Faculty Manual - COST Home Page - Texas Southern University

1) Policy
2) Procedure
Texas Southern University encourages fair, efficient, and equitable solutions for
problems or disputes arising out of the employment relationship.
This policy applies to grievances of faculty members concerning actions of
supervisors, department chairs, and deans as to work load, compensation, working
conditions, infringement of academic rights, and incidents involving verbal abuse
or personal offense. It does not apply to issues covered by separate laws, rules or
policies, such as illegal discrimination, sexual harassment, and disputes over
tenure and promotion.
No faculty member will be retaliated against for filing a grievance or for aiding
another faculty member in the presentation of a grievance.
To the extent permitted by law, the confidentiality of the grievance process and
the records and documents related to it will be protected.
Pursuant to this policy, grievances may be brought against immediate supervisors,
department chairs, and deans. Depending on the level at which the grievance is
commenced, a sequence of steps is followed that can result in the resolution of the
grievance or an appeal to the president, whose decision is final in all cases.
Grievances that reach the Provost (Step Four) may be submitted to the Faculty
Grievance Committee for an inquiry at the request of the grievant or at the
election of the Provost.
Step One
Prior to filing a written grievance, a faculty member will informally present his or
her grievance to the person who is its subject and the parties shall make a good
faith effort to resolve the issue or issues that are the subject matter of the
grievance.
Step Two
If informal efforts to resolve the grievance are not successful, the faculty member
may present the grievance in writing to the next higher administrative level for
consideration and action within five days of the completion of Step One.
Grievances against immediate supervisors shall be directed to the department
chair; grievances against a chair shall be directed to the dean; and those against a
dean shall be directed to the Provost.
The party against whom the grievance is brought shall be provided a copy of the
written grievance by the Step Two administrator and shall have the opportunity to
respond to it in writing and submit documents or materials in support of his or her
position.
The Step Two administrator shall respond to the grievance within 10 working
days of notifying the party against whom the grievance is brought of the written
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