Student Dispute Information
Sections
Purpose of the Ombudsman
An Ombudsman provides a safe and comfortable environment for students to discuss complaints, concerns or problems privately. Please visit the Ombudsman page for more information.
Non Final Grade and Other Academic Disputes
Valencia College offers students the opportunity to express concerns privately with an Ombudsman.
The Valencia College Ombudsman does not replace or substitute formal grievance, investigative, or appeal processes made available by the college. For details regarding the policy and procedures, please refer to the college catalog or the general counsel website.
Complaint Resolution
Students with a complaint must first go through the College procedure for the resolution of student grievances. Accordingly, if a student bringing a complaint about Valencia is not satisfied with the outcome of the College process for handling complaints (except for complaints about grades or student conduct violations, which are governed entirely by Valencia’s policies and procedures and the laws of Florida), they may contact the State Contacts.
State Contacts
Department of Education
Florida College System
325 West Gaines Street, St. 1244
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
(850) 245-9449
Distance education students not satisfied with the outcome of the contact with the Florida College System may appeal, within two years of the incident about which the complaint is made, to the Florida Postsecondary Reciprocal Distance Education Coordinating Council, FLSARAinfo@fldoe.org.
Student Administrative Complaint Resolution
Valencia front line learning leaders are a resource for students seeking assistance in resolving issues with non-academic matters. The chart below lists the appropriate staff leaders who can assist with designated issues. Students may follow the progression of staff assistance in an administrative area, starting with the first response level, to bring resolution to the issue.
The College will make every effort to resolve conflicts by informal means. Students should expect to be treated with respect and dignity, receive a timely response, and have the issues handled in a private as possible manner. The College expects the student to bring up any problems early, give clear and detailed information, follow applicable procedures and be respectful of the people who are involved. Formal procedures for appealing administrative and academic decisions can be found in the College Catalog (available online). An individual who believes he or she has been discriminated against should refer to College Policy [6+Hx28:2-03], Investigating and Resolving Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Harassment Complaints.
Administrative Complaint Procedure
The checklist was developed as a tool to aid students in the completion of the Administrative Complaint Resolution process. Before you file an administrative complaint, please make sure that you complete the following steps:
- Submit an Administrative Complaint form within 60 days of administrative complaint.
- Attach additional documentation as needed to the Administrative Complain form.
- State the resolution you are looking for, be very specific.
- Make a copy of your Administrative Complaint form for your records.
Administrative Complaint Contacts College Wide
Click name for contact information.
Civil Rights Discrimination
Title IX Coordinator and Deputy Coordinators
- Title IX Coordinator
- Ryan Kane
- AVP Human Resources
- 407-582-3421
College-wide
- Deputy Coordinator
- Trisha Charles
- Director, Equal Opportunity
- 407-582-3867
- Deputy Coordinator
- Coretta Cotton
- Assistant Director, Equal Opportunity
- 407-582-3069
For more information, please contact any of the individuals listed above or visit the Equal Opportunity and Title IX website.
Staff & Faculty Resources
- Faculty Development
(classroom management) - Academic Deans
- Deans of Students
Student Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have received an e-mail from the Dean of Holistic Student Support or designee, this means the College has received alleged information whereby a potential violation of the Student Code of Conduct occurred. The office Student Rights and Responsibilities oversees the student conduct review process.
The Dean of Holistic Student Support, or designee, will place a hold on your record should you miss your initial appointment. The hold will remain on your record and will prevent you from registering for future semesters. Skipping a preliminary meeting means that your side of the story will be unheard. It is in your best interest to attend all meetings that have been scheduled.
The preliminary meeting is typically a 60-minute meeting where students are provided the opportunity to share their side of the story and to further learn about the student conduct review process.
What if I disagree with the decision?A case resolved through the informal resolution process does not have the opportunity to appeal the decision. However, a case resolved through the formal hearing process AND resulted in suspension, dismissal, or expulsion, may appeal to the Vice President for Student Affairs. See the Appeals section in the Student Code of Conduct.
