Faculty Governance Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure

Full Charge (Faculty Handbook, II.C.6)

1. rendering advice to the Faculty, to its individual members, to the professional librarians, and to the Administration on questions that are brought to its attention relating to the professional ethics and responsibilities of the Faculty.
2. investigating any charge of violation of academic freedom which may be brought to the attention of the Committee.
3. investigating a complaint of a faculty member or professional librarian regarding due process or violation of academic freedom in reviews for evaluation, retention, promotion, or tenure.
4. reviewing and evaluating the departmental criteria for judging the performance of tenured and non-tenured members of the Faculty and of professional librarians.
5. investigating, upon that person's formal request, the case of any faculty member or professional librarian who has been denied retention or tenure (see III.K.2.).
6. intervening with the Administration when the Committee deems it appropriate on any of the above matters.
7. reporting to the Faculty in the event that any such matter is not resolved to the satisfaction of the Committee.

Any complaint must contain the following information:

1. The entry or entries in the Faculty Handbook which are applicable to the complaint.
2. The rationale used for making the complaint.

In a case where the complaint is in response to a notice of non-renewal of contract, the individual should bring his/her complaint to the Committee within 45 calendar days of the notice. However, there may be times when extenuating circumstances require a later date.

If the Committee decides to take no action on a complaint, the chairperson will so inform the requestor, giving the reasons for the Committee's decision.