Olga Karasev, V. Clark College

CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedJuly 12, 2022
Docket56108-5
StatusUnpublished

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Bluebook
Olga Karasev, V. Clark College, (Wash. Ct. App. 2022).

Opinion

Filed Washington State Court of Appeals Division Two

July 12, 2022

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

DIVISION II OLGA KARASEV, No. 56108-5-II

Appellant,

v. UNPUBLISHED OPINION

CLARK COLLEGE,

Respondent.

WORSWICK, J. — Olga Karasev was dismissed from the Clark College Nursing Program

for failing to meet the Minimum Pass Policy. She appeals Clark College’s decision to dismiss

her and the trial court’s denial of her motion to supplement the agency record. On appeal, she

argues that (1) Clark College erred in not applying the procedures outlined in former WAC

132N-1251 because her dismissal was disciplinary, (2) even if her dismissal was academic, Clark

College did not provide her with the proper procedure as required by due process, and (3) the

trial court erred in denying her motion to supplement.

We hold that (1) Clark College did not err in not applying the procedures outlined in

former WAC 132N-125, (2) Clark College did not violate Karasev’s due process rights, and

(3) the trial court did not err in denying Karasev’s motion to supplement the agency record. We

affirm.

1 Former WAC 132N-125 was the student code of conduct in effect at the time Karasev was dismissed from the nursing program. In 2021, former WAC 132N-125 was repealed and replaced with WAC 132N-126. Former Chapter WAC 132N-125 repealed by Wash. St. Reg. 97-17-013 (Oct. 24, 2021). No. 56108-5-II

FACTS

I. CLARK COLLEGE EXITS KARASEV FROM THE NURSING PROGRAM

Karasev, a nursing student of Russian heritage, was enrolled in a six-quarter nursing

program at Clark College during the 2018-19 academic year. In her first quarter, Karasev used

unauthorized materials to perform a clinical task in one of her courses, PSYC 122. Clark

College awarded Karasev a failing grade in that course and exited her from the nursing program.2

Karasev appealed and expressed concerns about discrimination by the course instructor. Clark

College conducted an investigation and found that Karasev used unauthorized materials. Clark

College offered Karasev two quarters of conditional remediation, which upon completion would

have allowed Karasev to petition for readmission into the nursing program.

Karasev appealed and reiterated her discrimination concerns, to which the Associate

Dean of Health Services, Jennifer Obbard, responded that under the Clark College’s policy,

“isolated incidents typically do not qualify as harassment.” Clerk’s Papers (CP) at 80. And,

without evidence, there was no apparent connection between Karasev’s dismissal for using

unauthorized study aids and the instructor’s alleged discrimination.

Karasev eventually accepted Clark College’s offer and participated in the remediation

program. As part of Karasev’s remediation, she signed two documents. First, in the

Remediation/Learning Contract, Karasev agreed “to follow the rules and guidelines outlined in

the Handbook of Policies and Practices for Nursing Students 2018-2019 and 2019-2020.” CP at

79. Second, in a student acknowledgement form, Karasev agreed that she was responsible for

2 The parties refer to this first incident as an “exit,” and the second incident explained below as a “dismissal.”

2 No. 56108-5-II

adhering to the policies in the Handbook of Policies and Practices for Nursing Students (the

Handbook).

Karasev successfully completed her remediation and was granted readmission into the

nursing program in April 2020. As part of the Remediation\Learning Contract, Karasev was

required to participate in a “Success Plan” upon her readmission. CP at 46. Clark College

utilized the success plan because Karasev had demonstrated “unsatisfactory attainment of

specific professional, clinical or course objectives.” CP at 179. Each success plan is tailored to

the student’s specific areas of improvement based on feedback the student had received in the

past. Karasev’s success plan identified that she needed to improve on her professionalism,

preparation for learning, skill development, and reflective thinking. She was also required to

schedule regular meetings with the Department Chair, Angie Bailey, and Obbard.

Karasev did not seek judicial review of her 2019 exit or otherwise contest the terms of

her Remediation\Learning Contract.

II. CLARK COLLEGE DISMISSES KARASEV FROM THE NURSING PROGRAM WITHOUT READMISSION

In July 2020, Karasev failed to achieve a minimum passing score on PSYC 124 quizzes

and was dismissed from the nursing program without an opportunity for readmission. Clark

College’s reason for dismissing Karasev from the nursing program was that she did not receive

the minimum passing score as required by the Minimum Pass Policy & Criteria for Remaining in

Program (the Minimum Pass Policy) contained in the Handbook. The Minimum Pass Policy

required

[(1)] The student must maintain at least a C grade (75%) in each course. . . .

3 No. 56108-5-II

[(2)] A CUMULATIVE score of 75% must be achieved on all examinations (not including the final exam) PRIOR to the inclusion of written assignments to the final course grade. . . .

[(3)] Students MUST pass the final exam with a 75% or greater. Failure to score a minimum of 75% on the final will result in failing of the course.

CP at 178.

PSYC 124 had three required components for grading: (1) a discussion board, (2) two

quizzes, and (3) a reflection paper. Because the Minimum Pass Policy required a minimum

cumulative score of 75% on examinations, Karasev needed a cumulative score of 75% or above

on the quizzes to satisfy the Minimum Pass Policy. Karasev’s cumulative score on the quizzes

was 68.89%.3 Although Karasev’s final grade, after accounting for the discussion board and

reflection paper, was an 84.44%, this was not sufficient to meet the three requirements of the

Minimum Pass Policy. Karasev met two of the three Minimum Pass Policy requirements, but

she needed to meet all three requirements to remain in the program.

The Handbook explained that “[i]f a student who fails a nursing course is readmitted and

fails any additional nursing course, they will be ineligible for readmission to the Nursing

Program.” CP at 184.

Karasev appealed her quiz grade by filing a complaint to Clark College. Karasev alleged

that she did not have time to complete the quiz, and she raised concerns about the lack of

supervision for quizzes and said that other students may have been using unauthorized materials.

The instructor reviewed the grade, declined to adjust it, and referred the appeal to the Associate

3 The class average quiz score was a 92%.

4 No. 56108-5-II

Dean of Health Sciences. Karasev refused to meet with the Associate Dean to discuss her

grades, and the appeal was denied for lack of evidence. The Associate Dean explained:

The appeal is denied based on lack of evidence that the “grade was assigned as the result of arbitrary or capricious application of otherwise valid standards of academic evaluation or to a student’s claim that the instructor has made an arbitrary or capricious decision or taken an arbitrary or capricious action which adversely affects the student’s academic standing” (Clark College Grade Change/Academic Appeal Policy).

The exit from the program without the opportunity for readmission stands per the following policies of Clark College Nursing Program Handbook of Polices & Practices for Nursing Students 2019-2020:

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