(1) All parties, including the student conduct officer in their capacity as a representative of the college shall have the right to appeal from the determination of responsibility and/or from a dismissal, in whole or part, of a formal complaint during the investigative or hearing process. Appeals must be in writing and filed with the appropriate vice president's office within 21 days of service of the initial order or notice of dismissal. Appeals must identify the specific findings of fact and/or conclusions of law in the initial order or dismissal that the appealing party is challenging and must contain argument as to why the appeal should be granted. Failure to file a timely appeal constitutes a waiver of the right to appeal and the initial order or dismissal shall be deemed final.

(2) For appeals coming from Spokane Community College, the vice president of student affairs at Spokane Falls Community College will process the appeal. For appeals coming from Spokane Falls Community College, the vice president of student services at Spokane Community College will process the appeal.

(3) Upon receiving a timely appeal, the appropriately identified vice president's office will serve a copy of the appeal on all parties, who will have 10 days from the date of service to submit written responses to the appropriate vice president's office addressing issues raised in the appeal. Failure to file a timely response constitutes a waiver of the right to participate in the appeal. Upon receipt of written responses, the appropriate vice president shall serve copies of the responses to the other parties.

(4) Parties receiving a copy of the responses shall have five days in which to submit a written reply addressing issues raised in the responses to the appropriate vice president's office.

(5) The appropriate vice president or their delegate, based on their review of parties' submission and the hearing or investigative record, will determine whether the grounds for appeal have merit, provide the rationale for this conclusion, and state whether a dismissal if affirmed or denied, or if the disciplinary sanctions and conditions imposed in the initial order are affirmed, vacated, or amended, and if amended set for the new disciplinary sanctions and conditions.

(6) The appropriate vice president of student affairs/services shall serve the final decision on the parties simultaneously.

(7) All administrative decisions reached through this process are and may be judicially appealed pursuant to applicable provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW including, but not limited to, the timelines set forth in RCW 34.05.542.