Concerns/Complaint Process

At Blue Mountain Community College, your voice matters. If something hasn’t met your expectations or you have a concern, we want to hear from you. We are here to listen with care, treat all parties with dignity, and work toward a fair and timely resolution.

These forms are only monitored during regular business hours.

Information

The College recognizes that disputes may sometimes arise and encourages the parties involved to resolve the conflict informally whenever possible. If resolution cannot be reached informally, a formal complaint process will be provided in order to assure impartial and equitable resolution for those conflicts. Any individual that feels they have been treated unfairly will have the ability to present their concerns and has the right to be heard fairly and promptly.

This complaint process may not be invoked for matters that have independent appeal processes established. Examples of these include, but are not limited to academic standing appeals, student conduct decisions, FERPA regulations, financial aid awarding and decisions, grades, Title IX regulations, discrimination and harassment policies/procedures, and safety related activity.

Matters which are not grievable through the informal or formal complaint process include the following:

Federal and State laws
Employment and personnel decisions
Policies of the Board of Education
Rules and procedures adopted by the department of Community Colleges and Workforce Development
Procedures for filing a formal complaint: (After efforts to resolve informally have been exhausted.)

Complaints should be filed as soon as possible or no more than 90 days after the incident occurs. Confirmation that a complaint has been received and is being considered will take place within five regular business days by an appointed College designee via the complainant’s preferred contact information. Documentation of all formal complaints will be maintained in Maxient student conduct system.

Academic Dishonesty Form

Allegations of academic dishonesty and disruptive classroom behavior are first addressed by the instructor. Academic sanctions, such as a failing grade or dismissal from a program are determined by the instructor and the academic unit. Students may appeal in accordance with the BMCC Grade Appeal process. After consultation with the Department Chair, the matter may also be referred to the Vice President, Instruction for consideration of possible disciplinary sanctions in addition to the academic consequences imposed by the instructor or department.

Instructors are to make a good faith effort to give the student the opportunity to question the evidence and tell his/her side of the story before imposing consequences, even when the evidence appears conclusive.

Academic Dishonesty Incident Reports are forwarded on to the Office of Instruction for review of possible “Student Code of Conduct” violations and to check for repeated violations subject to further progressive discipline.

When completing this form, please include your name, title, and contact information. Please note that anonymously submitted forms may limit our effectiveness in responding to the reported concern. Questions regarding filing an academic dishonesty report may be directed to the Office of Instruction.

Discrimination/Harassment Form

This form should be used to report an incident involving an alleged violation of the Blue Mountain Community College Non-Discrimination – Discrimination Complaint/Grievance Procedure and the Hazing, Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying, Cyberbullying, or Menacing procedure.

Unlawful Discrimination defined:
Different treatment of or denial of a benefit to a person because of the person’s protected status, including race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.

Harassment defined:
Harassment can be a form of unlawful discrimination when it consists of unwelcome verbal, nonverbal (for example, whistling), visual or physical conduct based on protected status that is so severe, persistent, and pervasive that it interferes with or limits a student, faculty or staff member’s ability to participate in or benefit from the College’s educational and/or employment opportunities, programs or activities. Discriminatory harassment includes Sexual Harassment.

BMCC Policy Prohibits Retaliation:
Retaliation against a victim, any person who reports, is thought to have reported, files a complaint or otherwise participates in an investigation or inquiry is prohibited. Such retaliation shall be considered a serious violation of Board policy and independent of whether a complaint is substantiated. False charges shall also be regarded as a serious offense and will result in consequences and appropriate remedial action.

Employee Complaint Form

Instructional Complaints:

Complaints about a faculty member or related instructional matter (with the exception of those items with independent appeal processes or that are not grievable) will be submitted to the Office of Instruction to determine the appropriate course of action. Decisions rendered by the Vice President are considered final. (Refer to the Faculty Collective Bargained Agreement for informal complaint procedures.)

Non-Instructional Complaints:

Complaints about non-instructional personnel, college policies, procedures, processes or services will be submitted to the Vice-President, Human Resources and Administrative Services (VP,HR) for appropriate follow up and resolution. Unresolved issues or decisions resulting from the above may be appealed with the VP, HR for resolution. Decisions rendered by the VP, HR are considered final.

Incident Report Form

Please use this incident report form to report any behaviors of concern or incidents of safety involving Blue Mountain Community College. Reportable behaviors may include “Student Code of Conduct” violations, an individual you may feel is struggling physically or psychologically, or any other behaviors of concern that you would like to see addressed or would like to discuss. This incident report form may also be used for incidents involving personal injury or accident at the college.

When completing this form, please include your name and contact information. Anonymous reports will not be accepted. Individuals who have concerns about disclosing their identity are encouraged to contact Human Resources directly. Questions regarding filing an incident report may be directed to Human Resources or the Office of Student Services.

