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General Complaint & Grievance Process

Merritt College is committed to an educational environment that is free from interference and disruption and that fosters equity and mutual respect. Most concerns, complaints, grievances, or disciplinary matters should be resolved at the campus/district level.

At Merritt College, we are committed to maintaining a fair and supportive learning environment. If you have concerns related to academic, administrative, or campus matters within Division I, Division II, or Division III, you can submit a formal complaint using this form. Our goal is to address and resolve issues in a timely and equitable manner. Please provide detailed information to help us understand your concerns and take appropriate action.

Complaint & Grievance Process

Merritt College is committed to an educational environment that is free from interference and disruption, and that fosters equity and mutual respect. Most concerns, complaints, grievances, or disciplinary matters should be resolved at the campus/district level.

The following administrative processes are available to individuals who believe that they have concerns or have been treated unfairly in that their rights have been violated:

  1.  (AP 3430) Prohibition of Harassment, Discrimination, and Sexual Assault Procedures
  2.  (AP 4231) Grade Changes and Student Grievance Procedures  
  3.  (AP 5500) Student Standards of Conduct, Discipline Procedures, and Due Process
  4.  (AP 5530) Student Rights and Grievance Procedure
  5.  (AP 5140) Disabled Students Programs and Services
  6.  (AP 3410) Nondiscrimination

District Forms

Community Safety and Property Form

Use this form whenever you notice a safety issue, property concern, or health hazard on campus, such as broken lights, vandalism, or slippery surfaces. This form lets you report your concern anonymously if you’d like, or add your contact info if you want a follow-up. If the situation requires immediate attention or poses a real-time threat, call campus security or 911 instead.

General Complaints Form

Use this form to alert and resolve general campus or district concerns. Examples of concerns can include- a communication glitch, procedural hassle, registration trouble, or unclear college process. This form lets you share your concern so someone can help guide you or redirect it to the right place. You can stay anonymous, but if you want a follow-up, include your contact info.

Discrimination and/or Title IX Form

Use this form if you have experienced or witnessed discrimination, harassment, or sexual misconduct (Title IX). This includes concerns related to race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or other protected categories, as well as incidents of sexual harassment, assault, or stalking. You can file the report whether the incident happened to you directly or to someone else, and you may choose to remain anonymous. If someone is in immediate danger, please call 911 or campus security right away instead of using this form.

Click here to file a Discrimination and/or Title IX Harassment report.

Merritt College Forms

Student of Concern Support Referral

Use this form when you, a student, or someone you know is experiencing emotional, personal, or academic challenges—like anxiety, sudden behavior changes, excessive absences, or self-harm thoughts that are impacting well-being. This form helps connect students to caring campus staff and resources in a supportive, confidential way. If you're concerned but not facing an emergency, this is the right place to get help or bring someone to attention. If someone is in immediate danger, please call 911 or campus security instead.

Click here to file a Student of Concern Support Referral

Student Conduct Incident Reporting Form

Use this form to report student behavior that may violate the Peralta District’s Student Code of Conduct or other college policies. Examples include disruptive actions in class, threats, harassment, substance use, or other misconduct affecting the campus community. This form ensures that all reports of a student conduct incident are addressed fairly and appropriately. If the behavior presents an immediate safety risk, call 911 or campus security instead of using this form.

Click here to file a Student Conduct Incident Report

Informal Grievance Form

Use this form if you believe a college decision (such as a grade, disciplinary action, or denial of financial aid) has unfairly affected your rights or status as a student. This form is meant for issues such as grading errors, violations of free speech, or procedural mistakes in admission or probation decisions. Before filing, try to resolve the issue informally by talking with the instructor or the involved department within 30 days. If your concern involves discrimination, sexual harassment, or Title IX concerns, please use the dedicated Title IX/Discrimination report instead.

Click here to file an Informal Grievance report

Basic Needs Form

Use this form if you're facing challenges securing essentials like food, housing, childcare, transportation, or mental health support and need help connecting with on- and off-campus resources. You can indicate how urgent your situation is, describe what's changed, and share your availability for someone to reach out. The form is a helpful way to access care and resources when you’re dealing with unexpected stressors that make focusing on school tough.

Click here to file a Basic Needs support form

Non-Campus-Related Reporting

Matters that are not resolved internally may be processed by using the following agencies in the order described below.

If your complaint does not concern the California Community College’s compliance with academic program quality and accrediting standards, you may contact the California Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCO) by completing this CCCO web form.

Contact the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) if your complaint is associated with the institution’s compliance with academic program quality and accrediting standards. ACCJC is the agency that accredits the academic programs of the California Community Colleges

Contact Information

Vice President of Student Services
Dr. Lilia Chavez
Building R-113E
lchavez@peralta.edu
(510) 436-2478

Vice President of Student Services
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Voice your concerns to the VPSS
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To upload a document for the VPSS
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