The Student Complaint Policy outlines the process students should follow to initiate a complaint related to college policy, procedure, or personnel action. This includes complaints about grades.

A complaint is defined as a good-faith allegation, based on personal experience or knowledge, that a staff or faculty member has violated, misapplied, or misinterpreted a policy, procedure, or rule in a way that resulted in a loss or detriment to the student.

Detailed information about the Student Complaint Policy can be found in the Washington Administrative Code (132F-121-060 through 132F-121-090).

The complaint process does not guarantee resolutions but rather provides students a formal method to share concerns and engage North Seattle College employees to address those concerns.

Questions about the Student Complaint Policy can be directed to the Grievance Officer, Michael Chen (Michael.Chen@seattlecolleges.edu).

Informal Complaint

Students must first attempt to resolve a complaint informally by communicating directly with the college employee most responsible for the policy, procedure, or action in question. If this discussion does not achieve a satisfactory result, or the student does not believe the employee will engage in good faith, the student may bring the matter to the employee’s supervisor.
Grievances should be raised no later than the end of the quarter in which the issue occurred. If the matter is not resolved informally, the student may file a formal complaint with the Grievance Officer.

Formal Complaint

Steps in the formal complaint:

1. The student submits a written statement describing the policy, procedure, or action in question to the Grievance Officer, either via email or through the online reporting form.
2. The Grievance Officer meets with the student to ask follow-up questions as needed and may request revisions to the complaint.
3. The Grievance Officer shares the complaint and supporting documentation with the employee involved and their supervisor, who must provide written responses and summaries of prior resolution attempts.
4. The Grievance Officer communicates the responses to the student and, if necessary, may facilitate a conference meeting between the student, employee, and supervisor to seek resolution.
5. Following the conference, a written summary is provided to all parties. If the student remains unsatisfied, they may request a final review by the appropriate administrator, whose decision is final.

Grade Complaint

Students with grade grievances must first attempt an informal resolution by communicating with the faculty member or instructional dean. Assignment grades during the quarter must also be addressed informally at this level. 

If the matter is not resolved, the student may submit a formal grade complaint to the Grievance Officer. Formal complaints must be filed no later than the last day of the quarter following the one in which the disputed grade was received, with the exception that spring quarter grade grievances may be filed until the last day of the following fall quarter.

Student Process Advocate

The Student Process Advocate may assist students throughout both the informal and formal complaint process by clarifying each step, helping them identify the appropriate staff to contact, and providing support in drafting the complaint.

The Student Process Advocate for North Seattle College is Molly Brown (Molly.Brown2@Seattlecolleges.edu).