All Utica School of Commerce students are guaranteed the right of having Utica School of Commerce-related complaints resolved through the procedure established by the college.

 

Title IX and Section 504 Grievances

Any student who feels that he/she has been treated unfairly or discriminated against with regard to race, creed, sex, ethnic or national origin, religion, marital status, age, handicap, sexual orientation, or dealt with in a manner which is inconsistent with Utica School of Commerce regulations, may seek redress at any time within fourteen (14) days of the alleged occurrence. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, access to and treatment in college programs, services and activities.

 

Utica School of Commerce welcomes the handicapped; and, in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended), does not discriminate on the basis of handicap.

 

ALL GRIEVANCES MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING.

PLEASE BE AS DETAILED AS POSSIBLE.

 

Questions about this policy may be directed to the Utica School of Commerce Title IX and Section 504 Compliance Coordinator, Mrs. Wendy Cary, Canastota Branch Director.

 

Compliance Procedures

Any violation of the rules of this institution that might warrant disciplinary action shall be reported to the Compliance Coordinator within fourteen (14) days from the date of the alleged occurrence.

 

• The Compliance Coordinator shall then investigate the matter within fourteen (14) days.

• If the Compliance Coordinator determines that it is necessary to proceed further, she shall transmit in writing, within fourteen (14) days, to the student that the individual(s) being charged have received written communication regarding the incident.

• The Compliance Coordinator shall also inform the individual(s) being charged that he/she has the right to respond to the charges either in writing or in person within fourteen (14) days.

• Also, within fourteen (14) days after receipt of the charges by the student, a meeting will be scheduled between the Executive Vice President of Administration, Compliance Coordinator, student and individual(s) being charged to discuss the charges.

• After the individual(s) being charged and the student have had an opportunity to respond to the charges, the Executive Vice President of Administration and/or Compliance Coordinator will render a written determination on the charges, which will be transmitted to the individual(s) being charged and the student within fourteen (14) days.

• If the determination of the Executive Vice President of Administration is that the individual(s) being charged is guilty of any of the charges against him/her, the Executive Vice President of Administration may impose a penalty of reprimand or termination within fourteen (14) days.

• The student and/or the individual(s) being charged may request in writing that the President of the institution review the determination of the Executive Vice President of Administration within fourteen (14) days.

• Upon such an appeal, the President of the institution shall review the record in the matter and may affirm, reverse or modify the determination of the Executive Vice President of Administration within fourteen (14) days of receipt.

 

Complaints Related to Standards for Institutional Accreditation

The following policies and procedures apply to students' complaints related to the standards applicable to the institutional accreditation of Utica School of Commerce. These standards are set forth on the following Web site of the New York State Education Department: http://www.highered.nysed.gov. A hard copy of these standards is available from the President, Executive Vice President(s), Campus Directors, and USC libraries. The following policy is also set forth in the Student Handbook:

1. Informal Resolution Process

A student having a complaint related to the college's compliance with one or more accreditation standards is strongly encouraged to attempt to resolve the issue through informal means, beginning with the staff member most responsible for the area of complaint. The informal complaint resolution process may then extend to the staff member's supervisor, either at the initiation of the USC staff person and the student together, or on the student's own initiative.

 

2. Formal Complaint Process

A student at any time may file a written, formal complaint using the USC complaint form. A written complaint must be addressed initially to the staff person directly responsible for the area of complaint. If satisfactory resolution is not concluded, a complainant may, within twenty (20) days of the unsatisfactory determination, file a complaint with the Campus Director at the Branch Campus, or with the Executive Vice President of Administration at the Main Campus, providing all pertinent documentation. This person (the appeals officer) must act on the complaint with a written determination following review of material provided by the complainant and the affected office or staff member and interviews with the complainant and with staff in the affected office, within thirty (30) days of receiving the complaint. Previously undisclosed material may be provided to the appeals person for good cause by an affected party to the complaint within thirty (30) days from the date of the request. A transcript of any recommendation or decision of the appeals officer may be made at the request of either party. The decision of the appeals officer may be appealed to the President of the college within twenty (20) days of the appeals officer's written determination. The President shall take the entire written record into account. The President shall render a written determination within thirty (30) days of receiving the notice of appeal together with all supporting documentation. The President's written determination, together with the reason(s) for it, shall be provided to the complainant within ten (10) days of the determination. The President's determination shall be final. If a complaint directly involves an appeals officer, an alternative person at the same appeals level shall hear the appeal (for example, a different branch director) with the alternative appeals office chosen by the President of the college.

 

3. Student and Staff Rights Protection

In all instances, no action shall be taken, either implied or otherwise, against any student or staff member while a complaint is under active review.

 

4. Retention of Records of Complaints

The college shall retain the full record of each formal complaint covered under these procedures for a period of at least six (6) years, or longer, at the college's sole discretion. The record shall include the complaint, documentation related to the complaint, the transcript of any oral presentations that have been made and the written determination of the appeals officers.

 

 

5. Total Time Period for the Complaint Process

The period possible for the complaint process extends 180 days from the date of the alleged violation of any standard.

 

These policies and procedures shall not apply to any complaint in which any party of the complaint is a named or material party in litigation on substantially the same matter.