POLICY OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF PEARL RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Adopted: Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Revised: Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Reference: Student Affairs
Policy:
In order to maintain a harmonious relationship between 91福利 (PRCC) and its students, it is the policy of the College to provide a fair, accessible, and clearly defined process for resolving grievances and complaints. Every student shall have the right to present their concern, in accordance with this procedure, without fear of interference, coercion, retaliation, or discrimination.
PRCC is committed to ensuring all students are aware of their rights and responsibilities, including the right to due process, and that the student grievance process is publicly available, understandable, and consistently applied.
Dissemination of Policy
To ensure awareness and transparency, the Student Grievance Policy is:
- Published in the Student Handbook (Cat Country Guide)
- Available through the College Catalog and the PRCC website
- Provided during student orientation and displayed on campus in various locations
- Included in the student portal by clicking the Grievance Policy tab
- Reinforced by Student Services personnel during advising and student housing meetings
Periodic student email announcements and campus-wide postings (physical and digital) also promote access to this policy.
Grievance Procedures
A. Informal Process
- Students are encouraged to first address their concern informally by communicating directly with the individual involved.
- If unresolved, the student may request informal resolution with one of the following designated College Administrators (or their designee), who will also explain the formal grievance process:
- Executive Vice President for Student Services (Poplarville Campus Students)
- Vice President for Forrest County Campus (Forrest County Campus Students)
- Executive Vice President for Instruction/Provost (for off-campus general education and career/technical students)
- Dean of eLearning (online students)
- Vice President for Hancock County Campus (Hancock County Campus Students)
- The Administrator may initiate a meeting with both parties. If the matter remains unresolved, the student may proceed to the formal grievance procedure.
B. Formal Grievance Procedure
To initiate a formal grievance, the student must submit a written complaint via the Student Complaint Form to the designated College Administrator (listed above) within 10 business days of the unresolved issue. The form can be found on the PRCC website and in the student portal under 鈥�Student Complaint Form鈥�.&苍产蝉辫;
The written grievance should be completed on the Student Complaint Form and submitted to the designated College Administrator via email or in person.
Administrative Review & Resolution:
- The Administrator will investigate the complaint and may meet with involved parties.
- A written response will be provided to the student (via the email address provided in the form) within 10 business days from the meeting or receipt of the written complaint.
All formal grievances and resolutions will be聽logged聽and maintained by the聽Executive Vice President for Student Services聽for Poplarville Campus, online, and off-campus program students,聽Vice President for the Forrest County Campus聽for Forrest County Campus students, and the聽Vice President for the Hancock County Campus听蹿辞谤 Hancock County Campus Students. These administrators oversee the complaint log and ensure timely administrative review.
C. Appeals Process
If dissatisfied with the decision, the student may submit a written appeal within 3 business days to the designated Administrator.
The appeal will be reviewed by the PRCC Appeals Court, which includes:
- Two students
- Two faculty/staff members
- Presided over by a Vice President or designee
Appeal Process Timeline:
- If a hearing is deemed necessary, the student will be notified within 5 business days of appeal submission.
- Hearing findings will be communicated within 5 business days after the hearing.
- Final appeals may be submitted to the College President within 10 business days if due process concerns remain.
The President will determine whether policy and procedure were followed. This final step exhausts the College’s grievance process.
Recordkeeping & Oversight
A centralized聽Complaint & Grievance Log聽is maintained by the Office of the Executive Vice President for Student Services for the Poplarville Campus, the Office of the Vice President for the Forrest County Campus for the Forrest County Campus, and the Office of the Vice President for the Hancock County Campus at the Hancock County Campus. It includes:
- Dates of complaints, parties involved, resolution status
- Timeliness and outcomes of administrative action
- Review schedule to ensure consistency, compliance, and systemic issue tracking
The log is reviewed annually by the Office of Student Services to monitor trends, support training, and guide policy improvement.
External Complaint Process
If the student is unsatisfied after completing all internal appeal levels, a formal complaint may be submitted to the:
Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation (MCCA)
Website: