Faculty Manual - COST Home Page - Texas Southern University

7.6 Hearing Procedure
7.7 Representation
A. The committee chair shall provide at least fourteen (14) calendar days written
notice of the scheduled hearing date to the accused faculty member and to the
University.
B. In every hearing, the accused shall have the right to appear in person and to
confront and cross-examine witnesses who may appear. The accused may be
assisted or represented by an attorney.
C. The accused faculty member shall have the right to testify, but the faculty
member may not be required to do so, and may introduce evidence, written or
oral, which may be relevant or material to the defense.
D. A stenographic or electronic record of the proceedings shall be taken and made
accessible to the accused.
E. The burden of proof shall be upon the administration to prove good cause by a
preponderance of the evidence. The accused faculty member has the same
right.
A representative of the University shall have the right to attend proceedings before the hearing
committee and to present witnesses and evidence against the accused faculty member and in
support of the charge brought against such faculty member, and such University representative
shall have the right to cross-examine the accused faculty member (if the faculty member
testifies) and the witnesses offered on behalf of the faculty member. The University
representative may be assisted by or consist of University counsel.
7.8 Committee Findings and Recommendation
The hearing committee, by a majority of the total membership, shall make written findings on
the material facts and a recommendation of the continuance or termination of the accused faculty
member's tenure or appointment within twenty-one (21) calendar days after the hearing is
concluded. The original written findings and recommendation shall be delivered to the President
and a copy thereof to the accused. If minority findings or recommendations are made, they shall
be distributed in the same manner to the President and the accused within seven (7) calendar
days after submission of the majority report. A copy of the transcript of the proceeding may also
be included in the materials delivered to the President.
7.9 Reviews and Decision by the President
The President shall review the materials and any additional written briefs that the parties wish to
submit and approve, reject, or amend such findings and recommendations or recommit the report
to the same committee for hearing additional evidence and reconsidering its findings and
recommendations. In addition, the President may reject the Committee’s findings and/or
recommendation and make a decision regarding termination of the accused faculty member’s
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