Grievance Policies and Procedures

It is the policy of Cayuga Community College to protect the rights and freedoms of students and other members of the campus community. The College has created internal policies and procedures to address student and consumer complaints and grievances. Policies exist for academic, consumer, discrimination, and sexual harassment complaints. Policies, procedures and submission forms are available at the links below, and in designated College offices.

Academic Grievance

If a student has an academic complaint, or believes that he or she has been harmed by an inequitable or inappropriate implementation of the academic regulations and procedures of the College, the Academic Grievance Procedure shall be followed. Students are encouraged to discuss academic concerns with their instructor first. If not satisfied with the outcome of these discussions, the student may then appeal the decision to the instructor’s Division Chair or immediate supervisor. Although the policy does allow for informal as well as formal complaint procedures, students should be aware that there are time limits designated in the policy, and they should seek assistance in resolving an academic conflict as quickly as possible. The Academic Grievance Policy and submission form are available in the Academic Programs office on the Auburn campus and in the main office on the Fulton campus, or you may download the documents:

Consumer Complaint

The College has adopted an internal grievance procedure for the equitable resolution of complaints that do not relate to any other internal grievance procedure. The Consumer Complaint Procedure does not include complaints that are academic (Academic Grievance Procedure), or related to any form of discrimination as defined in the Discrimination Grievance Procedure, or related to sexual harassment, as defined in the Sexual Harassment Policy, or any other complaint for which the College has established a more specific complaint or grievance process. The Consumer Complaint Procedure and submission form are available in the Office of Human Resources and in the Student Development Center on the Auburn campus, and in the main office on the Fulton campus, or you may download the documents:

Discrimination Grievance

The College has adopted an internal grievance procedure providing for prompt, equitable, and confidential resolution of complaints alleging discrimination on the basis of age, color, disability, national origin, race, religious creed, gender, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Complaints emerging from the Auburn campus, Fulton campus, or any other operation of the College should be addressed either to the affirmative action officer for employees (director of human resources) or to the affirmative action officer for the students (director of student development). The Discrimination Grievance Policy and submission form are available in the Office of Human Resources and in the Student Development Center on the Auburn campus, and in the main office on the Fulton campus, or you may download the documents:

Sexual Harassment Grievance

The College is committed to maintaining a work and educational environment free from sexual harassment and has adopted an internal grievance procedure for the reporting and resolution of sexual harassment complaints. Complaints emerging from the Auburn and Fulton campuses or any other operation of the College should be addressed either to the affirmative action officer for employees (director of human resources) or to the affirmative action officer for students (director of student development). The Sexual Harassment Policy and submission form are available in the Office of Human Resources and in the Student Development Center on the Auburn campus, and in the main office on the Fulton campus, or you may download the documents: