Policies & Procedures

Otero recognizes the value of work arrangements for employees that differ from the standard work schedule and work locations on campus for work-life balance and overall productivity.  It is the intent that these arrangements will provide employees with increased flexibility with their work schedule, while allowing Otero to maintain progressive and productive work environments.

Otero College Alternative Work Arrangement Policy & Guidelines

Under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), the information in student files may only be released under specific conditions. Current or former students of Otero College have complete access to their records and may view them upon request at the Student Services Center. If records contain errors, appeals in writing must be submitted to the Vice President of Student Services.

• FERPA Authorization for Release of Records
• FERPA Annual Notification and CCCS Template
• PDF Print FERPA brochure

The following are considered public information and may appear in college directories, publications and news releases, or be disclosed to anyone inquiring:

• Student Name
• Major Field of Study
• Dates of Attendance
• Degrees and Awards Received
• Most Recent Educational Institution Attended
• Enrollment Status (i.e. full-time, three-quarter time, half-time, less than half-time, withdrawn, graduated or deceased)
• Participation in Officially Recognized Activities and Sports
• Height, Weight, and High School Attended (only for students in officially recognized activities and sports)

Students may withhold disclosure of public information by filing a written request with the Student Services Center. All other information in student records is considered private and not open to the public without written student consent. Only the following individuals, because of their official function, have access to this information: Otero College officials; state or federal authorities; officials evaluating application for financial aid; state and local officials requesting reporting data; organizations conducting studies for educational institutions or agencies; accrediting organizations; parent of dependent students(proof of dependency required); and Veterans Administration staff. In case of judicial orders or emergencies in which information is needed to protect student safety, health or welfare or that of others, Otero may also release information without consent.

Gainful Employment Disclosure Full Report (804 kb pdf)

Individual Sections:

• Placement Rate (272 kb pdf) 
• Completion Rate (272 kb pdf) 
• Median Loan Debt (263 kb pdf)

The US Department of Education requires colleges to disclose a variety of information for any financial aid eligible program that “prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation”. The information provided here is the best available to us but represents one year’s data only, however, we hope that this information is helpful to our current students and to prospective students as they make their career and educational choices.

Custodian of Records

The provisions of the Records Management and Colorado Open Records Act Requests System President’s Procedure set forth rules for the inspection of public records. These rules are reasonably necessary for the protection of such records and the prevention of unnecessary interference with the regular discharge of the duties of the Custodian of Records. The System office, every College, and every requestor submitting a CORA Request shall adhere to this procedure.

Board Policy & System Procedures for Open Record Requests

BP 10-20 Open Records Requests

SP 10-20a Open Records Requests

Otero College’s Custodian of Records

Director of Human Resources
Kelsey Barbee
1802 Colorado Ave
SCORE Center Room 140
La Junta, CO 81050
kelsey.barbee@otero.edu

Student Grievance

This Student Grievance Procedure is intended to allow students an opportunity to present an issue which they feel warrants action, including the right to secure educational benefits and services.

Otero does not permit discrimination or harassment in our work environment, educational programs and activities. Otero can respond to discrimination and/or harassment only if it is aware of the allegations made. Further, Otero can more effectively investigate the sooner the allegation is brought to its attention. Any employee or student who believes they have been subjected to discrimination and/or harassment based on federal or state civil rights laws should follow this procedure to report these concerns.

Board Policy (BP) 19-60 and SP 19-60a provides that employees and students shall not be subjected to unlawful discrimination and/or harassment on the basis of sex/gender, race, color, age, creed, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, veteran status, pregnancy status, religion or sexual orientation in employment conditions or educational programs or activities.

If you have a complaint or grievance related to Otero College, follow the steps outlined in Otero College’s process for student complaints, which is located at the link below:

https://cccs.edu/about/governance/policies-procedures/bp-4-31-student-complaints/

Student Complaint

If the basis of the claim is discrimination and/ or harassment based on federal or state civil rights laws, the student must file a grievance under the Civil Rights Grievance and Investigation Process. If the accused (respondent) is a student, please refer to SP 4-31 and SP 4-31a .

If the respondent is an Otero Administrator/Professional Technical employee(s), Faculty or Adjunct Instructor(s), Classified employee(s), hourly employee(s), which would include student hourly’s and workstudy’s (Otero employee(s)), authorized volunteer(s), guest(s) or visitor(s), please refer to SP 3-50a.

State Authorization & Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) – Student Complaint and Grievance Process

Otero College is a participating member in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)  through the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE).

What is SARA?

The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. SARA is overseen by a National Council and administered by four regional education compacts.

Student Complaint and Grievance Process:

If you are a Colorado resident attending a distance education program at a SARA (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement) institution in another state, you will need to begin the grievance process at the institution you attend. In the event that institutional processes do not result in a successful resolution of your complaint, the SARA Portal Agency of that state is responsible for final resolution.

If you have a complaint or grievance related to Otero College, follow the steps outlined in Otero College’s process for student complaints, which is located at the link below:

https://cccs.edu/about/governance/policies-procedures/sp-4-31a-student-complaint-procedure/

To file a complaint against a Colorado institution of higher education, please visit:

https://highered.colorado.gov/filing-student-complaint

For student complaint information by state and agency, please visit:

https://nc-sara.org/state-portal-entity-contacts

Retaliatory Acts

It is a violation of this procedure to engage in retaliatory acts against any employee or student who reports an incident of sexual misconduct, or any employee or student who testifies, assists or participates in a proceeding, investigation or hearing relating to such allegation of sexual misconduct. Retaliatory harassment is any adverse employment or educational action taken against a person because of the person’s perceived participation in a complaint or investigation of discrimination and/or harassment based on federal or state civil rights laws.