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The hearing shall be recorded by the Director of Student Affairs either by tape recording or
stenographic recording, and shall be the only recording made. No witness who refuses to be
recorded may be permitted to give testimony. In the event the recording is by tape recording,
the Hearing Panel Chair shall, at the beginning of the hearing, ask each person present to
identify themselves by name, and thereafter shall ask witnesses to identify themselves by
name. The tape recording shall remain in the custody of the District, either at the college or the
District office, at all times, unless released to a professional transcribing service. Any party may
request a copy of the tape recording.
All testimony shall be taken under oath; the oath shall be administered by the Hearing Panel
Chair. Written statements of witnesses under penalty of perjury shall not be used unless the
witness is unavailable to testify. A witness who refuses to be tape recorded shall be considered
to be unavailable.
STEP 4 – GRIEVANCE DECISION
Within 10 (ten) days following the close of the hearing, the Hearing Panel shall prepare and
send to the Superintendent/President a written decision. The decision shall include specific
factual findings regarding the grievance, and shall include specific conclusions regarding
whether a grievance has been established as defined above. The decision shall also include a
specific recommendation regarding the relief to be afforded the grievant, if any. The decision
shall be based only on the record of the hearing, and not on matter outside of that record. The
record consists of the original grievance, any written response, and the oral and written
evidence produced at the hearing.
Superintendent/President's Decision: Within ten (10) days following receipt of the Hearing
Panel's decision and recommendation(s), the Superintendent/President shall send to all parties
his/her written decision, together with the Hearing Committee's decision and
recommendations. The Superintendent/President may accept or reject the findings, decisions
and recommendations of the Hearing Committee. The factual findings of the Hearing
Committee shall be accorded great weight; and if the Superintendent/President does not
accept the decision or a finding or recommendation of the Hearing Committee, the
Superintendent/President shall review the record of the hearing, and shall prepare a new
written decision which contains specific factual findings and conclusions. The decision of the
Superintendent/President shall be final, subject only to appeal as provided below.
Appeal: Any appeal relating to a Hearing Panel decision that the Statement of Grievance does
not present a grievance as defined in these procedures shall be made in writing to the
Superintendent/President within ten (10) days of that decision. The Superintendent/President
shall review the Statement of Grievance and Request for Grievance Hearing in accordance with
the requirements for a grievance provided in these procedures, but shall not consider any other
matters. The Superintendent/President's decision whether or not to grant a grievance hearing
shall be final and not subject to further appeal.
Approved by Superintendent/President: March 10, 2015; Rev: May 29, 2019