Grievance Procedures

Faculty Grievance Procedures. All grievance procedures applicable to faculty members are set forth in the “Procedures for Resolving Faculty Grievances Arising from Section 607(3) of The Code of The University of North Carolina” (www.legal.uncc.edu/607GrievanceProcedures.html) (hereinafter “Faculty Grievance Procedures”). Section 607 of The Code provides a process for faculty members to seek redress concerning employment related grievances other than those involving decisions about reappointment, promotion, the conferral of tenure, discharge, imposition of serious sanctions, termination, or those within the jurisdiction of another standing committee. General questions concerning these faculty procedures should be directed to the Office of Academic Affairs (Fifth Floor Reese, 704-687-2224), which may refer such inquiries to the chairperson of the appropriate faculty committee.

Employment Related Grievances. Some departments or colleges provide informal procedures for resolving faculty grievances. The dean of the college should be consulted about these procedures. An aggrieved faculty member who is unable to resolve a grievance informally within the department or college should submit a written petition for redress to the University Mediation Coordinator (www.provost.uncc.edu/governance/mediation.htm), as set forth in the Faculty Grievance Procedures.

It should be noted that disputes related to reappointment, promotion, the conferral of tenure, discharge, imposition of serious sanctions, or termination of a faculty member are not resolved under the Faculty Grievance Procedures but pursuant to Section 7 of the Tenure Policies, Regulations, and Procedures (www.legal.uncc.edu/tenurepol.html).

Discrimination. General grievances alleging improper discrimination adverse to a faculty member should be addressed under the Faculty Grievance Procedures; however, in accordance with Section 7 of the Tenure Policies (www.legal.uncc.edu/tenurepol.html#s71), allegations that a non-reappointment decision was impermissibly based on race, color, creed, sex, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, or national origin are to be addressed to the University Hearing Committee.

Student Academic Grievance. Academic grievances relating to status as an undergraduate student (other than grade appeals or allegations of sexual harassment) are to be addressed initially in the college where the grievance arises, or if no particular college is appropriate, by the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management. Written procedures are available at www.legal.uncc.edu/StudentGrievanceProcedure.html or from the dean of each college and the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management (133 Reese, 704-687-4379). Appeal from the final disposition according to these procedures is to the Chancellor.

Grievances related to one's status as a graduate student should be addressed, as above, first according to the procedures of the appropriate college. After college procedures have been exhausted, an appeal may be addressed to the Appeal Committee of the Graduate Council. The appeal must be in writing and is to be sent in care of the dean of the graduate school.

A graduate or undergraduate student who seeks resolution of an academic grievance by the formal mechanisms available should be referred to the office of the appropriate dean for information on the procedure to be followed within the college (or to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management).

Disability-Related Grievances. Faculty, staff and students who have grievances related to the delivery by the University of special services for person with disabilities should process such grievances according to the "Procedures for Grievances Related to the Delivery of Special Services to the Disabled," available in the Office of Disability Services (230 Fretwell, 704-687-4355).

Sexual Harassment Grievances. Faculty members, staff, and students who have grievances related to sexual harassment by University employees or students should pursue such grievances under Policy Statement #61, Sexual Harassment Policy and Grievance Procedures (www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-61.html).

Other Dispute Resolution Procedures. Faculty members should be aware that persons employed in non-faculty positions have similar dispute-resolution mechanisms available to them. Employees subject to the State Personnel Act (SPA) can utilize the "UNC Charlotte Grievance and Appeal Procedure for SPA Employees" to process employment-related grievances. Most EPA staff employees not subject to the State Personnel Act are covered by and may utilize the UNC Charlotte grievance procedures for EPA staff employees, set forth in Section III.5 of UNC Charlotte Policy Statement #64, "Personnel Policies for Designated Employment Exempt from the State Personnel Act" (www.legal.uncc.edu/policies/ps-64.html).