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2025-2027 Student Handbook

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Formal Resolution Process

Any full or part-time student may submit a "formal" complaint in writing to the Provost/Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs, Dr. Carl Bridges, at 217-443-8771, Vermilion Hall, Room 202) or by submitting an electronic DACC Complaint/Grievance report. The Provost will acknowledge receipt of the complaint, forward the complaint to the appropriate department Supervisor, conduct an investigation, and respond to the student in a reasonable amount of time. Students may contact the Provost at any point in time for guidance or to file a report directly.

If a student complaint or grievance is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction through the informal process within five (5) business days of meeting with the lead administrator, the student has the right to submit a formal complaint.

A student may appeal a grievance before a Standards Hearing Committee (SHC) only if the student can substantiate that a sincere attempt has been made to resolve the issue through the informal and/or formal resolution processes, including having followed all processes as described within a college policy or procedure which pertains to the issue.

Formal Hearing Appeal Procedure

  1. Within seven (7) days from the expiration of days in the informal resolution process, the student must complete a Formal Hearing Request form and deliver it to the appropriate lead administrator as designated in the Resolution Process Chart. Formal Hearing Request forms are available in the offices of the lead administrator.
  2. The President will be informed, and they or their designee will identify individuals to serve on the Standards Hearing Committee.
  3. Within ten (10) business days of receipt of the Formal Hearing Request form, the lead administrator for the area of origin of the grievance will communicate with the student and the Standards Hearing Committee to establish a timely and mutually agreeable date, time, and place for the hearing.
  4. The student will inform the lead administrator at least 24 hours before the scheduled hearing of any witnesses they plan to include in the hearing and if they will have legal counsel present.
  5. Failure to attend the hearing on the part of the student or of any other involved individual will not result in a cancellation of the hearing proceedings.
  6. The members of the Standards Hearing Committee are responsible for the following:
    1. To hear and evaluate all of the information provided during the hearing process, and 
    2. To determine a fair and equitable resolution either through consensus or by a majority vote to the student grievance to be forwarded to the President (or their designee) as a recommendation for their consideration and final decision. The President’s (or designee’s) recommendation may uphold the original decision, reverse the original decision, or be a compromise. 
  7. Within five (5) business days of the Formal Hearing, the President or their designee will communicate, in writing to all involved parties, the decision with respect to resolving the student’s grievance. The President’s resolution or decision will be final.