Step Four – Administrative Intervention

1. If the grievant is not satisfied with the disposition of the grievance at Step Three, or if no decision has been rendered within 14 calendar days of the Dean’s receipt of the grievance, the grievant may request that the Provost begin processing the grievance at Step Four.
2. The Provost, with the support of the Associate Vice President for Human Resources, will arrange for a hearing to be conducted by a three-or five-member committee of full-time teaching faculty members, administrator(s) with faculty rank, and/or staff with faculty rank

  In cases that do not involve a person against whom a complaint is directed, there will be a three-member committee composed of

• One member selected by the grievant
• One member selected by the Provost
• One current member of Academic Council selected by both the grievant and the Provost

If the grievant and the Provost  are unable to agree on the selection of a third member, they will alternately eliminate names from the current elected members of  Academic Council until they reach the last name, at which time that person will become the third committee member. Who gets the first elimination is to be determined by the toss of a coin.

In cases that do involve a person against whom a complaint is directed, there will be a five-member committee composed of:

•  One member selected by the grievant
• One member selected by the person against whom a complaint is directed
• One member selected by the Provost
• Two current members of Academic Council selected jointly by the grievant, the person against whom the complaint is directed, and the Provost

If the grievant, the person against whom the complaint is directed and the Provost are unable to agree on the selection of the fourth and fifth members, they will alternately eliminate names from the current elected members of Academic Council until they reach the last two names, at which time those two people will become the fourth and fifth committee members. Who gets the first and second eliminations is to be determined by drawing names from a hat.

3. The committee selected above will elect a Chair from among its members by majority vote via secret ballot. If no member receives a majority, the last member chosen from Academic Council will be Chair. The Chair, with support provided from the Associate Vice President for  Human Resources, will be responsible for determining how the facts relative to the grievance will be investigated. For matters involving grievances related to sanctions resulting from a determination of responsibility under the Title IX process, the grievant may be accompanied by an advisor of their choosing. For all other grievances, the grievant may be accompanied at the hearing by a University employee of their choosing. In cases involving a person whom a complaint is directed, that person may also be accompanied at the hearing by a University employee of their choosing. Only University employees may accompany a grievant in a grievance hearing. Reasonable provision will be made for other employees to appear as witnesses.
4. The investigation by the committee should normally be completed within one month of its formation. Within 21 calendar days of the completion of the investigation, the recommendation of a majority of the committee, along with their findings of fact, will be submitted to the President.
5. The President, after reviewing the findings and recommendations and any other evidence considered relevant, will make a final decision which will then be communicated to the grievant, and the person whom the complaint is directed, if applicable.