here to help you Understand your student rights & responsibilities

student
Advocacy & awareness

As Assiniboine students, you are governed under the policies of the college. Should you have any concerns whether academic or disciplinary, the ACCSA Advocacy Service is here to help.

Please fill out the form below and our Student Development Coordinator will get in touch with you as soon as they can.

What our advocates do

We provide confidential, unbiased advocacy services to current, former and/or prospective students.

We strive

to ensure procedural fairness for all ACC students and educate students and the larger college community in regards to accurate policy and procedure implementation, effective communication, and informal dispute resolution.

We provide

information and guidance on students’ rights and responsibilities, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Our role

is to review all situations in an impartial manner, and to to help students become their own advocates by providing them with information they need and strategies for constructive ways to resolve issues.

Our goal

is to empower students to resolve their own issues with support and to encourage students to be proactive about their learning here at Assiniboine Community College.
There are no foolish questions and all communication is confidential.

Confidentiality Agreement

Please fill out this form prior to meeting with an advocate.

An Assiniboine email is required to submit this form.

If you don’t have access to your college email please contact us directly at accsa.advocate@assiniboine.net.

ADVOCACY POLICIES

Information from the ACCSA on how our Advocacy Services Function.

All ACC Academic and General Student Policies, including A01, which is used for Academic Appeals at the college.

More about Student Advocacy & Appeals

Jump to information on these popular appeal topics:
Student Academic or Disciplinary Appeals

Please note there are two different grounds for appealing, which results in different procedures:

  1. Mandatory eight-month suspension based on weighted grade point average (WGPA)
  2. All other academic and disciplinary appeals

See Academic and Disciplinary Appeal (A01) Policy for details on each process.

Before initiating the appeal process, students are strongly encouraged to discuss the situation with the instructor and/or chairperson. However, students are welcome to contact the ACCSA Advocate for advice on how to go about discussing the issue with their instructor and/or chairperson.

Students are encouraged to seek the services of the ACCSA Student Advocate before initiating an appeal for advice on:

  • the college’s appeal policies and procedures
  • best steps for students to arrive at informed decisions regarding their appeal by exploring with them the full dimensions of the problem
  • preparation for their appeal submissions
  • and if a student wishes, the Student Advocate may assist or represent a student during the pre-appeal and the formal appeal processes

Appeals are time sensitive and so the following times need to be noted:

  • Students are urged to submit appeal applications as soon as possible after receiving grades or decisions with which they do not agree.
  • If the grade or other decision being appealed impacts on continuation in a program, the Notice of Appeal must be submitted no later than three college working days after the start of the next course(s), or three college working days after notification from the college. If the appeal is not resolved at this stage, the student has two college working days to notify the Appeals Administrator that he/she wishes to proceed to the formal appeal.
  • If the grade or other decision being appealed does not affect your continuation in a program, the Notice of Appeal must be submitted to the Accounts Office no later than close of business 21 calendar days after receiving notification of the grade or decision. Generally, date of notification will be interpreted as the date of posting of marks.
  • Applications to appeal disciplinary decisions must be submitted to the Accounts Office no later than close of business on the fifth day after receiving notification of the decision or ruling.
  • The Appeals Committee Chair should provide both parties with notice as soon as possible prior to the hearing about the time and location of the hearing, and copies of all relevant material to be presented by either party at the hearing.
  • Both parties must notify the Appeals Committee Chair at least one college working day in advance of the hearing about who their witnesses will be, and the Appeals Committee Chair will be responsible for keeping both parties informed.

The appeal may be resolved at any stage of the appeal process with the mutual agreement of all parties.

Student Complaints

Student complaints may be made under the Student Concerns and Complaints Policy (A04).

Students are encouraged to attempt an informal resolution of a complaint before proceeding with the formal complaint procedure. Failure to pursue an informal route by the student does NOT prevent the student from proceeding with a formal complaint.

Complaints that can be made under this policy may be made orally or written.

Complaints may be made based on any of the following:

  • Some discontent or dissatisfaction with the college or its operation
  • Some discontent or dissatisfaction with its employees

A complaint may be made by students:

  • Currently registered at Assiniboine Community College
  • By former students who were registered at the time of the incident giving rise to the complaint.

A complaint must be made within 30 days of the incident(s) giving rise to the complaint. Exceptions may be given to this deadline if the college finds the circumstances for a delay reasonable.

A group of students may file a complaint together. They would however need to delegate one or more of its members to voice the complaint on its behalf.

No one shall initiate a complaint on behalf of another person or persons without the permission of the person(s).

If the complaint concerns a member of staff, the student is encouraged to discuss the matter with the member of staff whose action gave rise to the complaint. Failing resolution, the students should discuss the concern with the immediate supervisor of the member of staff whose action gave rise to the complaint.

Students should expect a response within 14 calendar days of their complaint being heard or within a longer period of time mutually agreed to by the administrator and the student. A student who has not received a response within 14 calendar days may initiate a formal complaint.

Respectful College Complaints

The Respectful College Policy (M10) serves to ensure that students are free from discrimination, harassment and personal harassment (bullying) while at the college. It is advised that students review the policy for details.

This Policy is not intended to discourage or prevent anyone from exercising any other legal rights they may have under the law, including the right to file a complaint with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission or Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health.

Respectful College complaints are heard by the Respectful College Coordinator. This person is unbiased and is not an advocate for either the complainant or the respondent.

The Respectful College Coordinator will review possible violations of the Policy; and work with all parties to try to resolve issues informally or through a formal investigation.

Students filing a complaint based on the Respectful College Policy may speak with an ACCSA Advocate for advice. ACCSA Advocates may also attend meetings/hearings with students as their support.

Professional Suitability Appeals (Nursing Practicum Appeal)

Professional Suitability Policy is used for nursing students appealing practicum grades.

This policy looks at the Professional Suitability of the student as a nursing professional; whether or not you are safe and/or professional in the nursing environment. More detailed information about what constitutes as unsuitable behaviour can be found at Professional Suitability Policy (SON-03).

The Professional Suitability Committee that oversees the proceedings is made up of ACC staff, students and a member of the CLPNM

If students were offered the option to re-enter the program but would prefer to appeal the decision instead, doing so does not prevent the student from continuing with the re-entry if their appeal was unsuccessful.

If a student is unsuccessful in the Professional Suitability appeal they then have the option of filing an Academic appeal through the Academic and Disciplinary Appeals policy. Please note that the Academic Appeal would only look at whether the Professional Suitability decision as unfair, unreasonable or arbitrary and does not aim to reverse the failing grade itself.

GET HELP WITH YOUR APPEAL

Don’t wait, CONTACT US NOW!

Contact the ACCSA’s Program Coordinator, Alyshia Holden, at kelberta@assiniboine.net.