Faculty and Staff Fair Treatment (Grievance) Policy and Procedure

*All matters involved in this procedure will be confidential. When concerns, problems disputes, and complaints cannot be alleviated by the normal communication channels in place within the College the following formal steps are to be followed:

1. The dispute will be submitted in writing to the direct supervisor.
2. The direct supervisor will respond in writing within five (5) school days from the receipt of the written dispute.
3. If the dispute is not resolved to the satisfaction of the involved faculty or staff members, an appeal may be made to the President of the College. This written appeal must be submitted within five (5) school days following the written response from the direct supervisor.
4. The President of the College will respond in writing to the appeal within five (5) school days.
5. If the dispute is not resolved, it is the faculty or staff member’s responsibility to submit a written request to the President of the College for activation of the AD-HOC Fair Treatment Committee within five (5) school days.
6. The President of the College activates and refers the dispute to the AD-HOC Fair Treatment Committee within five (5) school days.
7. The AD-HOC Fair Treatment Committee will convene and hear the dispute within five (5) school days. The Committee will consist of:
   1. One uninvolved Vice President or designee
   2. Two uninvolved faculty or staff members appointed by the President
   3. One faculty or staff member designated by the involved faculty or staff member.
8. The AD-HOC Fair Treatment Committee will submit a written report, including findings, documents, and recommendations within five (5) school days, to the President of the College, the direct supervisor, and the involved faculty or staff member.
9. Should the recommendations of the AD-HOC Fair Treatment Committee not be acceptable to either the faculty or staff member or the President of the College, the dispute will be presented in writing to the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the College by either party, within five (5) school days.
10. The Chair of the Board of Trustees or designee will investigate the dispute and render a decision with (10) school days. This decision is final and binding upon all parties involved.

Each party involved in this fair treatment process may be accompanied by an individual of their own choosing during any step of the procedure.

Approved:______________________________________________________________________
Monika Bissell, DBA
President