Student Complaints at Centralia College
Occasionally, students may have a complaint about a college employee or another student. Use this process to have your complaint heard.
Important Note: If your complaint is about sexual harassment or illegal discrimination, there is a process that is different from this one. To get information about the discrimination/sexual harassment complaint process, contact the Human Resources Office, the Advising/Counseling Center, or any administrative office.
Important Considerations
- Colleges are complex organizations. The expectations may not always be communicated clearly or understood completely.
- Most people try to do the best job they can. Assume people have the best intentions.
- It is natural for people to have different ideas, opinions, or expectations.
- Most differences are resolved by in-person communications that are courteous and respectful.
- Think about what would be a reasonable solution for all parties.
- If you have questions about this process, talk to someone like a counselor, advisor or other faculty or staff members.
- Most differences are resolvable at Step 1.
- Be open to alternate solutions.
Concerns About College Employees
If you have a concern or complaint about a faculty member (teacher), college administrator, or staff member, or about a college department, use this process. Documentation, information, and materials collected during this process are considered confidential and may be shared only with the parties directly involved in the complaint.
First address the complaint directly with the employee involved. Students must attempt to resolve the concern through an in-person or virtual meeting, or through written communication. The student and employee should keep a record of such effort. If there is a meeting to address the situation, the students may bring someone with them to this meeting but must let the employee know in advance. If the complaint is not adequately resolved, proceed to step 2.
In the unlikely event that your meeting does not solve your concern, submit a formal complaint online using the button below.
Submit a Formal Complaint Online
In the online complaint form, you will be asked to describe the situation, provide dates and times, give examples, and provide documents.
Upon receiving the submitted form, the employee’s supervisor will review it and send a response to both the student and the employee within 15 business days. If the complaint is not adequately resolved, proceed to step 3.
If the student believes the supervisor’s decision is not adequate, they may submit a written appeal to the appropriate vice president within 15 business days of the supervisor’s response. Human Resources can assist in identifying the correct vice president. The appeal must include:
- Details describing why the supervisor’s decision is insufficient
- Any additional information that has become available since submitting the complaint form
The vice president will send a response to both the student and employee within 15 business days. If the complaint is still not resolved, proceed to step 4.
If the student disagrees with the vice president’s decision, they may submit a written appeal to the president within 15 business days of the vice president’s response. The appeal must include:
- Details describing why the vice president’s decision is insufficient
- Any additional information that has become available since submitting the appeal to the vice president
The president will send the student and the employee a written response within 15 business days. The president’s decision is final.
Concerns About Other Students
Centralia College is invested in the safety and well-being of all students. In an effort to open the lines of communication across campus, the Vice President of Student Services (VPSS) Office has created this incident report form. If your report is in reference to a sexual harassment, sexual misconduct or gender-based incident, refer to the Title IX and Sexual Misconduct information. For all other incidents, use the button below to make a report.