student handbook - Baton Rouge Community College

Any students inquiring about a com plaint or concern can seekthe advice of a BRCC faculty/staff member, and the faculty/staffmember can ac company the student to discussions with thedesignated officer, advi sor, or counselor. A formal charge is notmade by merely discussing the complaint, and no repercussions/reprimandsare issued for initiating a complaint. However,the college is also obliged to protect the rights of a person(s)against whom a complaint is lodged. Efforts are made toresolve issues in a reasonable amount of time.4. Formal ProceduresAnyone who believes that he/she is the object of sexual harass mentcan initially seek resolution by consulting an officer, an advisor,or a counselor. The following is the formal procedure whichmay result in the accused being disciplined.• Formal charges should be brought within a reasonableamount of time, usually 30 working days after the allegedoccurrence. Written charges are made by sworn affidavitand signed by the complainant. The accused has the rightto review the complaint.• Preliminary investigation of the allegations is completed bythe Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.• The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs meets with thecomplainant, the person named in the complaint, andothers who may be in volved or who can offer informationregarding the incident.• The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs can request affida vitsfrom the person named in the complaint and other parties/witnesses.• The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs compiles a report of thefindings, with any and all recommendations for resolutionof the grievance.• The college protects the privacy of the individuals who areinvolved or named in the complaint as much as possible.• Internal procedures do not forego subsequent legal actions.The proceedings conducted by BRCC differ from thoseused in a court of law, and the presence of legal counselis not permitted during course of the BRCC hearings. Thestrict rules which govern the presentation of legal evidence63