RESPONSIBILITIES OF PANELISTS/ALTERNATES
Responsibilities of Panelists
Each Grievance hearing is composed of four members, a presiding officer
(chair, who votes only if there is a tie vote) and two alternates. Alternates
attend the hearing but do not vote.
The hearings are usually scheduled for two consecutive days in the Union.
Coffee and water will be provided for those attending. Also each panelist
and alternate will be given a Union meal card for meals during the hearing.
- Review Appendix G of the University Handbook.
- Review grievant’s and administrative respondent’s documents
to prepare for hearing.
- Review Grievance Hearing Procedures as found below.
- Keep all grievance documents and hearing procedures confidential.
- Do not conduct any type of independent research related to the hearing.
- If asked by the presiding officer, attend a pre-hearing meeting.
- Attend the hearing, ask pertinent questions, recall witnesses, and
request further documentation as needed. Maintain objectivity and fairness
at all times.
- Ensure due process during the hearing. This involves an individual's
right to be adequately notified of charges or proceedings involving
him, and the opportunity to be heard at these proceedings.
- During the hearing, participate in private meetings with other members
of the panel to discuss specific issues related to the hearing (a room
for this will be reserved for the panel).
- Participate in final deliberations that are held after the hearing.
- If asked by the presiding officer, assist in writing the final report.
- Shred all documents after deliberations.
Responsibilities of Alternates
The hearings are usually scheduled for two consecutive days in the Union.
Coffee and water will be provided for those attending. Also each panelist
and alternate will be given a Union meal card for meals during the hearing.
- Review Appendix G of the University Handbook.
- Review grievant’s and administrative respondent’s documents
to prepare for hearing.
- Review Grievance Hearing Procedures as found below.
- Keep all grievance documents and hearing procedures confidential.
- Do not conduct any type of independent research related to the hearing.
- If asked by the presiding officer, attend a pre-hearing meeting.
- Attend the hearing and listen. However, you are not required to ask
questions or participate in the hearing.
- Replace a panelist if needed.
- Do not attend final deliberations of panel.
Goals of Hearing
- Establish facts of the matter in question
- Decide whether or not university policy or generally accepted principles
of academic conduct have been violated
- If violation(s) have occurred, decide whether these are sufficiently
serious that corrective action(s) should be taken
- Recommend to the president of the university what, if any, action(s)
should take place
Decision of the Panel
The decision of the panel is based on testimony and other evidence presented
at the hearing. The grievant is responsible for demonstrating by a preponderance
of evidence that relief should be granted.
Report of the panel should include:
- Evaluation of the evidence and findings of fact
- A description of the recommended specific relief or course of action
that should be taken
- The reasons for supporting the decision
The panel has the decision to recommend that relief sought be granted
or denied or some form of resolution be employed as long as such relief
is consistent with policies set forth in the University Handbook.
Report
Within 21 workdays after completion of the final hearing, the presiding
office shall present the report to the GGB chairperson.
Grievance Hearing Procedures
- The presiding officer calls the hearing to order, states the nature
of the grievance, and reviews the rules.
Because the hearing is peer reviewed, the panel is not bound by strict
legal rules of evidence; it may admit into any evidence it considers pertinent
to the grievance and may exclude evidence it does not consider pertinent.
The presiding officer and the panel are the final authority on issues
relating to procedures, evidence, relevance or other hearing related issues.
Rules:
- Grievant will make an opening statement - No more than 20 minutes
- The respondents will make an opening statement - No more than 20 minutes
- The panel - after each presentation - will have the opportunity to
ask questions and clarify issues and after each witness.
- The grievant shall then present evidence which may include testimony
by supporting witnesses, documents or other relevant data.
- The respondents may cross-examine any witnesses following his/her
testimony or object to any testimony on grounds that it is not relevant
or repetitive
- The respondents shall then present evidence that may include testimony
by supporting witnesses, documents or other relevant data.
- The grievant may cross-examine any witnesses following his/her testimony
or object to any testimony on grounds that they are not relevant or
repetitive.
- The grievant, then the respondent may present evident in rebuttal
of previously introduced evidence.
- Witnesses are not to be present at the hearing until called to testify
and then will be excused, unless either party or the GGB requests they
remain available.
- Only witnesses who have been excused may remain in the audience since
this is an open hearing.
- The respondents and the grievant will make a closing statement
- Members of the panel may question the parties or recall witnesses
for questioning.
- At any time, the presiding officer or the panel may request that the
grievant or the respondents produce any other form of documentation
that the panel thinks is relevant.