Section 4 - Faculty Personnel Policies and Procedures

XXIII. Grievance Procedures

Whenever a faculty member (or members) wishes to make a formal complaint against a member (or members) of the College staff, and if redress for this complaint is not covered by the procedures for dismissal or termination, the following procedure shall apply to all grievance matters except charges of discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or handicap. Complaints of unlawful discrimination or harassment should be referred to the Human Resources Office.

1. The person or persons wishing to file a complaint shall do so within one year of the occasion or event giving rise to the grievance. The complaint shall be presented in writing to the President and the chair of the Faculty Review Committee.
   
2. The person who initiates grievance proceedings shall submit to the Faculty Review Committee a written statement defining the nature of the complaint and the names of persons against whom it is made.
   
3. If the Faculty Review Committee rules that the alleged grievance merits examination, then the complainant's statement will be forwarded to the persons against whom the complaint is made and copies sent to the President, the Dean of the College, and to the appropriate Vice Presidents, Associate Deans, and department chairs.
   
4. Those against whom the complaint is made shall respond in writing within 15 days; the complainant may choose to be present when the committee receives those responses.
   
5. Hearings of the committee are open only to persons invited by the committee.
   
6. Whenever the parties to a dispute are present at a meeting or a hearing held by the committee, both have the right to have an adviser of their choosing from the faculty or the staff of the College.
   
7. If the complainant or the persons against whom the complaint is made believes that additional information may be obtained from witnesses, either or both parties to the dispute may name witnesses who will then be called to testify; the committee may limit the number of witnesses, provided that the number is fairly divided between the parties.
   
8. Having heard the testimony of the named witnesses, the committee may seek information from whatever other sources seem necessary.
   
9. Both parties to the dispute have the right to hear the testimony of all witnesses and the right to knowledge of all other evidence on which the committee may base its findings.
   
10. The committee may question all persons involved in the hearing and has the power to determine the extent to which the parties to the dispute may question each other and each other's witnesses.
    
11. If agreement between the parties to the dispute has not been reached upon completion of the hearing, the committee shall submit its findings of fact and its attendant recommendations, if any, in writing to the President, the Dean of the College, the appropriate Vice Presidents, Associate Deans, and department chairs, the complainant, and the persons against whom the complaint is made. The President, within 30 days shall decide what, if any, action shall be taken. Aggrieved parties, within 30 days, may appeal the President's decision to the Board of Regents. The Board, within 120 days, shall make the final decision.
    
12. The committee, in consultation with the President, shall determine the extent to which the records of its hearing and meetings on each case may be accessible to the public.
    
13. After the committee has submitted its report, all records of its hearings and meetings shall be placed in custody in the President's office.