However, when a mutually satisfactory solution cannot be worked out at the first level, the faculty member or other aggrieved party should be given an opportunity to appeal the decision without fear of prejudice. At each level of appeal a decision made supersedes a decision made at lower levels.
The procedure outlined herein is designed to provide a method of dealing with faculty grievances in a prompt and equitable manner without placing an unreasonable burden on the University's resources and personnel. The proceedings are informal in nature. Procedural due process in this context does not require many of the features of the formal judicial proceedings employed by the courts of law, such as a public hearing, representation by counsel, cross-examination of witnesses, warning as to self-incrimination, compulsory production of witnesses, and adherence to rules of evidence. Thus, emphasis is placed on a method of getting at the facts, assuring that they are reported accurately to the proper authority, and providing a decision which is fair to all concerned.
All time periods specified in the grievance policy shall be strictly adhered to by the University. However, the President of the University has the discretion to extend any time period set forth herein where compliance with the time period is impossible or would otherwise impose a hardship (e.g. Christmas vacation period, semester breaks, spring vacation period, etc.) on University personnel (i.e. faculty, staff, and administration). In such instances, the President shall notify the grievant of the extension of time and the day on which the appropriate stage of the procedure shall commence. The extension shall be no longer than the time period which can be justified reasonably under the circumstances which make the extension necessary.
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