Suggested Procedure in Handling a Complaint

The commission of an offense or violation of school rules and regulations shall be dealt with accordingly. Complainants are assured that appropriate action shall be taken against a faculty/employee who commits an infraction. Full protection however, shall be accorded the faculty/employee’s right to due process. If the complaint is proven to be malicious and without basis, the complainant shall be subject to disciplinary sanctions.

1. Student(s)/Parent against a Faculty/Employee

The following steps shall be followed in handling a complaint of a student/parent against a faculty/employee:

1.1 The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) receives and verifies the written complaint from the complainant.

1.2 The OSA records the dialog with the student(s) or parent and the faculty/employee member and has it signed by the parties concerned.

1.3 The OSA, together with the Department Chair and/or the College Dean/Manager of the concerned faculty/employee, holds a consultation meeting to determine validity and just cause. The Department Chair/Manager and/or the College Dean issues a notice of charges informing the concerned faculty/employee of the complaint and asks for him/her to explain in writing within three (3) days upon the receipt of the notice.

1.4 If the complaint is found valid to merit suspension or dismissal, the Department Chair /Manager and/or the College Dean recommends to the President, the creation of a hearing committee to investigate the complaint.

1.5 The composition of the Committee shall be as follows:

a. An officer from a different department who shall act as the Chair;
b. A tenured non-teaching staff;
c. A tenured full-time faculty member from a different department;
d. An employee/teacher union representative as observer;
e. A representative from the student government as an observer;
f. A consultant (usually a lawyer).

1.6 If the investigation is given due course, the Department Chair/Manager shall assign another faculty member/employee to take over the affected classes/work temporarily or permanently depending on how the case is resolved. If the end of the term is so close that assigning a substitute is impractical, the Department Chair shall administer the final examinations to the class including the evaluation of the student’s final grades.

1.7 If the complaint is proven to be malicious and/or without basis, the student shall be subject to disciplinary sanctions.

2. Faculty Member/Employee Against a Student

The following steps shall be followed in handling a complaint of a faculty/employee against a student:

2.1 The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) receives and verifies the written complaint from the complainant.

2.2 The OSA records the dialog with the complainant and the respondent(s) and has it signed by the parties concerned.

2.3 The OSA, together with the Department Chair/Manager and/or the College Dean of the concerned faculty member, holds a consultation meeting to determine validity and just cause. The OSA Head issues a notice of charges informing the concerned student of the complaint and asking him to explain in writing within three (3) days upon receipt of the notice.

2.4 If the complaint is found to be valid to merit suspension or exclusion, the OSA recommends to the President, through the College Dean/VPAA, the creation of a hearing committee to investigate the complaint.

2.5 The composition of the Committee shall be as follows:

a. An officer who shall act as the Chair;
b. A regular non-teaching staff;
c. A regular faculty member from another department;
d. A union representative as observer.
e. A representative from the student government as an observer.
f. A consultant (usually a lawyer).

2.6 If the complaint is proven to be malicious and/or without basis, the faculty/employee shall be subject to sanctions.

3. Faculty Member/Employee against another Faculty Member/Employee

The following steps shall be followed in handling a complaint of a faculty/employee against another faculty/employee.

3.1 The Department Chair/Manager receives and verifies the written complaint of the complainant.
3.2 The College Dean records the dialog with the complainant and respondent(s) has it signed by the parties concerned.
3.3 The College Dean determines valid and just cause and issues the corresponding notice of charges if the complaint is found valid.
3.4 If the complaint is found valid to merit suspension or dismissal, the College Dean recommends to the President, through the VPAA, the creation of a Hearing Committee to investigate the complaint.
3.5 The composition of the Committee shall be as follows:

a. An officer from a different department who shall act as the Chair;
b. A regular non-teaching staff;
c. A tenured faculty member from a different department;
d. A union officer as observer;
e. A consultant (usually a lawyer).