Grievance Procedures

Misunderstandings or conflicts concerning your employment may arise. Although most of these matters resolve themselves naturally, the University provides grievance procedures to resolve the more serious problems. University grievance procedures do not, however, delay or limit disciplinary action against any faculty or staff member, up to and including termination.

The University prohibits retaliation against any person who participates as a party, witness, committee member, or in any other manner in a grievance proceeding pursuant to University policy.

Academic Personnel

Grievance procedures are available to all academic personnel including faculty members, tenured and non-tenured, part-time or full-time, including those on leave of absence with or without pay. These grievance procedures also are available to graduate assistants, graduate instructors, graduate assistants in research, and graduate instructors in research in their roles as academic employees of the University, but not in their roles as students.

When academic personnel have questions or problems related to their employment, they should try to resolve them informally. If satisfactory resolution can not be reached, the employee may file a complaint under the grievance procedures. For a full discussion of the grievance resolution process for faculty and graduate student employees, see Executive Memorandum C-19 Revised.

Administrative/Professional Staff and Clerical/Service Staff

All administrative/professional and clerical/service staff members who have questions or problems related to their employment are encouraged to discuss such matters with their supervisors. If informal discussion does not resolve the issue to the employee's satisfaction, the employee may file a complaint under the grievance procedure. For a full discussion of grievance procedure for administrative/professional and clerical/service staff, refer to Grievance Policy for Administrative/Professional and Clerical/Service Staff Members IV.8.1.

Strict time limits govern each step of the grievance procedure, and there are criteria that define the kinds of complaints that may constitute grievances. Staff members are urged to contact Human Resource Services regarding interpretation of procedures and to contact the Affirmative Action Office for assistance regarding equal employment matters.