The purpose of MiraCosta College's Student Rights and Grievances Procedure (MCCD Administrative Procedure 5530) is to provide an efficient and equitable means of resolving student grievances. This procedure is available to students who believe a decision or action by an instructor, a college official, or another student has adversely affected their status, rights, or privileges as a student.

The college has a central point of contact on all three campuses. Please use the CARE Referral Form, found on the Student Affairs website, if you are in need of support or have a concern about anyone's behavior. If it is an emergency or related to immediate safety, please call College Police at 760.795.6640.

Grievances related to course grades are addressed in MCCD Board Policy 4231, Grade Changes, and Administrative Procedure 4231.*

For complaints or reports related to sexual harassment, sexual assault, or illegal discrimination (i.e., race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation of any person, citizenship status, or military and veteran status, or because they are perceived to have one or more of the foregoing characteristics), students should contact the Title IX coordinator (located in Human Resources), the dean of Student Affairs, or the deputy Title IX coordinators at the San Elijo Campus and Community Learning Center. Staff members in those areas will assist students with the correct processes for resolution. Complaint and investigation procedures related to harassment and discrimination (including sexual assault, sexual violence, dating violence, stalking, and domestic violence) can be found in Administrative Procedure 3435.

In addition to MiraCosta Community College District procedures, a student may address a grievance directly to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office by accessing the following website: californiacommunitycolleges.cccco.edu/ComplaintsForm.aspx.

This procedure also does not apply to the following:

• Student Conduct Procedures, which is covered under MCCD Board Policy 5500 and Administrative Procedure 5520.
• Police traffic tickets. Those complaints must be made to the local courts.
• Parking tickets. Those complaints must be made at the College Police Office.

Definitions

Day during which MiraCosta College is in session: This means a day when MiraCosta College classes are being held. This excludes winter break, spring break, and holidays. When Saturday classes are included in the college schedule, those Saturdays are considered to be days during which MiraCosta College is in session.

Calendar day: This means any day of the year.

The college: This means MiraCosta Community College District.

A student who has a concern or complaint must first follow the informal conflict resolution process, which is described below. Any academic administrator can assist a student with this process.

At any point in the informal conflict resolution process, mediation is an option and may be requested by a student or suggested by a faculty member, staff member, or administrator as a means of resolving a disagreement. The college maintains a list of trained mediators, and any academic administrator can assist in arranging mediation.

To file a grievance, the student must do so in writing, explaining the details of the complaint. This report can be filed with the dean of Student Affairs, the director of Student Services at the San Elijo Campus, the director of Student Services at the Community Learning Center, or a designee. Once the complaint is received, the appropriate person will meet with the student to provide information on the grievance process.

Conflict Resolution

To informally resolve any issues with a faculty member, the student must make a reasonable effort to follow the steps listed below:

• Contact the instructor in person, by email, or by telephone, unless there is a valid reason (student feels intimidated, instructor unavailable after several attempts, etc.) to omit this step.
• If the concern or complaint is not resolved satisfactorily by contacting the faculty member, contact the appropriate department chair in person, by email, or by telephone.
• If the concern or complaint is still not resolved, contact the appropriate dean in person, by email, or by telephone.
• If the concern or complaint is still not resolved, contact the dean of Student Affairs, the director of Student Services at the San Elijo Campus, or the director of Student Services at the Community Learning Center to learn about the grievance process.

To informally resolve any issue with a staff member or administrator, the student must make a reasonable effort to follow the steps listed below:

• Contact the staff member or administrator with whom the student has the grievance in person, by email, or by telephone, unless there is a valid reason (student feels intimidated, staff member or administrator unavailable after several attempts, etc.) to omit this step.
• If the concern or complaint is not resolved satisfactorily, contact the appropriate supervisor in person, by email, or by telephone.
• If the concern or complaint is still not resolved, contact the appropriate dean or department head in person, by email, or by telephone.
• If the concern or complaint is still not resolved, contact the dean of Student Affairs, the director of Student Services at the San Elijo Campus, or the director of Student Services at the Community Learning Center to learn about the grievance process.

To informally resolve a conflict with another student, the student must make a reasonable effort to follow the steps listed below:

• If appropriate, discuss the issue with the student with whom the student has the grievance in person, by email, or by telephone unless there is a valid reason (student feels intimidated, student unavailable after several attempts, etc.) to omit this step.
• Meet with the dean of Student Affairs, the director of Student Services at the San Elijo Campus, or the director of Student Services at the Community Learning Center, or designee in person to request assistance in resolving the conflict.

*All MiraCosta College board policies and administrative procedures are located on the Board of Trustees webpage.