(1) The Student-Faculty Committee on Grievances shall be composed of an
equal number of students and faculty appointed by the President. It shall make
itself readily accessible to all members of the University community, and shall
determine in each case whether a particular grievance falls within its
jurisdiction (in cases where the Committee determines it has no jurisdiction,
it may choose to recommend an alternate procedure consistent with other rules
within Division 3):
(a) The charge to the Committee shall be to receive complaints or
grievances against faculty, either officers of instruction or officers of
administration, arising out of their responsibilities as officers of the
institution; and
(b) To investigate and review these complaints or grievances on an informal
manner, affording full opportunity to the concerned parties to be heard; and
(c) To attempt to resolve differences or adjust grievances in an amicable
fashion consistent with the understanding of the parties and the best interests
of the University; and
(d) To issue such findings and recommendations (furnishing copies to the
persons concerned) to either the President (if the grievance was initiated by a
faculty member) or the appropriate Vice-President (if the grievance was
initiated by a student) as appear appropriate under the circumstances;
(e) Referral to the Committee shall not suspend any applicable grievance
time lines.
(2) By filing a complaint under any grievance rule and bringing it
before this Committee, an aggrieved person authorizes the Committee to inquire
into the matter as necessary to discover the applicable facts and to
communicate as specified in this rule, its findings, recommendations and
reasons to the concerned parties.
(3) Grievances Filed by Faculty: Faculty, officers of instruction or
officers of administration, may present grievances to the Student-Faculty
Committee on Grievances:
(a) Consideration by the Committee is an informal process only for
addressing faculty complaints or grievances;
(b) The President is in no way obliged to act on the Committee's
recommendations or to be further involved;
(c) The Committee shall render its grievance recommendation in writing
within 15 calendar days of consideration of the complaint or grievance.
"Consideration" shall mean the time at which the parties have presented their
respective cases to the Committee.
(4) Grievances Filed by Students: Under the formal student grievance
process at Step Two described in OAR 571-003-0115(3)(a), students with
grievances against faculty arising out of their responsibilities as officers of
the institution may present grievances to the Student Faculty Committee on
Grievances:
(a) Referral to the Committee shall be consistent with grievance time
lines stated in OAR 571-003-0110(2) in the case of student originated
grievances. The Committee shall render its recommendations in writing within 15
calendar days of its consideration of the grievance. "Consideration" shall mean
the time at which the parties have presented their respective cases to the
Committee. The Committee shall make good faith efforts to complete its review
within 30 days of a party's presenting a grievance to it;
(b) The Committee shall present its report to the parties to the grievance
and to the appropriate Vice-President. The report shall include the Committee's
findings of fact, a recitation of applicable policy and its recommendations for
action. If the parties and the Vice President accept the committee's
recommendation, it shall be implemented and the grievance shall be considered
resolved;
(c) The Vice President may accept or reject the Committee's recommendation
or may request further investigation and reconsideration by the Committee;
(d) Any party to the grievance may accept or reject the Committee's
recommendation or the Vice President's action by appealing to Step Three of the
student grievance process (OAR 571-003-0115(4) et seq.).
