This document explains what you may do if you disagree with decisions of the Michigan Career and Technical Institute (MCTI) regarding your school program and want to have the decision reexamined.

The Appeals Process

You should first attempt to resolve problems informally through discussion with the MCTI staff person who made the decision with which you disagree. If this is not successful, you may appeal the decision through the following steps:

1. An informal ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW of the issue by the MCTI director or his/her designee;
   
2. A formal HEARING by an impartial hearing examiner appointed by the Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) state director.

At each step of the process you are entitled to:

• Information and assistance before and during the proceeding from the Client Assistance Program (CAP) or another representative of your choice.
  
• Interpreter or reader services if you are not fluent in English or have a hearing, visual, or reading disability.
  
• A review of information in your student file related to the appeal issue and copies of relevant material with the following exceptions:
  • Information obtained from another agency or organization may be made available to you only with their approval.
    
  • Information which may be harmful to you may be released only to a representative you designate who is qualified to interpret highly technical or psychological records to you.
• Transportation costs if you could not attend without such assistance.
  
• A review and copies of relevant MCTI policies.
  
• Have the proceeding held at a mutually convenient time and place.
  
• Be notified in writing of the time, date and location of the proceeding.
  

Actions or decisions made by MCTI with which you disagree except:

• Course content and requirements may not be appealed;
  
• Disagreement with grades may be appealed only through the administrative review level:
  
• Decisions or actions of your MRS counselor must be appealed to the MRS district office manager.
  

Any MCTI student or applicant for admission.

You must write a request for an administrative review to the MCTI director and state the issue that you wish to appeal to the MCTI director. This must be done within 30 days of the action or decision you disagree with. If you are appealing a suspension or termination decision, you must file your request within 24 hours of receiving the written suspension or termination notice.

• Usually you may remain on campus pending the outcome of an administrative review when you have been suspended or terminated for disciplinary reasons. You must leave campus if it is determined by the MCTI director, or other administrator acting in his/her absence, that there is a strong possibility that it would be dangerous for you or others, or significantly disruptive to the school, if you remained.
  
• Your review will be conducted within 30 days of your request, or within 10 days if you are appealing a suspension or termination for disciplinary reasons.

• You will receive a written decision no later than 15 working days after the review. If you are appealing a suspension or termination for disciplinary reasons, you will receive the written decision within the 10-day period after your request is received and the review conducted.
  
• If you disagree with the administrative review decision, you may appeal to the MRS state director for a hearing. If a decision to suspend or terminate you is upheld at the review level, you may not remain on campus pending the outcome of a hearing.

• You must request a hearing within 30 days of the mailing date of the administrative review decision by writing to the MRS state director at: Michigan Rehabilitation Services, P.O. Box 30010, Lansing, Michigan 48909.

• The MRS state director will assign an impartial hearing examiner to hear your appeal within 30 days of the date of your request. You will be notified at least two weeks in advance of the hearing. At the hearing you, or your representative if you have one, may question MCTI witnesses, challenge written evidence, bring your own witnesses, and present new information. The hearing examiner assures that all relevant facts are brought out.
  
• You will receive a written decision from the MRS state director within 15 working days of the hearing.

If you disagree with the final decision of your appeal, you may bring a civil action in circuit court.

Further Information

If you have additional questions about the appeals process, you may consult with your MCTI program manager or the Client Assistance Program. CAP can be reached by calling the toll free number, 1-800-292-5896 (voice/TTY).