The Student Grievance Procedure may be used by a student to address alleged violations of their student’s rights. The full procedure may be found on the Mass Community College Student Grievance Procedure page.

Grade Appeal Grievance Officer
Associate Vice President, Student Success

If you have questions about this process, please contact Joe.Dimaria@BristolCC.edu.

Student Grievance Officer
Vice President, Student Services and Enrollment Management

If you have questions about this process, please contact StudentServices@BristolCC.edu or 774.357.2150.

Grade Appeal Grievance

 

Level One - Grade Appeal: Informal Procedure

Step 1: Talk to your instructor.

The student shall present their complaint to the instructor. This shall be done within thirty (30) calendar days following the semester when a grievance occurs.

Step 2: Instructor’s Response

The instructor must respond to the complaint within ten (10) calendar days from the date the grievance was presented. If the matter is not resolved, the student may proceed to Level Two below.

Level Two - Grade Appeal: Formal Procedure

The student and instructor must consult with the Grade Appeal Grievance Officer (Joe.Dimaria@BristolCC.edu) in a timely and efficient manner to begin the grievance procedure.

Step 1: Notice

The Student Grievance Officer shall notify parties in writing when a grievance is not resolved informally at Level One.

Step 2: Supervisor Level

If the Grievance is not resolved to the satisfaction of the student, the student may request the Student Grievance Officer to forward the grievance and response to the supervisor of the instructor. No new issues or allegations may be raised by either party after Step Two.


A Grade Appeal Grievance does not proceed further than Level Two, Step Two. The Senior Academic Officer of the college, or his/her designee, serves as the Student Grievance Officer throughout the grade appeal process.

If after reassessment, the dispute remains unresolved, the matter is referred to the Senior Academic Officer for final review and decision.

 

All Other Student Grievances

Level One: Informal Procedure

Step 1: Talk to the other party.

The student initiates this informal phase of the Grievance process. The student shall first present his/her complaint orally and informally to the Responding Party. This shall be done within thirty (30) calendar days following the semester when a grievance occurs.

Step 2: Other Party Response

The Responding Party must respond to the complaint within ten (10) days from the date the complaint was presented. Both parties present their positions in writing. If the matter is not resolved, the student may proceed to Level Two below.

Level Two: Formal Procedure

The grievant and responding party must consult with the Student Grievance Officer (StudentServices@BristolCC.edu) in a timely and efficient manner to begin the formal grievance procedure.

Step 1: Notice

The Student Grievance Officer shall notify parties in writing when a grievance is not resolved informally at Level One.

Step 2: Supervisor Level

If the Grievance is not resolved to the satisfaction of the student, the student may request the Student Grievance Officer forward the grievance and response to the supervisor of the instructor.

Resolved?


 

No further action needed.

Unresolved?


 

Proceed to Step 3 below.

 

 

Step 3: Student Grievance Committee Level

The student may request a hearing before a Student Grievance Committee. Such a request must be in writing and presented to the Student Grievance Officer within ten (10) calendar days from the issuance of the Supervisor’s Level Two-Step Two decision.

State Process

The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education assists in informal resolutions of matters concerning institutions. For more information, visit https://www.mass.edu/forstufam/complaints/complaints.asp or call 617.994.6963.

SARA Complaints Process for Massachusetts residents and online students in non-SARA member states and territories.

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NECHE

The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), established in 1885, is recognized as an institutional accreditor by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and serves as a reliable authority and independent voice on the quality of higher education.

Comments & Complaints - New England Commission Higher Education

The Commission has two means of hearing from students, faculty, staff, and members of the public about its member institutions.

www.neche.org