2026-2027 Lenoir Community College Catalog

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Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Appeals

Standards of Conduct

The purpose of the Student Standards of Conduct is not to restrict freedom, but to protect the rights of all students in their academic pursuits. Students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with generally accepted standards, while appropriately incorporating the College’s core values.

Students are expected to conduct themselves accordingly and to be legally accountable for conduct that is prohibited. Students, employees, and guests are protected by Title IX laws and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).


Filing a Non-Academic Complaint

Any college employee or student may file a written complaint with the Dean of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator against any student for alleged non-academic violations of the Student Code of Conduct. The individual(s) making the charge must complete and submit the written complaint within five (5) working days of the incident given rise to the alleged violation.

The Dean of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator will determine whether the violation constitutes a Title IX investigation. For cases of sexual misconduct, please refer to the LCC Sexual Misconduct Policy. For all other violations, the Dean of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator will request an initial meeting with the student in order to determine whether disciplinary sanctions should be initiated. During the meeting, the Dean of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator will advise the student of the allegation(s), explain the student conduct process, and clarify the student’s rights and responsibilities. Every effort will be made to resolve the matter by mutual agreement. Following the preliminary meeting, the Dean of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator will take one of the following actions:

  1. If there is no basis for the allegation or if it does not warrant disciplinary action, the Dean of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator will dismiss the allegation.

  2. If there is a basis for the allegation, the Dean of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator will impose disciplinary action.

  3. If the student fails to appear, the Dean of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator may find the student responsible and impose disciplinary action. 

The student will be notified of the results of the investigation via their official college email address or mailing address of record within five (5) working days. The student will be granted ten (10) working days to respond to the investigation.

 

Due Process

The College affords all persons involved in appeals due process. This includes the right to receive written notice of the alleged violation(s), the right to present evidence, and the right to be represented by counsel at their own expense. 

 

Student Grievance Procedure

Lenoir Community College (LCC) has established the following process for resolving student disputes with other students, employees, or visitors, regardless of status (full-time, part-time, temporary, contractual, and work-study students) or role (administrators, faculty, and staff).

The student grievance procedure applies to all student issues, except for the following:

  • Grade appeals are addressed through the Grade Appeal Process

  • Grievances involving Title IX (sexual misconduct) are addressed in the LCC Sexual Misconduct Policy 

  • Grievances involving anti-harassment, or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should be reported to the Student Support and Accessibility Advisor.

  • Academic appeals are addressed through the Discipline and Appeal for Academic Violations Procedure

  • Conduct appeals are addressed through Discipline and Appeal for Non-Academic Violations Procedure

The student grievance procedure may be used by individuals who were LCC students at the time the incident occurred. The individual filing the grievance must be the subject of the alleged unfair treatment that is related to their status as a student. A grievance cannot be filed on behalf of another individual. At any point during the informal or formal grievance process, a student or the person alleged to have caused the grievance may request Supportive Measures which are non-disciplinary, non-punitive, individualized services offered as appropriate, as reasonably available, and without fee or charge. Such measures are designed to restore or preserve equal access to the College’s Education Program or Activity without unreasonably burdening the other party, including measures designed to protect the safety of all parties or the College’s educational environment. Supportive Measures may include, but are not limited to, counseling, extensions of deadlines or other course-related adjustments, modifications of work or class schedules, campus escort services, and mutual restrictions on contact between the parties. To request Supportive Measures, the individual should contact the Dean of Student Services.

Informal Procedure

Prior to filing a formal grievance, students are strongly encouraged to discuss their grievances with the person alleged to have caused the grievance. The purpose of this informal discussion is to provide the student, faculty member, or other person with authority the opportunity to address and resolve the grievance at the lowest possible level. This meeting should occur within ten (10) working days of the incident.

Should an informal discussion fail to produce a satisfactory settlement of the grievance, or the student does not wish to have direct contact with the person alleged to have caused the grievance, the student should contact their Academic Dean or the Dean of Student Services who will attempt to mediate a resolution. This should occur within ten (10) days of the incident or previous informal discussion. If these informal discussions do not satisfactorily resolve the grievance, the student may initiate a formal complaint.

Formal Procedure

The student submits a formal Student Grievance in writing to the Dean of Student Services within ten (10) working days of the informal meeting. Grievances may be filed in person or by email. This statement should include details of the incident, the dates of any meetings and prior discussions held to resolve the grievance and any supporting documentation.

Within ten (10) working days of receipt of the formal grievance, the Dean of Student Services logs the formal grievance and determines whether the student has met the criteria outlined in this procedure. If the criteria have been met, the Dean of Student Services begins an investigation and notifies all parties involved. If the criteria have not been met, the grievance is denied and an explanation of the rationale for the denial is communicated in writing to the student. If the issue raised by the student is not a grievance concern, the Dean of Student Services may refer the student to other procedures.

The Dean of Student Services will determine an appropriate resolution within ten (10) working days of the initiation of the investigation and will communicate the decision to the student, employee, appropriate supervisor, and appropriate vice president. If the investigation requires more than ten (10) working days, all parties will be notified of the delay. The decision of the Dean of Student Services is final, except in the circumstances outlined in the appeals procedure.