Dispute Resolution Procedure

Students enrolled at Iḷisaġvik College may use this procedure to challenge an academic decision or action of a faculty member, administrator or fellow student, including without limitation any claims of discrimination, harassment or gender based and sexual misconduct under Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.

Students are permitted to have an advocate of their choosing (such as Student Services staff, an advisor or student government representative) present in meetings throughout the dispute resolution process.

Advocates are not permitted to present the student’s case, but may advise the student. Both the College and the student may seek legal advice at their own expense; however, the student shall not be represented by a lawyer during any meeting or hearing involving the College and the student under this section. General guidelines are as follows:

1. Where possible, the student is first encouraged to discuss the matter with the faculty member, administrator or fellow student in an effort to resolve the matter informally.
2. If the student’s concerns remain unresolved, the student may file a formal grievance by submitting a written grievance to the Dean of Academic Affairs. The written grievance must be submitted within seven (7) business days of the student’s unresolved matter.
3. The Dean may, but is not required to, meet with the student, conduct an independent investigation, or convene a formal meeting with the student and the affected party or parties. The Dean shall notify the student of the decision in writing within seven (7) business days after receipt of the written grievance or after the meeting, as applicable.
4. If the student is not satisfied with the Dean of Academics’ decision, the student may request a meeting with the President. The President will notify the student of the meeting date and time. The President’s decision will be provided in writing to the student.
5. If the student is not satisfied with the President’s decision, the student may submit a request to present the grievance to the Iḷisaġvik College Board of Trustees.
6. In addition to the process outlined above, the student has recourse to the following external agencies, as may be applicable: the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights and the Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope.
7. Confidentiality of all parties involved is respected to the extent of law; retaliation against anyone reporting discrimination or harassment is prohibited.