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ACADEMIC FREEDOM POLICY
Board Policy 4030 ACADEMIC FREEDOM
The Board of Trustees of Glendale Community College affirms that institutions
of higher education are conducted for the common good and not to further the
interest of either the individual faculty member or the institution as a whole.
The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its exposition.
Academic freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to all disciplines.
Freedom in research is fundamental to the advancement of truth. Academic
freedom in all disciplines is fundamental for the protection of the rights of
the faculty and the student. It carries with it duties correlative with rights,
regardless of employment status.
The academic community “is a questioner, a worrier, a critic, and idealist, seeking the Guild contract, and where applicable under the Grievance Procedure as
a better way toward human aspiration and fulfillment.” Academic freedom is
essential for the maintenance of excellence in education, and moreover, exists
so that society may have benefits of objective and independent criticism, and
honest answers to scientific, social and artistic questions that might otherwise
be withheld for fear of offending an influential social group or transient social
attitude. Accordingly, there shall be no adverse consequences to employment
status (hiring, promotion, and retention) as a result of expressions protected by
academic freedom.
Academic Freedom
Faculty members are entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication
of the results, subject to the adequate performance of their other academic
duties; but research for pecuniary return should be based upon an understanding
with the authorities of the institution.
Faculty are entitled to freedom in discussing their subject, but they should be
careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter which has no
STUDENT GRIEVANCE POLICY
Student Grievance Procedures
Glendale Community College is committed to providing a prompt and
equitable means of resolving student complaints against actions taken by the
college and its employees. Students may elect to pursue a grievance if they
believe a college decision or action has adversely affected their status, rights,
or privileges as students.
What can a student grieve?
Students may file grievances against actions by GCC employees in areas
including, but not limited to the following: the exercise of rights of free
expression; violation of published GCC rules, Board policies, and administrative
regulations; and final grade assignments and other academic decisions.
Non-Grade Complaints
A student may address a complaint about an action taken by a college
employee that does not involve course grades through the grievance process.
Informal meetings and discussions between persons directly involved in a non-
grade grievance are essential and encouraged at all stages of the dispute. If the
grievance cannot be resolved directly with the involved employee, the student
may request a meeting with the appropriate administrator/manager or division
chairperson who shall attempt to resolve the issue informally.
If no informal resolution is reached with the administrator/manager or division
chairperson that is satisfactory to the student, the student may submit a written
complaint and request for a conference with the appropriate senior GCC
administrator as follows:
• Instructional Services employees: Vice President,
Instructional Services or designee
• Student Services employees: Vice President, Student Services or designee
• Administrative Services employees: Vice President,
Administrative Services or designee
• College administrators: Superintendent/President or designee
The senior administrator shall attempt to settle the grievance through
mediation, negotiated agreement, or another mutually acceptable resolution.
Final outcomes or resolutions will be communicated to the involved parties
after the conclusion of the grievance process.
Grade Appeals
The grade appeals procedure provides a means of resolving a student’s dispute
of an academic decision or final grade for a course. Students are entitled to
an informal review and explanation of their grades by instructors who are
obligated to provide such a review. However, students may only appeal a
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relation to their subject. College faculty are members of a learned profession,
and officers of an educational institution. When they communicate as
individuals, they should be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but
their special position in the community imposes special obligations. As scholars
and educational officers, they should remember that the public may judge their
profession and their institution by their utterances. Hence they should at all
times be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect
for the Glendale Community College District, opinions of others, and should
make every effort to indicate that they are not speaking for the institution.
Faculty are entitled to due process, where applicable under the provision of
conducted under the provisions of Board Policy 4050.
Academic Responsibility
Membership in the academic community imposes on students, faculty
members, and administrators an obligation to respect the dignity of others, to
acknowledge their right to express differing opinions, and to foster and defend
intellectual honesty, in instruction and counseling, and expression on and off
campus. In addition, faculty are responsible for but not limited to policies
and procedures defined in board policy, administrative regulations, and the
employment contract between the district and the Guild.
Students are entitled to an atmosphere conducive to learning and to even-
handed treatment in all aspects of the faculty-students relationship.
Board Policy 4030 ACADEMIC FREEDOM can be found online at
www.glendale.edu.
grade if they are prepared to carry the burden of proving one or more of the
following conditions as specified by law:
• A mistake in the assignment of the grade or in the process of its recording
• Fraud
• Bad faith
• Incompetence
A student must file a grade appeal with the instructor within the next regular
semester (as specified in the applicable class schedule) following the award of
the original grade. The student is expected to make a reasonable effort to
resolve the matter on an informal basis with the instructor. If the grade appeal
cannot be settled informally then the student may request a meeting with the
appropriate division chairperson who will attempt to resolve the grievance.
If the division chairperson cannot resolve the grade appeal then the student
may request a conference with the appropriate dean. The dean will attempt
to resolve the grade appeal through compromise, negotiated settlement, or a
recommendation that is satisfactory to the student and instructor. If the dean
is unable to resolve the complaint and the student wishes to continue the grade
appeal process, the student may submit a written request for a formal grade
appeal hearing to the Campus Judicial Board.
The Campus Judicial Board will conduct a closed hearing and based on the
examination of supporting documents and testimony may take the following
actions: 1) accept the formal grade appeal and recommend an administrative
grade change; 2) reject the formal grade appeal; and 3) make related
recommendations as appropriate. The Campus Judicial Board will issue a
written decision that determines if the student established a rationale for a
grade change according to applicable laws and includes recommendations for
the relief, if any, that should be afforded to the student. These findings are
then submitted to the Superintendent/President for a final review.
After reviewing the report of findings and recommended actions from the
Campus Judicial Board, the Superintendent/President will issue a written
decision to the involved parties. The Superintendent/President’s decision shall
be final and binding in all formal grade appeal hearings.
Where can a student get a copy of the GCC student grievance procedures?
Copies of Board Policy 5530 regarding student grievance and procedures can be
obtained from a division chairperson, the Dean of Student Affairs, the Dean of
Instructional Services, the Dean of Student Services, and the Dean of Admissions
and Records. Additionally, students may access these regulations on the GCC
web site at www.glendale.edu.
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