Faculty Council suggests grievance policy remix
Ballots on the new process are due in one month.
Oct. 13, 2008
Faculty members discussed the implementation of a new grievance policy at an open forum with representatives from the Faculty Council and the MU administration Monday.
Faculty members were also mailed a ballot to vote on the policy. The deadline for ballots is in November.
The Faculty Council originally addressed the issue in April when it created an ad hoc committee to reform the grievance policy and was dubbed "grievance policy 2.0."
In particular, the leaders of the committee presented their strategy, which the creators called "mediation with teeth."
The plan, creator Leona Rubin said, will make the process much quicker - a decrease from 320 days to 130 days - desire for informal resolutions and involve both the administration and the faculty.
The original policy has been widely criticized for long delays, the makeup of the hearing panel and, most importantly, a severe lack of oversight of the panel.
Faculty attendees to the forum displayed concern over the administration's presence in the resolution process.
Laurie Mintz, another creator of the new grievance policy, defended the committee's actions.
"Yes, I take the blame for being the one with the administration official on the panel," she said.
Mintz and her colleagues said they hope the inclusion of the administration will make the process efficient, fair, thorough and more open to compromise.
According to the new procedure, there will be two faculty members and an administration official involved in every step.
"There has never ever been such a project," Mintz said.
In addition, reverting to the old process is completely out of the question.
"I cannot, in good conscience, endorse it," she said.
Many faculty members, however, showed their disapproval.
Faculty Council member Rainer Glaser said he didn't trust a system involving the administration. He said the new system also shows a lack of trust in the faculty's wisdom.
"In science, the only thing worthwhile is peer review," Glaser said. "I respect my peers' opinions."
Glaser has experience with the inefficiency of the old process. He said he filed a grievance and did not actually receive mediation until three years later.
Such fiery beliefs have been a hallmark of the contention over the grievance policy for years.
The policy has been a matter of contention since its implementation in 2004.
Since, several grievants stepped forward but have found that their desires have not been met adequately.
Overall, the faculty remained relatively skeptical of the effectiveness of the reformed grievance policy.
Professor Bob Youngquist, who, gaining extensive experience over the matter during his time investigating the grievance policy, presented a bleak outlook.
"No one comes away happy," he said. "It'll be very difficult to get people together."
More Oct. 13, 2008 News Stories
- Faculty Council suggests grievance policy remix — Ballots on the new process are due in one month.
- Robbery reported near the Quad — MU Police say there is no reason to believe the robbery is connected to previous attacks.
- MU students start healthy business — Adamski and Newsome sell their bars at Café Fresco in Brady Commons.
- Green Team collects recyclables on game day — The group collected 24 tons of recyclables last year.
Most recent News Stories
- Officials OK younger STRIPES drivers — Program leaders hope to inspire similar programs at other schools.
- Fire department says Thursday night blaze set intentionally — Officials are searching for one arsonist in two cases
- Department of Student Life diverts money from diversity fee — Diversity groups were not notified of a transfer of $30,771 for the equipment reserve fund.
- MSA Senate recommends fee decrease — The committee recommended a decrease of 25 cents to $1.70.
- MU to gradually ban smoking — Officials cite student support for the policy.