Policies: Student Rights: Affirmative Action

Alpena Community College is a nondiscriminatory and equal opportunity educational institution and employer. Staff and/or students who have a question and/or concern about policy may initiate an informal and/or a formal request for review.

Informal Procedure
A student and/or community member may initiate an informal affirmative action complaint by making an appointment with the affirmative action officer, Richard Sutherland (VLH 110, 989.358.7368). After the meeting, the affirmative action officer will advise the individual regarding his/her complaint. At that time, the individual may elect to drop the complaint or process a formal complaint.

Formal Procedure
A student and/or community member may process a formal affirmative action complaint by utilizing the following process.

1. Provide to the affirmative action officer a written statement outlining, in detail, the complaint. This statement should include supportive statements and as much information about the incident as the individual can provide. The affirmative action officer will review the statement with the individual at the time it is submitted for action.
2. The affirmative action officer will, within five working days of the receipt of the complaint, convene a meeting of the Affirmative Action Committee. This group (affirmative action officer, two administrators, and two staff members) will review the complaint.
   The committee subsequently may call in the individual initiating the complaint to clarify statements made in writing or to obtain additional information.
   Once satisfied that it has all pertinent information, the Affirmative Action Committee will, within 15 working days, make its findings and recommendations known to the individual and to the College President.
3. If the Affirmative Action Committee finds grounds for a complaint, the college will immediately take action to assure that the compliance with all affirmative action measures is guaranteed to each student and/or community member.
4. If the Affirmative Action Committee finds insufficient grounds for a complaint, the committee will, within 15 working days, notify the individual. At that time, the individual may elect to drop the complaint. If not, the complaint is submitted to the College President and Board of Trustees.
5. The Board of Trustees and College President will review the complaint and, within 20 working days, will issue a reaction and recommendations. If the President and Board of Trustees find insufficient grounds for a complaint, the individual may elect to drop the complaint.
6. If an individual decides to pursue the complaint beyond Step Five, he/she may use the courts or the Civil Rights Commission.

NOTE: Any individual may initiate an affirmative action complaint directly with the legal authorities or with the Michigan Civil Rights Commission.