• Counseling & Advising Services ~ RSB 43, (206) 764-5387 ~
  Provides certified counselors for personal and academic counseling.
• Diversity & Retention Office ~ RSB 158, (206) 768-6455 ~
  Provides guidance and advice for all students.
• Student Success Services ~ RSB 67, (206) 764-5326 ~
  Provides academic and personal counseling for students who are first generation, low-income (according to federal guidelines) and learning or physically disabled
• Educational Support Services ~ RSB 12, (206) 763-5137 ~
  Provides academic support, community resources and physical accommodations for eligible students

Any enrolled student at SSCC may file a complaint against any student or college employee when they believe they have personal knowledge of a violation.

Please use this complaint form to report a complaint. Once completed and prior to making an appointment with the Dean of Student Life, take the form to the Secretary in Student Life (see office hours) to assure it is complete.

South Seattle Community College's Complaint Officer is the Dean of Student Life whose office is in the Jerry Brockey Center, room 135. (See campus map.) The complaints officer is available, by appointment only, to meet with students for the purpose of reviewing issues and providing advice on how to proceed. Appointments can be made by calling (206) 768-6749. Please complete this complaint form prior to meeting with the Dean.

• Allegation/Complaint:
  Student talks directly with the college employee or fellow SSCC student.
• Intervention by Supervisor/Dean or Administrator:
  Student discusses complaint with SSCC employee's immediate supervisor/Dean or with the Complaints Officer. Supervisor/Complaints Officer has 15 calendar days to notify employee/student in writing of complaint.
• Investigation/Fact-Finding:
  Supervisor/Dean has 15 additional calendar days to resolve the complaint. It is recommended to document 1) the facts or evidence, 2) what was done to resolve the complaint and 3) what resolutions were proposed.
• Resolution:
  It is recommended parties involved document the resolution that was agreed upon and maintain a copy for personal reference.
• No Resolution:
  Student has 15 additional calendar days to file written formal complaint to the complaints officer.

• Deal with the facts of the situation.
• Stay with "I" statements.
• Write out an outline of your concerns in advance, listing pro and con aspects.
• Be prepared by providing supporting documents if appropriate
• Schedule an appointment with the person you have a concern with rather than "just dropping by."
• Deal with the person in a manner that you would like to be treated, with respect and thoughtfulness.
• Allow the opportunity and time to hear both sides of the situation.

• Complaint Initiation:
  Student has 15 calendar days from the end of the informal process to file a written complaint to the Complaints Officer using this complaint form. All supporting documentation from the informal proceedure should also be submitted. If an informal complaint was not initiated, the student may file a written complaint within 90 calendar days of the cause of the complaint.
• Notification of Charge:
  Within 5 calendar days the Complaints Officer sends a copy of the formal complaint to all parties involved: person to whom complaint is addressed (respondent), appropriate supervisor and person filing complaint.
• Opportunity to Resolve:
  •  Respondent replies in writing to the Complaints Officer within 15 calendar days.
  •  Complaints Officer will forward the respondent's written reply to the student within 5 additional calendar days.
  •  If the student finds the response is unsatisfactory, s/he may submit written notice of their dissatisfaction to the Complaints Officer within 5 calendar days.
• Resolution Not Reached:
  •  Complaints Officer shall schedule a conference meeting and invite the student, respondent and respondent's supervisor (if applicable) within 5 calendar days of receipt of notice.
  •  Conference meeting shall be held to facilitate a resolution within 15 calendar days of receiving the student's notice.
  •  The Complaints Officer produces a written statement summarizing the conference.
• Resolution Reached during Conference:
  The Complaints Officer provides copies of the written summary to each of the attendees within 10 calendar days.
• Resolution Not Reached during Conference:
  •  The Complaints Officer provides copies of the written summary to each of the attendees within 10 calendar days.
  •  Student may submit a review request of the conference summary with the Complaints Officer by filing a written request with in 5 calendar days after receiving the conference summary.
  •  Upon receipt of this request, the Complaints Officer shall forward the request together with the grievance and other relevant documents to an appointed reviewing administrator within 5 calendar days.
  •  The reviewing administrator will review the grievance and documentation and may also interview/investigate as appropriate. •  The reviewing administrator renders a written decision, which is submitted to the student, respondent, and others deemed appropriate within 15 calendar days. The reviewing administrator's decision is final.

Student complaints regarding grades received for course work can be filed using the informal or formal complaint procedures. A student may formally grieve only the final grade received in a course, but that complaint may include any or the entire component of that final grade.

• Grade complaints submitted with this complaint form must be directed at or include the instructor who issued the grade.
• A formal complaint regarding a grade must be filed no later than the last day of the quarter, which follows the quarter for which the disputed grade was received. (An exception will be a complaint regarding a spring quarter grade, which may be filed through the last day of the following fall quarter.)
• The formal complaint should specify the grade that is being challenged and should attach copies of relevant documents.
• The response on behalf of the instructor should include, to the extent feasible, the applicable evaluation criteria, copies of the course syllabus and relevant grading records and the faculty member's explanation for the grade.
• Evaluation of course mastery is exclusively within the province of the instructor of a particular course. As such, a grade change may be initiated only by that instructor.

The Vice President of Instruction ultimately reviews a formal grade complaint. Should she/he find that the grade was issued for an improper reason, that vice president may change the grade in the records of the college.