Guidelines for Expression of Public Concern
Wytheville Community College (WCC) is an educational institution that engages in continuous and systematic evaluation for improvement. As such, WCC welcomes comments, suggestions, ideas, and constructive criticism from current and prospective students, employees, community members, and other persons affiliated with the college. Feedback, concerns, comments, suggestions, ideas, or constructive criticisms about the college, its services or programs, shall be directed toward the appropriate college official verbally or in writing.
If those who have submitted concerns feel their issue has not been addressed, they are encouraged to speak with the administrator’s immediate supervisor. At this stage, the supervisor shall require a detailed written account from both parties and shall identify the nature of the issue(s) to assess what action, if any, is needed. The supervisor’s findings and actions shall be communicated, as privacy laws permit, to the person who brought forth the concern. If the individuals bringing forth the concern are dissatisfied with the findings and actions, they may request consideration through additional supervisors of the college official up to, and including, the President. The President’s decision is final. All findings and actions shall be internally documented, including the justification for the finding and action taken. The appropriate supervisory chain of command is expected to be followed. Anonymous submissions will not be acknowledged or considered.
Student and Employee Grievances
Please note that WCC has an internal grievance policy for students and employees and, when appropriate, that procedure should be followed. The WCC Grievance Procedure for all students is described in the WCC Catalog and Student Handbook. The employee grievance procedure can be found in the VCCS Policy Manual, Section 3.13.
Student Complaints to External Organizations
Wytheville Community College (WCC) is approved by the State Board for Community Colleges and by the Virginia Community College System. The associate degree curricula of the college have also been approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.
WCC accepts oversight from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), the Commonwealth’s coordinating body for higher education, in resolving student complaints. If a student has exhausted the avenues provided by the institution and the complaint has not been resolved internally, the student may submit the Student Complaint Form to SCHEV.
Students may also seek resolution through the Office for Civil Rights of the United States Department of Education (OCR). A complaint filed with OCR must be filed within 180 calendar days of the alleged discrimination. Or, if the college complaint procedure was utilized by the student, the OCR complaint must be filed within 60 calendar days from the date of the final decision, unless the time for filing is extended by the OCR for good cause shown. Information on how to proceed may be accessed on OCR’s website.
If the complaint involves Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq. (“Title IX”), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities, admission, and employment, the complaint must be filed according to the WCC Policy on Sexual Harassment.
Wytheville Community College (WCC) is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award the associate degree. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call (404) 679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Wytheville Community College. Students may also follow the SACSCOC Complaint Procedure.