In the following, the term "Committee" refers to the Faculty Hearing, Grievance, and
Appeals Committee.
Complaints are allegations by the administration, students, academic staff members, other
faculty members, classified staff members, or members of the public charging conduct by
a faculty member that is not serious enough to warrant dismissal proceedings under UWS 4, but which does (a) violate University rules or policies or (b) adversely affect the
faculty member's performance of his or her obligation to the University.
4.9.3.1 Submission of Complaint
All complaints to receive formal attention under the provisions of this section shall be
written, signed, and submitted to the Chancellor of the University within a reasonable
time after the alleged misconduct.
4.9.3.2 Notification of Faculty Member
The Chancellor shall first notify the faculty member concerned, in writing, regarding the
nature of the complaint and give him or her an opportunity to explain his or her conduct.
The Chancellor may make further investigation of the allegations and shall then:
(a) dismiss the complaint, or
(b) invoke the appropriate disciplinary action, or
(c) refer the complaint to the Committee.
The Chancellor shall notify the faculty member, in writing, of his or her decision and/or
action.
4.9.3.3 Request for a Hearing
If the Chancellor takes disciplinary action, the affected faculty member may request a
hearing before the Committee. The request shall be made within 20 days after notice of
the Chancellor's disciplinary action.
4.9.3.4 Time Limit for Hearing
The Committee shall hold a hearing not more than 30 days after receiving a request from
the faculty member or after having a complaint referred to it by the Chancellor, except
that this time limit may be lengthened by mutual consent of the parties. The affected
faculty member shall be given at least 10 days’ notice of the hearing.
4.9.3.5 Closed/Open Hearing
The hearing shall be closed unless the faculty member concerned requests an open
meeting in which case it shall be open (see Chapter 19, Subchapter V, Wis. Statutes,
Open Meeting Law )
4.9.3.6 Information Considered By Committee
The Committee shall consider all available information relevant to the complaint. Such
information may be sought from students and members of the public. The Committee
shall have the right to obtain information relevant to the complaint from University
personnel.
4.9.3.7 Presence of Concerned Faculty Member
The concerned faculty member may be present at those times when information is being
presented to the Committee.
4.9.3.8 Presumption of Innocence
The faculty member charged shall be presumed innocent by the Committee until proven
otherwise.
4.9.3.9 Report of Committee’s Findings
The findings and recommendation of the Committee shall be reported in writing to the
Chancellor and to the faculty member concerned. The recommendation may be for:
(a) dismissal of the complaint, or
(b) appropriate disciplinary action, or
(c) referral of the complaint to the appropriate department or administrative
officer.
The decision of the Chancellor on the recommendation of the Committee, or on the
complaint in the absence of a Committee recommendation, shall be final except that the
Board of Regents at its option may grant a review on the record. The final decision of the
Chancellor shall be supported by written reasons.
After the hearing and recommendation of the Committee and the final decision of the
Chancellor, the faculty member shall not again be called to account for the same alleged
misconduct that was the subject of the complaint.
