Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities
The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR) handles issues that the Student Conduct Officer and Student Complaint Officer address. OSRR is part of the Student Support Center, located at T.2300.
Student Complaint Officer
The Student Complaint Officer manages the Minneapolis College Student Complaint Process. Students may file student Concerns, Complaints and Grievances (listed below under Student Complaint Definitions) involving the Minneapolis College community. Students are encouraged to attempt to resolve their issue with the relevant individual prior to filing a Complaint or Grievance; however, we realize this may not always be possible or proper.
The Student Complaint Officer conducts an Initial Interview regarding all Complaints and Grievances received. Conducting the inquiry may include interviewing Complainants (complaining parties) and/or or other persons with knowledge of the situation. It is important that students provide background documents and information, such as a syllabus if the Complaint/Grievance is about a course.
No investigation will be conducted for student Concerns.
However, the Student Complaint Officer will respond to all submitted student Concerns and advise the relevant department of the Concern.
Please note: It is violation of college policy to retaliate (listed below under Student Complaint Definitions) against a student for filing a concern, complaint or grievance.
Student Conduct Officer
The Student Conduct Officers at Minneapolis College serve as the principal college conduct officers and meet with students regarding violation of college policies. The Student Conduct Officers also serve as a resource to College departments in matters concerning due process issues related to student conduct/discipline; responding to concerns of faculty, staff, students and/or parents regarding the Student Code of Conduct, College Policy 4.04.
The Student Conduct Officer also:
- Oversees the College conduct system based on the Student Code of Conduct, including both behavioral and academic dishonesty;
- Maintains disciplinary record-keeping process in compliance with College policy on student records;
- Investigates student behavior and interprets College policy in relation to student behavior;
- Ensures College policies and procedures reflect state and federal policies regarding conduct issues; and
- Develops and implements training programs to educate the College community about the Student Code of Conduct, conduct process, conflict resolution skills and other matters related to OSRR work
Mediation
The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities offers a mediation program, R.O.O.T. Resolving Our Own Troubles. Initially, some individuals participating in the Student Complaint Process will be offered this option. This program is available on a voluntary basis for students prior to filing certain complaints or grievances or after certain complaints or grievances have been filed. Any student/student or student/employee group may request mediation if it involves in issues within the Minneapolis College community.
Generally, mediation is an opportunity for the people involved to attempt to resolve their issue(s) with the help of a neutral 3rd party. Minneapolis College’s program uses the Transformative Mediation approach. This approach helps parties figure out what people are doing and why they are doing it. It also creates the “greatest likelihood that both parties will be genuinely happy with the outcome and the process.” It does this by placing as much control as possible into the parties’ hands, “while providing the kind of support that helps them make the best possible decisions about what to do with their dispute.”
For more information about this mediation program, please download our mediation brochure. If you are interested in participating in the ROOT Mediation program please download this Mediation Request Form and submit it to the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities located in T.2300 or by email at studentcomplaints@minneapolis.edu.
National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement
Minneapolis College is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA). The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement defines standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. This means we are able to share reciprocity for our online courses with all other states that are members of NC-SARA. To see if you live in a state that has joined this consortium you can access NC-SARA’s directory of participating states on their website.
Institutions providing online education are required to provide students contact information of the state agency or agencies that handle complaints against postsecondary education institutions offering distance learning within that state.
Minneapolis College students seeking to file formal Student Complaint may do so by downloading the Student Concern/Complaint/Grievance form and submitting the complete form to T.2300 or contacting StudentComplaints@minneapolis.edu.
If you reside in another state and your issue cannot be resolved using this policy and procedure at Minneapolis College, you may contact the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.
Student Code of Conduct
The Student Code of Conduct is under College Policies.
- Visit the Student Code of Conduct Procedures, Policy 4.04.01
Filing a Concern, Complaint or Grievance
How to File a Concern, Complaint or Grievance
- Download the Student Concern/Complaint/Grievance form
- Submit your completed form to the Student Complaint Officer:
- In-person: Print and deliver to T.2300
- Email: Send as an attachment to StudentComplaints@minneapolis.edu
View additional Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities contact information.