Sexual Misconduct Form

BMCC respects the sensitivity of the information that may be included in this form and you may submit it anonymously. However, please note that as mandated by Title IX as a federal law, the information included in this form is not confidential, but will be kept as private as possible in all efforts to protect individuals and the greater BMCC community.

Sexual Misconduct defined:
Sexual misconduct can be any Sexual Harassment, Sexual assault, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, or Stalking.

BMCC Policy Prohibits Retaliation:
Retaliation against any individual for filing or participating in the investigation of a sexual misconduct complaint. Retaliation is any overt or covert act of reprisal, interference, restraint, penalty, discrimination, intimidation, or harassment against individuals for exercising their rights (or supporting others for exercising their rights) is prohibited. BMCC will investigate any reports of retaliation and take appropriate disciplinary action.

False charges shall also be regarded as a serious offense and will result in consequences and appropriate remedial action.

Student Complaint Form

Student Right to File a Complaint or Grievance

The College recognizes that disputes may sometimes arise and requires the parties involved to resolve the conflict informally whenever possible. A formal complaint process is provided in matters that can’t be resolved informally in order to assure impartial and equitable resolution for those conflicts.

Any student that feels they have been treated unfairly may submit a report through the online complaint reporting link.
Students will have the ability to present their concerns and have the right to be heard fairly and promptly.
The informal/formal complaint process may not be invoked for matters that have independent appeal processes established. Examples of these include, but are not limited to academic standing appeals, student conduct decisions, FERPA regulations, financial aid awarding and decisions, grades, Title IX regulations, discrimination and harassment policies/procedures, and
safety related activity.
Matters which are not resolvable through the formal complaint process include Federal and State laws, employment and personnel decisions, policies of the BMCC Board of Education, rules and procedures adopted by the Oregon, Higher Education Coordinating Council (HECC).

For more information please see the Student Rights and Responsibilities

For a complaint against a Faculty Member please see the steps below:

Student complaints shall proceed in the following manner and time requirements, unless mutually agreed upon in writing by all parties to the complaint. All such agreements shall be reduced to writing, must specify a deadline date for the resumption of the complaint procedure, and be signed by the College, two officers of the Association, the complainant, and any and all other parties to the complaint. If the student comes to the faculty member’s department chair, Vice President of Instruction, dean, or other college employee, the student shall be informed of the process.

Step One– Student/Faculty Meeting:

The student contacts the faculty member within ten (10) working days in which the alleged action of concern occurred. This request must be in writing and should briefly describe the actions or omissions by the faculty member and state the student’s desired outcome. Email communication will satisfy this requirement.

a) The student and faculty member will schedule a meeting to informally discuss the student’s concerns. This meeting should be held at the earliest possible time based on the current academic schedule and availability of the faculty member.

b) If the concern is not resolved at this informal meeting, the student has (5) working days to initiate Step Two by contacting the Office of Instruction.

Step Two – Student/Faculty/Department Chair/Dean Meeting:

a) The Office of Instruction will verify that Step One has taken place and then the Dean shall set a meeting with the student, faculty member, and department chair within five (5) working days of receipt of the complaint.

b) The meeting arranged by the Dean in B(2)(a) above shall be a confidential conversation with the student, faculty member, and department chair whereby a reasonable and agreeable resolution is sought using the interest-based approach.

c) If an agreement is not reached in the informal meeting above, then within five (5) working days after the meeting, the Dean shall prepare a written decision on how best to resolve the complaint.

i. The Dean shall meet face-to-face with the faculty member to share their findings, recommendations, and decision before meeting with the student.

ii. If the faculty member disagrees with the Dean’s finding:

The faculty may advise the Dean that they would like the complaint forwarded to the Student Complaint Committee via the “Formal Complaint” procedure.
In this event, the Dean notifies the student in writing of their decision and advises the student that the complaint is to be forwarded to the Student Complaint Committee for final determination.
If the faculty member does not request at the meeting that the complaint be heard by the Student Complaint Committee, then the Dean shall provide their written findings, recommendations, and decision to the student and advise the student that they have five (5) working days to appeal the decision to the Student Complaint Committee (i.e., move to the Formal Complaint Procedure found in the Faculty CBA article 13).

Out-Of-State Academic Student Complaint Procedure

In compliance with the Higher Education Opportunities Act of 2008, the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) conducted a Negotiated Rule Making Process in 2010, and institutions offering distance education must provide enrolled and prospective students with contact information for filing complaints with its accrediting agency and with the appropriate state agency for handling complaints in the student’s state. Online students have the same rights and responsibilities as those students enrolled in on-campus courses.