COMPLAINTS AND GRIEVANCE
Gulf Coast State College (GCSC) supports the student's right to lodge complaints, file grievances, and make appeals without fear of adverse action. GCSC has established complaint policies and procedures that apply to all GCSC students on all campuses and online. Information on procedures for filing academic appeals or grievances is provided in the GCSC Student Handbook.
The purpose of the formal student grievance procedure is to provide a means to mediate a fair and equitable solution to any complaint other than grades and discrimination that a student may have with a college employee, office, or policy. The first process to resolve student grievances should be an informal resolution of complaints with the individual(s) involved when possible.
Students wanting to file a grievance must submit a Formal Student Grievance form, which must be submitted to the appropriate office for review. Academic complaints, other than grade grievances, should be submitted to the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Complaints related to disability services, public safety, or the help desk should be submitted to the Dean of Student Life. Complaints involving enrollment, registration, advising and other student related services should be submitted to the Dean of Student Life.
Once the Formal Student Grievance form has been submitted to the appropriate office, the complaint will be investigated. Any student who submits a Formal Student Grievance form will be notified of the resolution. Every effort will be made to resolve the complaints within 14 business days, however, time may be extended by mutual consent of the parties concerned.
If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of the institutional complaint process, he/she may contact the Florida College System, 325 West Gaines Street, St. 1244, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400, (850) 245-9449, https://www.fldoe.org/schools/higher-ed/fl-college-system/about-us/concerns-complaints.stml.
Out-of-state distance education students who have completed the internal institutional grievance process and the applicable state grievance process may appeal non-instructional complaints to the FL-SARA PRDEC Council. For additional information on the complaint process, please visit the FL-SARA Complaint Process page.