Following the preliminary meeting, the Dean of Holistic Student Support, or designee, will administer appropriate resolution options based on the information gathered. Types of resolutions for alleged violations can be found in the Student Code of Conduct under the Procedures Section III(C).
A finding of in violation of the Student Code of Conduct will receive an administrative sanction along with an educational sanctions. The student conduct review process is meant to be an educational process, rather than punitive. As such, a list of sanctions can be found in the Student Code of Conduct under the Policy Section IV.
Any student determined by the professor to have been responsible for engaging in an act of academic dishonesty shall be subject to a range of academic penalties (apart from any sanctions that may be imposed pursuant to the Code) as determined by the professor which may include, but not be limited to, one or more of the following: loss of credit for an assignment, examination, or project; a reduction in the course grade; or a grade of "F" in the course. Students may be subject to both the student conduct review process and academic penalties.
Purpose of the Student Final Grade Dispute Process
The Student Final Grade Resolution Committee shall act only upon a complaint that a final course grade was assigned in an arbitrary or capricious manner, in violation of college policy, in substantial and material noncompliance with the course syllabus or other formal course related materials, or was not calculated in accordance with the grading system as defined by the faculty member.
Role of the Student Final Grade Dispute Process
The request for review shall be presented to the Student Final Grade Resolution Committee by the student through the submission of the completed forms to the Campus President's office. These forms must be submitted electronically to the appropriate Campus President within sixty (60) days after the final course grades are distributed to students from the Office of Admissions and Records via Atlas. Upon receipt of the electronic petition form, the Campus President will notify the committee chair, who shall send copies of the form to the faculty member and the academic dean or other immediate supervisor of the faculty member.
Sexual Harassment / Sexual Assault (Title IX)
For more information on how to report Sexual Harassment/Sexual Assault (Title IX), please visit the Equal Opportunity and Title IX website.
Campus Security
- East Campus 407-582-2000
- Downtown Campus (UCF PD) 407-823-5555
- Lake Nona Campus 407-582-7000
- Osceola Campus 407-582-4000
- Poinciana Campus 407-582-6500
- School of Public Safety 407-582-8000
- Winter Park Campus 407-582-6000
- West Campus 407-582-1000
Title IX Coordinator and Deputy Coordinators
- Title IX Coordinator
- Ryan Kane
- AVP Human Resources
- 407-582-3421
College-wide
- Deputy Coordinator
- Trisha Charles
- Director, Equal Opportunity
- 407-582-3867
- Deputy Coordinator
- Coretta Cotton
- Assistant Director, Equal Opportunity
- 407-582-3069
For more information, please contact any of the individuals listed above or visit the Equal Opportunity and Title IX website.
BayCare Student Assistance Program
BayCare is a free service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to Valencia College students. For support, advice, or someone to listen, please contact the BayCare program.
1-800-878-5470
Victim Service Center of Central Florida
Victim Service Center provides individualized services and resources to victims of sexual assault, violent crime and traumatic circumstances, through crisis response, advocacy, therapy and community awareness.
407-254-9415
www.victimservicecenter.org/
Harbor House of Central Florida
Harbor House works to prevent and eliminate domestic abuse in Central Florida by providing critical life-saving services to survivors, implementing and advancing best practices, and educating and engaging the community in a united front.
407-886-2856
www.harborhousefl.com
Help Now of Osceola
Help Now, Inc. provides temporary safe shelter for survivors of domestic abuse facing
imminent danger. Help Now is committed to supporting individuals as they establish
violence free living. Our shelter exists in an undisclosed location, and all visitors,
residents, and staff must sign and uphold a confidentiality statement preventing them
from disclosing the location of the shelter. Help Now will neither confirm nor deny
whether any person is residing at our shelter.
Help Now Domestic Abuse Advocates provide quality domestic abuse advocacy to shelter
clients and their children, as well as to individuals whom call the Domestic Abuse
Crisis Line. The goal of the advocate is to empower survivors to become comfortable
with making decisions that are right for them.
407-874-8562
www.helpnowshelter.org