Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1976 [PAGE 631]

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620

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[May 19

3. Generally, there will be a minimum of two separate tiers of hierarchical consideration of each grievance. 4. The grievant will have at least one opportunity for a hearing. 5. Grievance dispositions at all levels will be in writing. With the concurrence of the appropriate administrative officers, the President of the University recommends the adoption of the following "Guidelines on Grievance Procedures for Complaints of Discrimination at the University of Illinois." 1 O n m o t i o n of M r . Livingston, this r e c o m m e n d a t i o n w a s approved.

Guidelines on Grievance Procedures for Complaints of Discrimination at the University of Illinois

These guidelines are designed to cover grievance procedures for complaints by faculty, academic/professionals, students, and nonacademic staff concerning alleged discrimination by the University on the basis of race, sex, national origin, religion, age, or handicap. Each campus is responsible for developing and implementing its own grievance procedures in such matters, within these guidelines. A separate procedure will be established for General University staff, also within these guidelines. When developed, all campus and General University grievance procedures are to be presented to the President of the University for approval prior to implementation. A distinction is recognized between a complaint and a grievance. An employee may be said to have a complaint when some situation or event related to the employment is viewed as unsatisfactory. Employees and supervisors are expected and encouraged to make every effort to resolve complaints informally as they arise. If a complaint cannot be satisfactorily resolved between the complainant and the immediate supervisor through informal discussion, the complainant may reduce the matter to writing and file it promptly as a formal grievance. To be effective, a grievance procedure must provide for a prompt, fair, and definitive resolution of the matter. Under these guidelines the Chancellor is designated as the final decisional point on grievances by campus staff and students, subject only to an appeal to the President of the University on the question of whether or not established campus grievance procedures have been followed. Campus procedures must provide for a final University decision, including any presidential review, within 180 days of the filing of a formal grievance. The following guidelines are applicable to formal grievance procedures relating to complaints based on alleged discrimination: 1. Final decisional authority on the substance of a grievance initiated by campus employees or students shall reside with the Chancellor, subject only to an appeal to the President of the University on the question of whether or not established campus grievance procedures have been followed in the specific case. Final decisional authority on both substance and procedure shall reside with the President of the University with respect to grievances filed by General University staff. 2. Each campus may establish separate grievance procedures, within these guidelines, for different classes of employees, students, and applicants (students and employees). 3. A time limit for filing a formal grievance shall be established, related to a specified number of days after the occurrence leading to the grievance or after the grievant was reasonably able to determine that the occurrence might affect the grievant's status.

1 Upon approval by the Board of Trustees, language will be developed for inclusion in the Policy and Rides — Nonaeadtmit and other University documents as appropriate.