UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH POLICY 02-03-01

CATEGORY:               ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
SECTION:                   Academic Integrity
SUBJECT:                  Faculty Grievances
EFFECTIVE DATE:    May 9, 1988
PAGE(S):                    1

I.    SCOPE

      This policy establishes the rights of faculty members to seek redress of grievances

      through a two-step, informal and formal mediation process.

II.   POLICY

      Any eligible member of the faculty may seek redress for a grievance arising from certain

      actions by an administrator not covered by other University policies. See Procedure

      02-03-01, Faculty Grievances.

      -     Following efforts at resolution at the department, school, or campus level, the chair

            of the Senate Tenure and Academic Freedom Committee (TAFC) may be asked to

            conduct an informal investigation and mediation effort.

      -     If that mediation is unsuccessful in resolving the issue, the faculty member may file

            a formal written complaint with the Provost.

      Excluded from this policy are grievances which include:

      -     Sexual harassment, discrimination based on race, sex, ethnic origin, religion, age, or

            handicap; violations of academic freedom or of proper procedures associated with

            appointment, tenure or promotion decisions, all of which are subjects of separate

            University policies

      -     Dissatisfaction with existing University policies (only misapplications of policy as to

            specific individuals are grievances within this policy)

      -     Negative evaluations of an individual faculty member’s professional work (negative

            evaluations that constitute violations of academic freedom are within the jurisdiction

            of TAFC)

      -     Dissatisfaction with a salary decision, except where a salary decision or set of salary

            decisions is part of a pattern of conduct that, taken as a whole, may constitute

            the basis for a grievance

III.  REFERENCE

       Procedure 02-03-01, Faculty Grievances