Student Complaint
HCTC faculty and staff are committed to providing a quality educational experience, fully supported by a range of academic and support services and facilities. However, we also recognize that students will have complaints. When this happens, students have numerous ways to seek an explanation and solution to their complaint or concern.
Complaints generally are divided into two categories:
- Violation of academic rights
- Procedural complaints, such as complaints related to sexual harassment and misconduct, student harassment or discrimination, or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
There is also a State Appeal Process to the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. This is available only if the student has taken steps to exhaust HCTC’s grievance processes.
General concerns, such as billing questions, are not within the definition of a “complaint.” Specific questions related to general concerns should be addressed to the appropriate HCTC office. If you do not know who to contact with your concerns, contact the Chief Student Affairs Officer, Deronda Mobelini, for information. Her email is Deronda Mobelini; her telephone number is 606-487-3252, and her office location is Hazard Campus, First Federal Center, Room 119N. The HCTC mailing address is One Community College Drive, Hazard, KY 41701.
VIOLATION OF ACADEMIC RIGHTS
The academic rights of all students are clearly set forth in the KCTCS Code of Student Conduct (Code). The Code contains three Articles. Article III delineates the Principles and Standards of Student Conduct. Students have the ability to file appeals when they believe a violation of their academic rights has occurred. Students have the academic right to:
- Receive information about course content
- Receive information about course grading criteria
- Hold and express a contrary opinion
- Fair and impartial academic evaluation
- Confidentiality of academic records
- Informed evaluation of student character and ability
A grade appeal is an example of a complaint that would be addressed through the Code of Student Conduct. For more information about filing a complaint under the Code of Student Conduct, contact the HCTC Chief Student Affairs Officer, Deronda Mobelini. Her email is deronda.mobelini@kctcs.edu her telephone number is 606-487-3252, and her office location is Hazard Campus, First Federal Center, Room 119N. The HCTC mailing address is One Community College Drive, Hazard, KY 41701.
PROCEDURAL COMPLAINTS
Complaints Related to Title IX Sexual Harassment and Misconduct
Complaints relating to sexual harassment and misconduct should be made to the HCTC Title IX Coordinator, Deronda Mobelini, Chief Student Affairs Officer. Such complaints shall be handled in accordance with the KCTCS Administrative Policies and Procedures 3.3.1A-P.
Any person may report prohibited conduct in person, by mail, by telephone, or by electronic mail to Deronda Mobelini. Her email is deronda.mobelini@kctcs.edu; her telephone number is 606-487-3252, and her office location is Hazard Campus, First Federal Center, Room 119N. The HCTC mailing address is One Community College Drive, Hazard, KY 41701.
Complaints Related to Student Harassment or Discrimination
KCTCS Administrative Procedures 6.6-P, Student Harassment or Discrimination Grievance Procedure
Students who feel they may have been discriminated against or subject to harassment by students or employees because of their race, color, national origin, sex/gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, beliefs, pollical affiliation, veteran status, age, or disability (including denial of a request for an accommodation) have the right to pursue an informal and/or formal discrimination grievance.
The informal student discrimination grievance procedure is described in KCTCS Administrative Policies and Procedures 6.6-P.
If the grievance is not resolved to the satisfaction of the student through the informal grievance procedure, the student may file a formal appeal according to the KCTCS Code of Student Conduct.
If you feel you have been discriminated against, contact Deronda Mobelini, Chief Student Affairs Officer. Her email is deronda.mobelini@kctcs.edu; her telephone number is 606-487-3252, and her office location is Hazard Campus, First Federal Center, Room 119N. The HCTC mailing address is One Community College Drive, Hazard, KY 41701.
KCTCS Administrative Procedures 3.3.1-P, Anti-Harassment/Discrimination Procedure
KCTCS Administrative Procedure 3.3.1-P provides another way to report harassment or discrimination. An individual may report a complaint of illegal discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, or retaliation to the Director of Employee Relations at the System Office, the KCTCS Vice President for Legal Services, the HCTC president, the KCTCS president, the HCTC Human Resources Director, the System Director of Human Resources, the HCTC Title IX Coordinator, the KCTCS Title IX Coordinator or the HCTC Chief Student Affairs Officer.
In addition to the reporting channels above, an individual may also report the matter directly to the KCTCS EthicsPoint hotline at 1-866-594-3115 or at https://secure.ethicspoint.com/domain/media/en/gui/28458/index.html.
Complaints under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Complaints relating to the ADA or applicable state and local laws that forbid discrimination in employment against qualified individuals with disabilities should be made to the Senior Director of Human Resources, Vickie Combs Vickie.Combs@kctcs.edu. Such complaints will be handled in accordance with KCTCS Administrative policies 3.3.1. This policy applies to all employees, including student-employees.
STATE APPEAL PROCESS
The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) serves as the coordinating agency for postsecondary education in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The CPE is authorized under state law to address complaints about HCTC, provided the student has taken steps to exhaust HCTC’s grievance processes (see above). Students should attempt to resolve the complaint through the established protocol at HCTC before contacting CPE.
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
100 Airport Road
Frankfort, KY 40601
Web: http://cpe.ky.gov/campuses/consumer_complaint
