Violations of the Code of Conduct result in disciplinary action or possible suspension. A student may be suspended from EBC after the following procedural steps took place:

1. Receive a written warning specifying the nature of the issue and the conditions of continual enrollment.
2. If the violation is repeated, the student may be asked to attend an “Administration Hearing” held by the College’s President’s Cabinet. The student’s behavior and written warning will be reviewed with the student present at this meeting. The student will be given an opportunity to address the committee and provide additional information.
3. The President’s Cabinet will make the decision. Since the President is a part of the President’s Cabinet, its decision is final.
4. A designated President’s Cabinet member will communicate to the student in a written form the Cabinet’s decision. Cabinet members will be copied on this letter.

Please note: A violation of the college’s Statement of Faith may result in an immediate suspension without prior written warning or Administration Hearing.

Student Due Process Policy

When possible, disagreements between a student and a faculty member should be resolved informally;
when necessary (for example, when involving issues of academic integrity), a faculty member shall
follow the relevant policies and procedures to resolve the issue. If a review by all relevant parties and
committees has not resulted in an acceptable resolution, a student may file a formal Academic
Grievance.

Academic grievances may originate with such student complaints as perceived violation,
misinterpretation, or inequitable application of course or program requirements, unfair or inequitable
treatment by a faculty member, unjustified accusations concerning academic integrity, unfair or
inequitable application of, grading policies, and the like. Elim Bible Institute and College abides by a
six-month statute of limitations for filing an academic grievance, which must be resolved within a
reasonable period of time.

Academic Grievance Policy

A complaint may be initiated by a student when he/she believes they have been treated unjustly. EBC provides a way for students to address personal grievances and file any complaints, whether the grievance is against EBC or its staff and faculty or another student or tenant. Anonymous complaints or feedback for EBC, faculty, or staff may also be submitted to the “Suggestion Box” located in the College Hall Student Lounge.

If the student feels that he/she has been treated unfairly in the process outlined above or that the issue has not been resolved in a satisfactory manner:

Any student may report the incident to:

• New York State’s Office of College and University Evaluation or Office of the Professionals. Allegations of criminal offenses or alleged violations of New York State law may be made directly to the New York State Board of Regents. See below for more information regarding the NYSED Complaint Procedure.
• Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. See below for more information regarding the TRACS Complaint Proceeding.

Distance Education students from out-of-state locations may report the incident to:

• New York State Portal Entity for complaints related to State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA). See below for more information regarding the SARA Student Complaint Process.

Student Complaint Process Policy
Student Grievance Form

The Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) values the role of information provided by students, employees, and others in performing its role of monitoring institutional compliance with TRACS Accreditation Standards. TRACS is also interested in assuring that member institutions maintain appropriate complaint / grievance and due process procedures, provide procedural fairness, and consistently apply their policies and procedures.

The TRACS procedures for the review of complaints involving member institutions are designed to enable TRACS to address possible violations of the TRACS Accreditation Standards and the proper and uniform application by institutions of their own policies and procedures, as they relate to the TRACS Accreditation Standards.

TRACS Complaint Proceeding Policy

For all types of complaints concerning colleges and universities in New York State, the first course of action must be to try to resolve the complaint directly with the administration of the college or university involved. The Office of College and University Evaluation will not review a complaint until all grievance procedures at the institution have been followed and all avenues of appeal exhausted and documentation provided that such procedures have been exhausted. Please note: Every New York State college and the university is required to establish, publish, and enforce explicit policies related to redress of grievances.

NYSED Complaint Procedure

A student has the right to lodge a complaint or grievance. The institution should ensure that all concerns and complaints of students are addressed fairly and are resolved promptly. Student complaints relating to consumer protection laws offered under the terms and conditions of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), must first be filed with the institution to seek resolution. Please refer to the Student Complaint Process Policy.

SARA consumer protection provisions require the institution’s home state (New York), through its SARA State Portal Entity, to investigate and resolve allegations of dishonest or fraudulent activity by the state’s SARA-participating institutions, including the provision of false or misleading information.

Complaints related to SARA can be submitted to the New York State Portal Entity. As indicated on the NC-SARA website, the following applies:

1. Complaints against EBC must first go through the college’s above procedures for resolving grievances.
2. Complaints regarding student grades or student conduct violations are governed entirely by EBC policy and the laws of New York State. (See Grade Appeal Process policy for details).
3. If a person bringing a complaint is not satisfied with the outcome of EBC’s process for handling complaints, the complaint may be appealed, within two years of the incident about which the complaint is made, to the New York State Portal Entity against EBC. The resolution determined by the New York State Portal Entity will be final, except for complaints that fall under the provision “6” below.
4. While the final resolution of the complaint rests with the New York State Portal Entity, the SARA State Portal Entity where the student resides may assist as needed. The final disposition of a complaint resolved by the home state shall be communicated to the SARA State Portal Entity in the state where the student lived at the time of the incident leading to the complaint, if known.
5. The information regarding the number and disposition of appealed complaints that are not resolved at the institutional level will be available to the public on their website.
6. The SARA Policy Manual does not prevent a state from using its general laws to pursue action against an institution that violates those laws.

SARA Student Complaint Process

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. § 1681) is an all-encompassing federal law that prohibits discrimination based on the gender of students and employees of educational institutions which receive federal financial assistance. When the form has been completed and signed by you, and then signed by the Title IX Coordinator or a Deputy, your complaint has been properly received and noted by the college. We will provide you with a copy of this form as well as complete information about the Title IX complaint process.

Title IX Complaint Form