Student Complaints

 Student Complaints 

 In compliance U.S. Department of Education rules and accreditation principles, an institution offering distance education must provide enrolled and prospective students with contact information for filing complaints.  

Institutional Complaint 

A formal institutional complaint is one that is submitted in writing, signed and sent to the attention of the Vice President for Student Services. The Vice President for Student Services will forward institutional complaints to the appropriate department head. Within seven (7) working days, the department head will review the form, determine if any additional action is required and respond in writing to the Vice President for Student Services. If additional time is necessary, a request may be made for a reasonable extension as determined by the Vice President of Student Services. The Vice President for Student Affairs will review the written response for the department head, confer with the Vice President for Academic Affairs if the issue is related to faculty members or academic staff members, and make a decision. The Vice President for Student Affairs will communicate the decision to the complainant in writing, within seven (7) working days after the decision. Once an institutional complaint has been reviewed by the Vice President for Student Services and a decision has been made, that decision is final, and the issue may not be appealed. 

Student Grievance 

If the complaint is classified as a Student Grievance, 4.4.1 Grievances and Student Code policy and 4.4.1.3 Student Grievance Procedure for the South Carolina Technical College System (SBTCE 3-2-106.3) will be followed. 

Student Discipline 

If the complaint is determined to be classified as student discipline, 4.4.1 Grievances and Student Code policy and 4.4.1.2 Student Code Procedure for the South Carolina Technical College System (SBTCE 3-2-106.1) will be followed.  

Statement of Non-Discrimination 

The Technical College of the Lowcountry does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its admissions policies, programs, activities, or employment practices. 

The following individuals have been designated to hand inquires regarding the non-discrimination policies: 

Allison Canning 
Vice President for Student Services 
Title IX Coordinator 
Building 8, Beaufort Mather Campus, Room 221 
acanning@tcl.edu 
843-525-8210 

Ali Cadmus 
Vice President of Human Resources  
Title IX Deputy Officer 
Building 6, Beaufort Mather Campus, Room 103B 
acadmus@tcl.edu 
843-525-8346 

Taylor Mathias 
Section 504 Coordinator 
Disability and Career Services Coordinator 
Building 8, Beaufort Mather Campus, Room 201 
tmathias@tcl.edu 
843-470-6023 

Title IX 

Pursuant to Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and other applicable state laws and the Technical College of the Lowcountry College Policy, it is illegal to harass or discriminate against any individual (faculty, staff, student, or visitor) on the basis of sex. Specifically, Title IX states no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Under Title IX, discrimination on the basis of sex can include sexual harassment or sexual violence, such as rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual coercion. Title IX prohibits retaliation against an individual who, in good faith, asserts his or her rights under Title IX or other applicable federal laws and state laws prohibiting illegal discrimination. Title IX also prohibits discrimination against pregnant and parenting students.  

For students: 

• Student Code for Procedures for Addressing Alleged Acts of Sexual Harassment Under Title IX 

For employees: 

• Non-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment, & Sexual Misconduct 

• Sexual Harassment Under Title IX 

Any student, Faculty*, or Staff* member who believes he or she has experienced or witnessed discrimination including sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking must report such incidents to the Title IX Coordinator: 

Allison Canning, Title IX Coordinator 
Beaufort Mather Campus 
Building 8, Room 221 
843-525-8210 
acanning@tcl.edu 

Questions regarding Title IX may be referred to the Coordinator listed above or to the US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights. (Telephone: 800.421.3481 | Email: OCR@ed.gov) 

* Faculty and Staff are required to report incidents to the Title IX Coordinator when involving students. The only TCL employees exempt from mandatory reporting are licensed mental health professionals (only as part of their job description such as counseling services). 

South Carolina Colleges Complaint Process 

In response to the recent Department of Education’s GEN-15-10, all schools that participate in Title IV aid must be properly authorized by a state entity to provide education at a postsecondary level and, where appropriate, the state must have a proper complaint process. The Student Complaint Form for the SC Technical College System can be accessed through the following link: http://www.sctechsystem.edu/students/student-complaint-form.html 
 
All students in South Carolina may file complaints with the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.  Like college accrediting agencies, the SC Commission on Higher Education expects individuals to first attempt to resolve issues through the college’s internal processes.  Complaints that have not yet been addressed internally are often sent back to the individual college where the student is enrolled.