University Hearing Committee
If required, a University Hearing Committee will consist of an administrator representing the Provost, three faculty members selected from the Panel on Professional Responsibility according to the procedures of that policy, and a student elected from the Associated Students, Inc. All meetings of the University Hearing Committee will be closed to the public, and no transcripts will be prepared. If the University Hearing Committee seeks evidence by means of personal testimony, the meeting at which such evidence is presented shall be conducted in the manner of any other academic committee meeting and is not considered a formal hearing. Both the grievant and respondent shall be given opportunities to present their views. There shall be no cross-examination.
The charge of a University Hearing Committee is to investigate and then to recommend to the Provost a proposed resolution. The University Hearing Committee will review the grievance and, if necessary, forward supplemental queries to the respondent and to the Provost – along with direction to submit written responses within 20 instructional days. Once the University Hearing Committee has received the written responses, it will review all available evidence, conduct deliberations, and then choose one of the three courses of action:
- Remand the grievance to the Provost with a recommendation of immediate corrective action in favor of the grievant – based on sufficient evidence of a violation of (1) university regulation or policy or (2) principle of due process or (3) both.
- Defer a decision to allow for further investigation and gathering of evidence. In the case of such a continuation, both the grievant and the respondent will be notified in writing of the additional evidence required and whether that evidence should be provided in writing or in personal testimony.
- Dismiss the grievance based on a (1) lack of sufficient evidence of a violation of the university regulation or policy and (2) confirmation of adherence to principles of due process.
The University Hearing Committee will forward the recommendation to the Provost. The Provost will then make a decision and forward that decision to the respondent and grievant. The University Hearing Committee shall function as the final level of this grievance process.