Reporting Student Conduct Violations
Any member of the College community may file a complaint against a student or student organization alleging a violation of the student code of conduct or other College policy. A complaint should be submitted to the Student Conduct Officer or designee. Once a complaint is filed, the Student Conduct Officer reserves the right to investigate the complaint even if a complainant chooses not to pursue the matter.
Persons filing a complaint are required to provide pertinent information and, if necessary, appear at a hearing.
In many situations, alleged conduct violations are reported to the Student Conduct Officer through Public Safety Incident Reports or other means. The Student Conduct Officer has the responsibility to ensure compliance with the Student Code of Conduct and therefore retains the authority to investigate all reports of alleged student misconduct regardless of how the report is received by the Student Conduct Officer.
A common way to report a student or student organization alleging a violation of the student code of conduct is to file a report. The following links are forms used to report an alleged violation(s) of the student code of conduct.
The following reports include both alleged behavioral misconduct and academic dishonesty:
Please submit your report of alleged behavioral misconduct and academic dishonesty to a Student Conduct Officer at the Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities located at T.2300 or via e-mail at studentconduct@minneapolis.edu.
Anna Mazig
Chief Student Complaint and Conduct Officer
Office: T.2300, Student Rights and Responsibilities
Phone: 612-200-5281
Email: anna.mazig@minneapolis.edu
Student Complaint Definitions
CONCERN:
A concern is something that relates to, is of importance or interest to or affects a student. If you have a concern, it is an informal method of communicating something to the school. If you have a concern, you simply want someone to know about it, but do not necessarily want someone to follow up with you.
COMPLAINT:
A complaint is initially an oral claim by a student alleging improper, unfair, arbitrary or discriminatory treatment. The complaint and its details should be submitted in writing for purposes of follow-up and required College record keeping. College Policy 4.10, Part 2. If you have a complaint, you would like the appropriate person to follow up with those involved. This includes contacting you by the method indicated when you file your complaint as well as conducting a Fact Finding Inquiry to determine the background.
GRIEVANCE:
A grievance is a written claim raised by a student, alleging improper, unfair, arbitrary or discriminatory action by an employee involving the application of a specific provision of a College rule/regulation or a board policy or procedure such as:
- The interpretation of the specific provision of a rule or regulation, OR
- The application of a rule or regulation in other than a uniform manner, OR
- The application of a rule or regulation other than in accordance with the provisions of the rule.
RETALIATE/RETALIATION:
“Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, intentionally engaging in any form of intimidation, reprisal or harassment against an individual because he or she made a complaint under this policy or assisted or participated in any manner in an investigation, or process under this policy, regardless of whether a claim … is substantiated... Retaliation may occur whether or not there is a power or authority differential between the individuals involved.”
College Policy 2.01, Part 2, Subpart F
Silent Witness Form
The Public Safety Department and the Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities maintains a "silent witness" feature/form. This form allows students or employees (without providing their names or other identifying information) the opportunity to report crimes or concerning behaviors/threats. The information provided regarding crimes and concerning behaviors/threats is received by the Minneapolis Community and Technical College Public Safety Department and the Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities.
Anonymous reporting is not intended for Complaints or Student Code of Conduct violations (cheating, smoking violations, etc.); if these types of behaviors are occurring, please directly contact the Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities in T. 2300, or contact OSRR at Minneapolis College.
Upon receipt, all information is thoroughly investigated to the best of the department’s ability, based on the information that is received. Information sent through this site, while checked on a regular basis, is not monitored 24 hours a day.
Therefore, the Silent Witness form SHOULD NOT be used for emergencies that require immediate response or those that are life-threatening in nature. IN AN EMERGENCY, FIRST CALL 911 AND THEN ALERT THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT at 612.659.6900.
The Silent Witness reporting system is intended to foster and maintain a safe and caring community. Therefore, if it is discovered this system is being used to harass or to retaliate against members of the Minneapolis Community and Technical College community, behavioral conduct consequences will be pursued.
Use the link below to access the form. The form will appear once you answer the first question:
If you have any information/evidence that you would like to provide in electronic format as an email attachment, please contact the Silent Witness Program at Minneapolis College.