A brief description of the responsibilities of the Senate committees that deal with complaints regarding faculty misconduct and grievances of faculty members follows.
GRIEVANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Grievance Advisory Committee (GAC) serves primarily as advisory to the other two grievance committees. When a faculty member has questions about individual rights or privileges or tenure review, or is considering bringing a grievance to the Senate, he/she must contact the Academic Senate Coordinator for GAC who will refer the individual to a GAC counselor and will be advised on policy and procedure, which standing committee to approach, if necessary, and how to proceed with a case.
CHARGES
The Charges Committee reviews charges of alleged violations of the Faculty Code of Conduct (APM 015) by faculty members. Anyone may bring a complaint to the Charges Committee if the complaint concerns an alleged violation of one or more provisions of the Code. Matters brought to the attention of the Committee can be resolved through informal discussions with the parties involved. Any individual may consult privately with the Chair of the Charges Committee. All discussions are held in strict confidence.
If the Committee makes a finding of ‘probable cause’ of violation of the Code, it transmits the complaint to the Vice Chancellor of Academic Personnel who will transmit the complaint to the Committee on Privilege and Tenure which holds formal hearings and makes recommendations to the Chancellor on disciplinary sanctions. At this time the Vice Chancellor for Academic Personnel sets a maximum sanction allowable for the case (see APM-016.Section II for possible sanctions).
The Charges Committee was initiated to free Privilege and Tenure from the role of both the investigator of charges of misconduct and the judge of the charges.
PRIVILEGE AND TENURE
The Committee on Privilege and Tenure makes recommendations to the Administration in disciplinary, grievances, and early termination matters involving Senate members (see Academic Senate Bylaw 334, 335, 336 and 337). In the case of alleged violations of the Faculty Code of Conduct the Committee conducts formal hearings after the Charges Committee has made a ‘probable cause’ determination. P&T also inquires into grievances brought to it directly by Senate members (and in some circumstances by non-Senate members) regarding administrative actions affecting them. Should a faculty member be in doubt as to jurisdiction involving a matter of misconduct or a grievance, the Chair of this Committee (as well as the Chair of the Grievance Advisory Committee) will be able to direct that person to the appropriate committee.
The grievance procedure for non-Senate academic appointees is set forth in Section 140 of the Academic Personnel Manual. AFT Unit 18 members should contact the Employee and Labor Relations Office (40860).
Inquiries and complaints, as appropriate, may also be brought to the attention of the Vice Chancellor of Academic Personnel (69345) or to the Ombuds Office (57627).