A grievance may exist when an employee believes there has been a breach, violation, misinterpretation, misapplication, inequitable application of or deviation from, the substantive provisions of the University Policy Manual, other than those involving appointment, termination, dismissal, or suspension from employment. All grievances shall be presented and addressed by the following procedure:
Step One
When the grievance concerns an academic matter or one within the authority of the Executive Vice President and Provost, the employee shall raise the grievance with the Executive Vice President and Provost. The Executive Vice President and Provost shall discuss the grievance with the employee and make every effort to respond to the grievance within 10 business days.
When the grievance concerns a non-academic matter, the employee shall submit the grievance to the employee’s supervisor. The supervisor shall discuss the grievance with the employee and respond to the grievance within 10 business days.
When the grievance concerns a Vice President, the employee shall submit the grievance to the Vice President, Human Resources. The Vice President, Human Resources, shall discuss the grievance with the employee and the President, and respond to the grievance within 10 business days. If the grievance concerns the Vice President, Human Resources, the employee shall submit the grievance to the President.
Step Two
If the employee determines that the grievance has not been satisfactorily resolved under Step 1, the employee may appeal, in sequence of reporting, up to Vice President or Dean level within 10 business days of the decision made pursuant to Step 1.
Within a reasonable time, the supervisor involved in Step 2 of the grievance shall schedule a conference to discuss the grievance with the employee at a time convenient for both. The supervisor’s decision on the grievance shall be communicated to the employee within a reasonable period of time.
Step Three
If the employee determines that the grievance has not been satisfactorily resolved under Step 2, the employee may make a final appeal to the Vice President of Human Resources within 10 business days of the decision in Step 2. Within a reasonable time, the Vice President of Human Resources shall schedule a conference to discuss the grievance with the employee at a time convenient for both. The decision of the Vice President of Human Resources shall be final.
An employee’s failure to appeal a decision from Step 1 to Step 2 within the designated 10 business day time period shall constitute a withdrawal of the employee’s complaint and shall bar further action under this policy by the employee on that grievance.
The employee may withdraw the grievance at any time.
(Approved July 2018)