Any member of the college community (Faculty, Staff, or Student) may report a student in violation of the Student Code of Conduct or file a formal grievance. The Student Code of Conduct Form is used when a violation of the school’s code of conduct is observed or experienced by another student, faculty member, or staff. The Student Complaint and Grievance Form should be used when there is a broader concern or issue that does not necessarily involve a specific violation of the code of conduct but still requires attention. Report forms are available in various offices to include: Academic Advisement Center, Care Center, Disability and Special Services Office, the College Information Center; or on the website under Student Forms. 

Grievance Procedure:

Student Affairs Compliant – The Office of Disability and Special Services will receive and respond to complaints categorized as Student Affairs’ complaints. Student Affairs’ complaints pertain to admissions, disability and special services, financial aid, disability services, and registration. Students having complaints in those areas should follow these procedures:

  • Secure a grievance form.
  • Complete a grievance statement.
  • Submit the grievance form to the Administrative Assistant for Student Affairs, Hartline Room 172.
  • In response to the complaint, the Director of Disability and Special Services will
    • schedule an informal conference with the student filing the complaint;
    • investigate the area of grievance;
    • provide the student with an opportunity to acknowledge the results of the inquiry/investigation.

Academic Affairs Complaint – Students having complaints in areas other than those listed above (i.e., academic affairs, etc.) should follow these procedures:

  • Secure a grievance form.
  • Complete a grievance statement.
  • Submit the grievance form to the instructor or appropriate Academic Dean.
  • In response to the complaint, the instructor/Academic Dean will:
    • schedule an informal conference with the student filing the complaint;
    • investigate the area of grievance;
    • Provide the student with an opportunity to acknowledge the results of the inquiry/investigation.

In instances where the results of the inquiry/investigation are not acceptable, students may make an appeal to the Vice President of Academic Affairs as referenced in the “Students’ Rights and Responsibilities” section of the catalog and student handbook.

Out-of-state online students:

Any complaints pertaining to a Columbus Technical College online course or program should be filed with Columbus Technical College in accordance with the grievance process detailed here and in the Student Handbook.

Complaints needing further investigation beyond the college level may be submitted to TCSG using the Program Integrity Complaint Form. Before submitting to TCSG, students need to ensure they have followed the institution’s process.

A student may appeal to the  Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC) if the institution’s and TCSG’s resolution is not satisfactory; however, please note that the Commission will not investigate a complaint unless the student has exhausted all available grievance procedures outlined by the institution. GNPEC does not resolve complaints about student grades and student conduct violations. These complaints fall under the jurisdiction of institutional policy

Student Code of Conduct Violation Procedure:

A summary of Student Code of Conduct Violations is available in the college’s Handbook/Catalog. To address code of conduct violations, the following procedure is used:

  • Violations should be reported in written form to Disciplinary Officer/Judicial Advisor (VP Student Affairs or designee) within 5 business days of incident. 
  • Disciplinary Officer etc. determines if Code of Conduct has been violated and determines disciplinary action, either as Judicial Advisor or with a Judicial Body, within 5 to 15 business days.
  • Written notification will be sent to the student explaining sanctions, within five days or sooner if necessary. Security, Vice President of Operations and other college officials will receive notification of actions against student.
  • If student accepts sanctions, then all recordings and files are placed in office of VP for Student Affairs for 5 years.
  • Should a student appeal to the president within five days of sanction notification, a judicial body (appellate board) will be formed. The student has the right bring an advisor, but must plead his/her own case. The Judicial Body shall notify the student in writing of the Committee’s decision and the opportunity to appeal directly to the President.
  • The appeal to the President shall be in writing. The President shall only consider evidence currently in the record, new facts not brought up in earlier stages of the appeal shall not be considered. The President shall deliver his/her decision to the student within 10 business days. The decision of the President shall be final and binding.

Columbus Technical College desires to resolve student grievances, complaints and concerns in an expeditious, fair and amicable manner. If a resolution is not reached at the institution level, or if you believe that the nature of the complaint or its impact on the system as a whole warrants an immediate review by the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) administration, please contact TCSG Student Affairs at studentaffairs@tcsg.edu or complete the TCSG complaint form.

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