III. Student Complaint Process

Responsible for Maintenance: Director of Human Resources

Richard Bland College is committed to respecting all members of the campus community. Students represent a vital component of our community. The purpose of the complaint process is to ensure all written student complaints are addressed fairly and resolved promptly.

Internal Complaint Procedure
When possible, students are encouraged to seek an informal resolution of the matter directly with the faculty or staff involved. However, if an informal approach is neither successful nor advisable, the student should use the online complaint form. The written student complaint process can take up to fifteen (15) business days for resolution from the date the written complaint was submitted.

The complaint must be submitted within ten (10) business days of the alleged conflict or action. Any student filing a complaint shall have at every level the right to be represented by legal counsel and to present witnesses and evidence to support the grievance without fear of reprisal. This procedure does not confer the right upon anyone to make slanderous or libelous statements (i.e., false statements).

Written student complaints concerning students will be addressed by the Department of Student Success. Written student complaints concerning professional staff to include faculty will be addressed by the Office of Human Resources.

Upon receipt of the written student complaint a conference will take place with the student and the appropriate office handling the report. The staff member will notify appropriate persons and request any information or documentation needed to resolve the complaint. The staff member may attempt to resolve the complaint by encouraging discussion between the student(s) and the faculty member/administrator or by taking the appropriate action to resolve the complaint.

A review of the complaint with the supervisor(s) or others in the line of supervision may be used when deemed appropriate and beneficial to the process. All relevant documentation and possible outcomes must be submitted by the student or other appropriate persons to the applicable supervisor(s) within ten (10) business days of the date the complaint is filed.

When possible, the final resolution (or a finding of “unresolved”) will be filed with the appropriate office within fifteen (15) business days of the date the complaint is filed. If there are circumstances requiring an extension of this deadline, the staff member assigned to the complaint will notify the parties involved.

Note: Nothing in this procedure or in this Student Handbook is intended to circumscribe or modify the existing right of any department to do the following, provided, however, that none of these rights may be exercised in an arbitrary or capricious manner:

• Supervise the education of students or the work of employees;
• Maintain the efficiency of departmental operations;
• Remove students from educational programs or employees from duties for legitimate reasons;
• Take actions as necessary to carry out the duties of the department; and/or
• Determine the methods, means, and personnel by which departmental operations are to be conducted.

This process can be used to report incidents of discrimination, bias, non-Title IX sexual harassment, and non-Title IX sexual misconduct. This process is a separate and distinct process from the College’s Title IX related sexual and gender-based harassment and interpersonal violence grievance process. For Title IX specific complaints involving student or employee discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, or retaliation pursuant to Title IX, please refer to the RBC website at https://www.rbc.edu/my-rbc/title-ix/ for applicable policies and procedures.

RICHARD BLAND COLLEGE STUDENT COMPLAINT FORM

SARA State Complaint Process

If an issue cannot be resolved by the College’s internal process, a complaint involving allegations of dishonest or fraudulent activity, including the provision of false or misleading information, may be brought to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV). Alternatively, students may submit a complaint about a SACSCOC-accredited institution using the SACSCOC complaint process.

Richard Bland College works with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to resolve complaints that fall under the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). The agreement provides enhanced quality assurance and consumer protection to students taking distance-learning programs from other member state institutions.

Examples of types of student complaints that may be brought to a SARA portal entity include, but are not limited to, complaints regarding accuracy of job placement data, tuition or fee information, accreditation, whether a program meets professional licensing requirements, or course transfer information. Grade appeals and student conduct appeals are not allowed under SARA.

Non-SARA State Complaints

Students participating in a course that takes place in a non-SARA state may file a complaint in the state where the student is located.

California Department of Consumer Affairs

Consumer Information Center

1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N-112

Sacramento, California 95834

Telephone: (833) 942-1120

Filing a Complaint