolution Process

Any full or part-time student may submit a "formal" complaint in writing to the Vice President of Student Services (217-443-8746, Lincoln Hall, Room 108) or by submitting an electronic report through the DACC website at DACC Complaint/Grievance form. The Vice President will acknowledge receipt of the complaint, conduct an investigation, and respond to the student in a reasonable amount of time. Students may contact the Vice President of Student Services at any point in time for guidance or to file a report directly.

If a student complaint/grievance is not resolved to the satisfaction of the student through the informal process within 5 business days of meeting with the lead administrator, the student has the right to submit a formal complaint.

A student may appeal a grievance before the Standards Committee only if the student can substantiate that a sincere attempt has been made to resolve the issue through the informal and/or formal resolution processes including having followed all processes as described within a college policy or procedure which pertains to the issue.

Formal Hearing Appeal Procedure:

1. Within 7 days from the expiration of days in the informal resolution process, the student must complete a Formal Hearing Request Form and deliver it to the appropriate lead administrator as designated in the Resolution Process Chart. Formal Hearing Request Forms are available in the offices of lead administrator.
2. The President will be informed and he/she or the President’s designee will identify individuals to serve on the Standards Committee.
3. Within 10 business days of receipt of the Formal Hearing Request Form, the Lead Administrator for the area of origin of the grievance will communicate with the student and the Standards Committee in establishing a timely and mutually agreeable date, time, and place for the hearing.
4. The student will inform the lead administrator at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled hearing of any witnesses he/she plans to include in the hearing and, if he/she will have legal counsel present.
5. Failure to attend the Hearing on the part of the student or of any other involved individual, will not result in a cancellation of the Hearing proceedings.
6. The Members of the Standards Committee are responsible for the following:
   1. to hear and evaluate all of the information provided during the hearing process, and to determine a fair and equitable resolution either through consensus or by a majority vote to the student grievance to be forwarded to the President as a recommendation for his/her consideration and final decision. The recommendation may uphold the original decision, reverse the original decision, or be a compromise.
7. Within 5 business days of the Formal Hearing, the President or the President’s designee, will communicate, in writing to all involved parties, the President’s decision with respect to resolving the student’s grievance. The resolution/decision of the President will be final.

Membership Representation on the Standards Hearing Committee & Others Involved in Formal Hearing Procedures

The membership of the Standards Hearing Board will be comprised of 1) three full-time students including the Student Senate President when available, 2) three college officials consisting of any combination of faculty, student services administrative staff, or other administrative staff depending upon the issue, and 3) one College Cabinet member. The College Cabinet representative will be the lead administrator for the area where the issue originated when appropriate and will serve as the Hearing Officer. The individuals involved in the grievance and any witnesses with information pertinent to the proceedings
of the hearing will be included in the hearing process. The student has the right to legal counsel at his/her own expense and to obtain a written recording of the hearing proceedings, also at his/her own expense. The College may also choose to have legal counsel present when a grievance is heard before a Standards Hearing Board.