Crowley’s Ridge College maintains established procedures for addressing student complaints and grievances. These procedures are published in the Crowley’s Ridge College 2026–2027 Student Handbook and are incorporated into the College’s official student complaint-resolution process. Students should review the procedure applicable to the nature of their concern before initiating a formal complaint.
The following grievance and complaint procedures are found in the 2026–2027 Student Handbook:
The College’s procedures distinguish between academic grievances, non-academic/non-disciplinary grievances, disciplinary matters, and complaints that may fall within the scope of the NC-SARA student complaint process. Students should follow the applicable institutional procedure before pursuing any external complaint process, when applicable.
Students are encouraged to attempt to resolve concerns informally whenever appropriate. Depending upon the nature of the concern, a student should first communicate directly with the faculty member, staff member, administrator, or other individual involved.
If the matter cannot be resolved informally, the student may initiate the applicable formal grievance procedure described below.
The Academic Grievance Procedure applies when a student believes there is reason to question a faculty member’s decision regarding a final grade or an unreasonable denial of academic progression.
Academic grievances must be processed during the regular semester immediately following the alleged grievance, regardless of whether the student remains enrolled at the College. For purposes of this procedure, “business days” means days on which the College is open.
The Academic Grievance Procedure does not address matters involving FERPA, academic misconduct, faculty misconduct, or discrimination, which are governed by separate policies and procedures.
Step 1: Written Grievance to Faculty Member
The student must submit the grievance in writing to the faculty member within five (5) business days following the alleged incident and must state the reasons and grounds for the grievance.
For a grievance involving a final grade, the written grievance must be submitted within five (5) business days after final grades are posted by the Registrar.
If the faculty member does not respond within five business days, the student should proceed to the Division Chair as provided in Step 3.
Step 2: Faculty Review
The faculty member must attempt to meet with the student within five (5) business days of receiving the written grievance in an effort to resolve the matter.
The meeting may occur in person, by telephone, or by email if both the faculty member and student agree to the method of communication.
The faculty member is responsible for maintaining documentation of the grievance and the meeting.
If a student fails to respond to reasonable attempts by the faculty member to schedule a meeting, or fails to participate in a scheduled meeting, the grievance will be considered abandoned unless the student can demonstrate that extraordinary circumstances prevented the student’s response or participation.
If a faculty member fails to schedule or participate in the meeting within the required five-business-day period, the faculty member forfeits the ability to resolve the grievance without Division Chair participation unless extraordinary circumstances are demonstrated.
Step 3: Appeal to the Division Chair
If the matter is not resolved following the faculty-student meeting, the student may appeal the matter in writing to the appropriate Division Chair within five (5) business days of the meeting.
The student must provide the reasons and evidence supporting the student’s challenge to the faculty member’s decision.
If the Division Chair is the faculty member involved in the grievance, the matter will bypass the Division Chair’s review and the documentation will be submitted directly to the Vice President for Academic Affairs for review by the Academic Affairs Committee.
If the Vice President for Academic Affairs is the faculty member involved in the grievance, the applicable responsibilities in the subsequent steps will be carried out by the Vice President for Student Affairs.
Step 4: Faculty Response to Division Chair
The Division Chair will provide the faculty member with the student’s grievance materials and request a formal written response and supporting documentation.
The faculty member will have three (3) business days to provide the requested response and documentation.
Step 5: Division Chair Review
The Division Chair must attempt to meet with the student and faculty member within five (5) business days of the student’s written appeal.
The meetings may occur jointly or separately and may be conducted in person, by telephone, or by email.
The Division Chair will organize the documentation and evidence provided by the student and faculty member.
A student who fails to respond to reasonable attempts to schedule a meeting or fails to participate in a scheduled meeting may be deemed to have abandoned the grievance unless extraordinary circumstances prevented participation. A faculty member who fails to respond or participate forfeits the ability to resolve the grievance at this stage.
Step 6: Review by the Vice President for Academic Affairs
If the grievance remains unresolved after the Division Chair’s review, the Division Chair must submit all documentation to the Vice President for Academic Affairs within three (3) business days of the meeting with the student and faculty member.
Step 7: Academic Affairs Committee Review
The Vice President for Academic Affairs, who serves as Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, will disseminate the documentation to the Academic Affairs Committee and request a formal review.
The Academic Affairs Committee ordinarily reviews grievances during its regularly scheduled meetings while the College is in session during the fall and spring semesters. The Vice President for Academic Affairs may schedule a special meeting when appropriate.
Step 8: Committee Decision or Hearing
After reviewing the documentation, the Academic Affairs Committee may:
If a formal hearing is held, the Committee will determine who will participate in the hearing in order to preserve the confidential nature of the grievance.
After the parties have been heard, they will be excused while the Committee deliberates in closed session.
A student who fails to participate in a scheduled hearing may be deemed to have abandoned the grievance unless extraordinary circumstances prevented participation.
