Student Complaints Policy

Approval Date: August 1, 2026

Last Revision Date: August 1, 2026

Board Policy Alignment:

E-1 Ends
EL-0 General Executive Constraint
EL-1 Treatment of Students
EL-5 Organization Culture
EL-8 Access to Education

Responsible Official: Provost and Vice President of Teaching, Learning, and Student Success and the Vice President for Student Experience

 

 

Purpose

Frederick Community College (“FCC” or the “College”) strives to create and maintain a teaching and learning environment where effective communication enhances integrity,justice, and civility. The purpose of this Student Complaints Policy is to provide a method of recourse to students who wish to formally address a final class grade, assignment grade, or a particular action on the part of the College, its employees, or its affiliates.

 

Scope

This policy applies to students enrolled in credit or non-credit courses at the College.

 

Definitions

See the Policy Glossary for definitions of hyperlinked terms in this policy.

 

Policy

Faculty are responsible for assigning final grades consistent with the expectations and conditions stated in the syllabus of that specific course and section. Students may bring complaints about grades and other actions on the part of the College, its employees, or its affiliates. All policies regarding student complaints must be followed to ensure timely resolution of the complaint (see accompanying procedure for defined response timeframes). Students should attempt to resolve complaints with the faculty member or College before filing a formal complaint. Students who wish to appeal a grade-based sanction for a violation of academic integrity should initiate procedures associated with this policy for appeals. Justification for a grade change may include:

  1. The assignment of a grade to a student on some basis other than performance in the class; or
  2. The assignment of a grade by an undocumented, unannounced departure from the instructor’s previously articulated standards as represented by the syllabus of that specific course and section; or
  3. The assignment of a grade to a student by using standards different from those which were applied by the same instructor to other students in that class; or
  4. Relevant extenuating circumstances that impacted the student’s grade.

Students appealing dismissal from the College should follow the procedures for appealing dismissal. Students appealing dismissal from a specific program should refer to the Student Handbook for that program.

Students may wish to file a non-grade based complaint regarding an action or decision by a College employee, student, or affiliate that they believe is improper, unfair, or is a deviation from official policy or accepted practice. These may include:

  • The action performed by a College employee or affiliate toward a student represented a substantial or unreasonable departure from approved College Policy or Procedure; or
  • The action set unreasonable standards different from those which were applied by the College to other students in similar situations.

This policy and associated procedures do not apply to behaviors on the part of College employees, affiliates, or other students that they believe is a deviation from a policy or practice related to sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, or discrimination. Students who believe that an employee, affiliate, or other student is in violation of Title IX should follow the appropriate policies and procedures. Students who believe they have experienced discrimination should follow the appropriate policies and procedures.