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Complaint Resolution and Appeals

Georgia Northwestern Technical College is committed to ensuring an environment that is fair, humane, and respectful for all students, an environment that supports and rewards students on the basis of relevant considerations, and that is free from illegal or inappropriate conduct.

In an instance of a perceived violation of college policies, standards of professional conduct, or state or federal law, a student may file a complaint, which shall be resolved as addressed in these policies and procedures. Individuals may follow an informal and/or formal process to reach the resolution of the complaint. (At no time will college policy contradict policy and procedure as determined by the Technical College System of Georgia as listed in the TCSG Policy and Procedures Manual. If a contradiction is realized, the TCSG Policy will prevail.)

Retaliation in any form against individuals bringing grievances is prohibited and will subject the retaliating individual to disciplinary action. An individual who initiates a fraudulent or bad faith claim or charge shall also be subject to disciplinary action.

Informal Process

Complainants are encouraged to seek informal resolution of their grievances or concerns. This procedure is intended to encourage communication between the parties involved, either directly or through an intermediary, in order to facilitate a mutual understanding of different perspectives regarding the complaint. An individual is not required to seek resolution nor does the seeking of an informal resolution prohibit the individual from filing a formal grievance or complaint. Contacts for filing grievances or complaints are discussed below.

Formal Process

If a resolution is not satisfactory at the informal levels, or if a student does not wish to follow the informal process, a student may submit a formal complaint. A formal complaint must be in writing and must specifically state the basis for the complaint and the remedy that the student seeks.

The procedures for a formal complaint and the person to whom the student addresses a formal complaint may be different based on the type of formal complaint. Types of complaints and procedures for seeking resolution are addressed below.

Student Disciplinary Procedure

Any person may file a complaint with the Vice President for Student Affairs against any student for an alleged violation of the Student Code of Conduct. The individual(s) initiating the action should complete a Student Code of Conduct Complaint Form, and forward it directly to Stuart Phillips.

For additional information about the Student Disciplinary Policy and Procedure, please consult the Student Handbook.

Georgia Northwestern 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 or complete the complaint form.

Out-of-state Online Students

Students residing outside of the State of Georgia who are taking an online course may file a complaint in accordance with the procedures listed above. Complaints needing further investigation beyond the college level may be submitted to TCSG using the Program Integrity Complaint Form. Before submitting to TCSG, students must 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. Complaints can also be submitted to NC-SARA.

Contact Stuart Phillips for more information.

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