Effective Date: 09.07.07
Last Reviewed: 06.07.23*
* name of title changed & was amended
A faculty member may appeal the decision by the Board of Trustees to deny tenure and/or promotion on grounds that it was made capriciously or in violation of the established tenure and promotion procedures.
Within thirty calendar days of being notified that tenure or promotion was denied, the faculty member must notify in writing the Vice President for Academic Affairs of his or intent to appeal the decision.
A written appeal must be submitted to the Vice President for Academic Affairs no later than sixty calendar days after the denial of tenure or promotion, no matter when the notice of appeal was originally submitted. The Vice President for Academic Affairs shall forward a copy of the appeal to the President and a subcommittee of the Faculty Grievance Committee, composed of all tenured members on the Committee. The appeal must specify what tenure or promotion procedure is alleged to have been violated and or in what way a decision is alleged to have been made capriciously.
In considering the appeal, the Faculty Grievance Subcommittee will review all pertinent information supplied and may conduct interviews limited to the issues raised on appeal. The Faculty Grievance Subcommittee will report in writing to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The report will contain findings of fact and conclusions as to whether the original decision was reached capriciously or procedures were violated. If the committee is divided, a minority report also will be filed.
A statement of the Faculty Grievance Subcommittee findings which preserves the confidentiality described above will be made available to the candidate. This statement is prepared by the Faculty Grievance Subcommittee.
The Vice President for Academic Affairs will make a recommendation on the appeal to the President, appending the report of the Faculty Grievance Subcommittee to the recommendation.
Upon receiving the recommendation, the President may:
1. Establish a new review process in consultation with the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
2. Uphold the decision by the Board of Trustees.
If either of these actions differ from the recommendation of the Faculty Grievance Subcommittee, the candidate may appeal to the Board of Trustees, who may establish procedures to review the President's decision.