Faculty pass new grievance policy

The policy passed 70.3 percent to 29.1 percent.

By Scott Kanowsky

Published Nov. 13, 2008

The Faculty Council overwhelmingly voted Thursday in favor of a new faculty grievance policy that aims to be more efficient than the previous one. The council also discussed the implications of a larger student body and faculty pay on days affected by bad weather.

Grievance policy

Chairman Tom Phillips informed Faculty Council members of the passage of the new policy - a resolution that has been hotly debated since the council's first meeting this year in September - was passed by MU faculty members.

The final tally was 346 for and 143 against the new grievance policy - a decisive 70.3 percent to 29.1 percent. Two faculty members abstained from voting.

Phillips said the next step for this policy is a review and approval by Chancellor Brady Deaton. Phillips assured the council that Deaton "wants this off his desk" and will decide on the matter quickly.

If Deaton approves the policy, Phillips said the Faculty Council would start working on the details of the plan after Thanksgiving break at the council's meeting in early December.

Phillips strongly urged his colleagues to apply to "overload" the new grievance policy's oversight committee with Faculty Council members.

The new policy would allow faculty members to have a say in the outcomes of grievances against administrators. Currently, administrators decide on the outcomes.

Faculty members Leona Rubin, Victoria Johnson and Judith Goodman created the new grievance policy earlier this year after research that unearthed inefficiency and ineffectiveness in the old process.

Enrollment

Phillips also captured the council's attention with his report from the Inter-campus Faculty Council meeting on Wednesday.

Phillips said UM system President Gary Forsee discussed the implications of the increased enrollment at all UM campuses and the budget ramifications it could have.

With an increase in the budget comes a reallocation of funds, which, some Faculty Council members said, could be used to increase class capacity.

"With more TAs, we get more faculty teaching to the students," Johnson said. "I think it's to our advantage to increase capacity."

To support larger classes, other council members suggested an extension of class times further into the evening.

Phillips in particular said much of the faculty would be in favor of optional later class times.

History professor Ian Worthington, who teaches a course from 6:20 to 8 p.m., supported this statement.

"Most students are pleased with a 6:20 to 8 p.m. class because they can go to the pub after and the class doesn't interfere with others," Worthington said.

Worthington said he encountered "grumbling" from students who have earlier classes.

The idea of a sharp increase in the student body did worry Faculty Council member Steven Neal.

Neal warned that such an increase would lead to greater difficulties for students during registration, noting that classes would fill up sooner.

Phillips, however, supported a student increase because it would lead to greater funding and, thus, more administrative flexibility.

Inclement weather pay

The meeting moved toward a discussion about faculty members' paychecks being penalized for not showing up on days effected by inclement weather.

Council member Frank Schmidt, who presented the topic to the council, urged the administration to "get off the dime" and stop hurting the faculty on these occasions.

The council will vote on the matter when it meets again on Dec. 4.