In the event that the Vice President for Students or President’s Designee schedules a hearing, the President shall designate a qualified, three-person committee to conduct the grievance hearing. The hearing committee members will generally be employees of WSCC. However, the President shall have the discretion to select persons other than WSCC employees to serve as committee members. The committee shall notify the Grievant and each Respondent of the time, place, and subject matter of the hearing at least seventy-two hours prior to the scheduled beginning of the hearing. The hearing shall be conducted in a fair and impartial manner and shall not be open to the public unless both parties agree in writing for the hearing to be public.
At the hearing, the Grievant and the Respondent(s) shall be read the grievance statement. After the grievance is read into the record, the Grievant shall have the opportunity to present such oral testimony and offer such other supporting evidence as he/she shall deem appropriate to his/her claim. Each Respondent shall then be given the opportunity to present such oral testimony and offer such other evidence as he/she deems appropriate to the Respondent’s defense against the charges. In the event that the College, or the administration of the College at large, is the party against whom the grievance is filed, the President shall designate a representative to appear at the hearing on behalf of the College.
Any party to a grievance hearing shall have the right to retain, at the respective party’s own cost, the assistance of legal counsel or other personal representative. However, the respective attorney or personal representative, if any, shall act in an advisory role only, and shall not be allowed to address the hearing body or question any witness. In the event that the College or its administration at large is the Respondent, the College representative shall not be an attorney or use an attorney unless the Grievant is also assisted by an attorney or other personal representative. The hearing shall be recorded by either a court reporter or on audio or videotape or by other electronic recording medium. In addition, all items offered into evidence by the parties, whether admitted into evidence or not, shall be marked and preserved as part of the hearing record.