Step 9: Final Institutional Decision
The Vice President for Academic Affairs will notify the student, faculty member, and Division Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee’s decision within three (3) business days.
The decision of the Academic Affairs Committee is final.
III. Student Affairs Grievance Procedure
The Student Affairs Grievance Procedure provides a formal process for students who have a non-academic and non-disciplinary grievance or complaint involving a College policy, practice, regulation, or other matter that cannot apparently be resolved through informal means.
Students wishing to file a Student Affairs grievance should consult the Dean of Students. Initial Grievance
The student must state the nature and substance of the grievance in writing.
The Student Affairs Committee will review the grievance and may confer with appropriate College personnel to establish the facts and review applicable policies, requirements, or practices.
The Committee will attempt to identify and resolve any portion of the grievance that results from a misunderstanding of College instruction, requirements, policies, or practices.
The student will receive a written summary of the circumstances of the grievance and the decision reached. Copies will be maintained in the confidential student file and forwarded to appropriate individuals involved in the matter.
Student Affairs Appeal
If the Student Affairs Committee’s decision does not satisfy the student, or if the decision is not promptly implemented, the student may appeal to the President of Crowley’s Ridge College.
The appeal must be submitted within five (5) working days after receipt of the Student Affairs Committee’s decision.
The appeal must include a written summary of the specific facts of the complaint, with copies provided at the same time to the parties concerned.
The President will conduct whatever hearings, investigations, and fact-finding the President considers necessary and will provide a written recommendation to the Student Affairs Committee within five (5) working days of receiving the appeal.
The President’s recommendation, or the recommendation of another College administrator designated by the President, will be binding unless the Student Affairs Committee unanimously votes to override it.
If the Student Affairs Committee reaches a unanimous decision at the initial stage, that decision is not subject to appeal.
Student Affairs Grievance Contact
Dean of Students
Crowley’s Ridge College
100 College Drive
Paragould, AR 72450
Email: dcrossno@crc.edu
Toll-Free: (800) 264-1096
The Student Handbook identifies the Dean of Students as the contact for Student Affairs grievances.
Disciplinary matters are governed by the College’s disciplinary policies and procedures and are not processed through the Academic Grievance Procedure or Student Affairs Grievance Procedure.
Disciplinary decisions may be appealed through the disciplinary appeal procedure established in the Student Handbook.
Requests for readmission following suspension or expulsion are administrative admissions decisions and are governed by the College’s readmission policy. Such readmission decisions are final and are not subject to appeal.
Crowley’s Ridge College participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).
Students enrolled through distance education must first complete the applicable Crowley’s Ridge College institutional grievance process before submitting an unresolved complaint to the appropriate external state authority.
For students located outside Arkansas who are enrolled in online programs, the College’s Student Handbook directs students to first follow the institutional grievance process. If the grievance remains unresolved, the student may then submit the grievance to the Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE).
The College’s published SARA grievance procedure is available through the Student Handbook and this webpage. The College provides a toll-free telephone number for quick access to the grievance process.
Complaints Excluded from ADHE Review
Complaints regarding student grades or conduct violations are governed by institutional policy and applicable Arkansas law and are not considered by ADHE under the procedure described in the Student Handbook.
A student who has completed the applicable institutional grievance process and has an unresolved grievance may submit a written grievance to ADHE using the appropriate student grievance form. The student must provide documentation verifying that the institution’s appeal process has been followed.
The Student Handbook states that resolutions by ADHE are final and that CRC must inform ADHE annually of unresolved formal grievances.
Arkansas Division of Higher Education (ADHE)
[Insert current ADHE Student Grievance Form link]
Certain complaints are governed by separate institutional, state, or federal procedures. Students should use the procedure specifically applicable to the nature of the concern.
These matters may include:
The Academic Grievance Policy specifically excludes FERPA, academic misconduct, faculty misconduct, and discrimination from its scope.
VII. Non-Retaliation
Crowley’s Ridge College prohibits retaliation against a student for submitting a good-faith complaint or grievance, participating in an institutional review, or exercising a right provided by College policy or applicable law.
VIII. Confidentiality and Records
The College will make reasonable efforts to maintain the confidentiality of student grievances and the individuals involved, consistent with applicable law and the College’s policies.
Documentation associated with an academic grievance will be maintained by the appropriate faculty member, Division Chair, Vice President for Academic Affairs, or Academic Affairs Committee, as applicable.
Documentation associated with a Student Affairs grievance will be maintained in the confidential student file and forwarded to appropriate College personnel as necessary to address the grievance.
Students who are uncertain which grievance procedure applies to their concern may contact the appropriate College administrator for assistance.
Academic Grievances:
Instructor, Division Chair, or Vice President for Academic Affairs
Student Affairs Grievances:
Dean of Students
Disciplinary Appeals:
Dean of Students
The Student Handbook identifies these offices as the appropriate points of contact for these matters.
Students are encouraged to address concerns promptly and to follow the applicable deadlines established by the College’s grievance procedures.
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