Complaint Process

At Orange Coast College, we understand that a positive and trusting relationship between students and instructors is crucial for effective learning. Our grade grievance process is designed to ensure fairness and due process if a disagreement or misunderstanding about a grade arises. It is important to note that this process is only to determine if there was a violation of the California Education Code. It does not evaluate an instructor’s personality, character, or teaching style.

Under California Education Code § 76224(a) and California Code of Regulations, Title 5 § 55025, the course instructor is responsible for determining student grades. This grade is final unless there is evidence of mistake, fraud, bad faith, or incompetency. The regulations state: "In any course of instruction in a community college district for which grades are awarded, the instructor of the course shall determine the grade to be awarded each student. The determination of the student’s grade by the instructor shall be final in the absence of mistake, fraud, bad faith, or incompetency."

Students who believe there is an issues with their grade, please follow these steps to seek a resolution:

• Step 1: Attempt to resolve the grade concern informally by discussing it directly with the instructor of the course.
• Step 2: If the issue is not resolved after discussing it with your instructor, escalate the concern to the respective academic dean.
• Step 3: If you are still unsatisfied after Steps 1 and 2, you may file a formal grade grievance petition. This petition must be submitted before the end of the sixth week of the subsequent semester, following the semester or summer session in which the grade was assigned.

For further questions about the grade grievance process at Orange Coast College, please contact: 

• Shannon Quihuiz, Dean, Student Relations & Title IX at (714) 432-5930 and squihuiz@occ.cccd.edu

Orange Coast College and its employees strive to serve our students and the community courteously and efficiently while acting in accordance with Coast Community College District policies and adhering to federal and state laws.

Should you feel dissatisfied with an Orange Coast College employee, department, or process, we encourage you to first attempt to resolve the matter informally with the personnel involved at the earliest opportunity. If the matter remains unresolved, you may escalate your complaint to the appropriate supervisor. If you are still not satisfied after this discussion, you are welcome to file a formal service complaint so that the appropriate dean or vice president can address your concern. 

Submit a Service Complaint Form

Note: You must meet with the appropriate supervisor prior to filing a formal service complaint form. If you are uncertain about whom to contact or need assistance identifying the appropriate supervisor, please call the Vice President of Student Services' Office at (714) 432-5765.

Students, employees, and visitors are entitled to an educational, working, and living environment that is free from sex discrimination and all forms of sex-based harassment. We strive to uphold the principles of equity, respect, and dignity for all members of our campus community.

If you experience sex discrimination or sex-based harassment, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, and relationship violence (dating violence and domestic violence), there are steps you can take immediately and over time to heal and respond. You are not alone and what happened is not your fault.

• Immediately get safe: Get to a safe space, both physically and emotionally, to regain control over your body and environment.
• Seek support: Reach out to a trusted person or rape crisis hotline or counselor for emotional support.
• Seek campus support: You decide whom to report to and you may pursue one or more of these options in any order or simultaneously. If you are not ready to act but may want to in the future, consider writing down what you remember about your experience

Any person may file a complaint involving any member of Orange Coast College. The decision of who to report to is entirely yours. The various reporting options available to you, include:

• Seek Medical Attention
• Confidential Report to Counseling
• File a Title IX Complaint
• File a Criminal Report
• File a Civil Complaint

Report an Incident

If you have questions or would like to discuss your concern with an administrator, please contact: 

• Shannon Quihuiz, Dean, Student Relations & Title IX at (714) 432-5930 and squihuiz@occ.cccd.edu 
• (CONFIDENTIAL) Larry Valentine, Director, Mental Health Services at (714) 432-6858 and lvalentine6@occ.cccd.edu

More information about reporting options, District policies, supporting survivors, and bystander intervention can be located on the Tile IX website.

You may submit a complaint to the Veterans Administration (VA) if you believe that OCC is failing to follow the VA Principles of Excellence. Visit the VA website for more information or to submit a complaint.

Most complaints, grievances or disciplinary matters should be resolved at the campus level.  This is the quickest and most successful way of resolving issues involving a California Community College (CCC). You are encouraged to work through the campus complaint process first before escalating issues to any of the following resources. Issues that are not resolved at the campus level may be presented:

• To the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) if your complaint is associated with the institution’s compliance with academic program quality and accrediting standards. ACCJC is the agency that accredits the academic programs of the California Community Colleges.

• To the District Office if you would like to report a concern or other issue, please use this anonymous (Internal Audit) online form.

• To the CCC Chancellor's Office by completing a web form if your complaint does not concern CCC’s compliance with academic program quality and accrediting standards.

• If your complaint involves unlawful discrimination, visit the Chancellor's Office website.

For more information, please visit the California Community College State Chancellor's Office Complaint Form site.