Platt College prides itself on maintaining a relationship with students based on mutual respect. Every attempt is made to deal with student complaints and grievances in a fair and consistent manner. Policy 02:16:00 Informal Complaint and Grievance Policy provides detailed information about eligibility, definitions, informal complaints and formal grievance procedures as well as the application process using the College Grievance Form.  Informal complaint and formal grievance procedures are used internally at Platt College.  

Informal Complaint Steps:

Students who wish to initiate a review of an informal complaint shall use the following process before initiating the College's grievance procedure:

Step One: The student should determine the type of issue, concern, or complaint he/she wishes to have reviewed.  Types of issues include, but are not limited to: (a) concerns about grades or other learning activities, (b) concerns about behaviors perceived by the student from other students, faculty or staff, and (c) any other concerns directly relating to the academic or operational processes that are under the purview of the College.

Step Two: Attempts to resolve complaints must first begin with an informal process. Informal complaints must be made within 15 business days of the decision, determination or incident that gives rise to the complaint. The student should expect a response using College e-mail (or other College approved preferred contact method) as appropriate within 5 business

Steps in the informal process include:

Discussing the matter with the staff or faculty member in which the issue originated. A complaint should initially be addressed to the faculty member, student peer or member of staff who is most directly concerned with the issue. In order to ensure that the complaint is raised at a mutually convenient time, the student should try to arrange an appointment with this person.

If the issue is not resolved after the discussion, the next contact is the Associate Dean of Nursing.  The Dean will informally investigate the issue and allegations. During the meeting with the Associate Dean of Nursing, students will need to present in writing (either electronically or written) (a) a clear, concise factual account of the incident, (b) any correspondence related to the incident, and (c) any additional material the student deems necessary for resolution of the informal complaint.

If the issue is resolved informally, no more steps are needed.

If the issue being raised in the complaint has been reviewed by the Associate Dean of Nursing and the student believes a satisfactory resolution has still not been reached, the student may elect to progress to the last course of action, initiation of a formal grievance. 

Grievance Steps:

Step Three: In order to file a formal grievance, the grievant must submit a College Grievance Form and the signed copy of the Student Action Report (SAR) from the Associate Dean of Nursing, outlining the attempts to resolve the matter informally through the complaint procedures.

A Grievance Form, in addition to the SAR,  must be filed with the Vice President of Academic Affairs or his/her designee within three weeks from the time of the decision, determination, or incident leading to the Grievance, or from the time when the Grievant should reasonably have been able to determine that the decision, determination, or incident might have affected his/her status whichever is later.

All grievances must be filed in writing and signed by the Grievant, and must include:

• a concise statement of the allegations that form the basis for the student's complaint, including a careful statement of the facts, the rule, regulation, policy or practice that was violated, a summary of the informal attempts at resolution, and a suggested remedy.

No formal grievance will be considered to be filed until the written grievance is actually received by the Vice President of Academic Affairs or his/her designee.

Any administrator, faculty member, staff member or student serving in any review capacity at any stage in a grievance process will consider all available relevant facts relating to the grievance.

Step Four: A date for the Grievant to meet with the Grievance Committee and present his or her Grievance will be set within one week of the date the Grievance is filed.  The decision of the Grievance Committee is final.

If a committee is needed for resolution of a grievance, the Grievance Committee will be composed of two (2) students, two (2) Platt College employees (staff member(s)/discipline related faculty member(s), and one (1) discipline related Platt College Administrator as determined by Platt College who are not directly involved in the incident or disciplinary action.  In the event that a tie-breaking vote is needed the College Administrator who is not directly involved in the incident or disciplinary action serves as the tie breaking vote.

If the Grievant chooses to be represented by an attorney, the Grievant or the Grievant's attorney must so notify the appropriate Platt College Administrator at least 24 hours prior to the date of any meeting where the Grievant's attorney will be present.  If a Grievant chooses to involve legal counsel, the Grievant will be responsible for all of his/her own incurred legal fees.  

All references in these procedures to time periods are to business days. 

In the unfortunate event that a student or graduate of Platt College feels that his/her complaint or grievance has not been satisfactorily resolved, the individual has the option of submitting a written complaint to the following agencies:

Contact Information:

The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)

2101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 302

Arlington, VA 22201

703-247-4212

www.accsc.org

Schools accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) must have a procedure and operational plan for handling student complaints.  If a student does not feel that the school has adequately addressed a complaint or concern, the student may consider contacting the Accrediting Commission.  All complaints considered by the Commission must be in written form, with permission from the complainant(s) for the Commission to forward a copy of the complaint to the school for a response.  The complainant(s) will be kept informed as to the status of the complaint as well as the final resolution by the Commission.

Contact information:

Colorado Department of Higher Education

1560 Broadway, Suite 1600

Denver, CO 80202

(303)-866-2723

There is a two year limitation on the department taking action on student complaints. 

Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)

3343 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 850

Atlanta, GA 30326

404-975-5000

www.acenursing.org

Colorado State Board of Nursing

1560 Broadway, Suite 1350

Denver, CO 80202

303-862-3001

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