14.2 Procedures for the Conduct of an Investigation

The Chair shall inform each party of the names of the other parties and the nature of the complaint, if this was not already done at an earlier stage. The Chair will also advise the grievant and the respondent of the procedures in the grievance process.

The Chair will select three members of an investigation committee, consisting of members of the FSGC and/or individual faculty appointed to serve as FSGC investigators by the Executive Board. The FSGC chair may serve as a member of the subcommittee. These three individuals will serve as a subcommittee for the purposes of investigating the complaint.

In the course of its investigation, the subcommittee shall interview the grievant, the respondent, and any other persons who, in the view of the subcommittee, may have relevant information.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the subcommittee shall submit a written report to the FSGC.  The FSGC may amend the report or accept it.  The preliminary report will then be sent to both the grievant and the respondent.  

The parties shall have ten (10) business days after receipt of the preliminary report to address the findings of the report.  This may be in the form of a written response by either party or a request for a formal hearing by the grievant.

• A written response should state any disagreement with the committee’s findings and should not be longer than two pages.  The Chair shall arrange an exchange of responses between the grievant and respondent for informational purposes only.  The lack of a response by a party shall be interpreted as acceptance by that party of the factual and interpretive information contained in the FSGC’s preliminary report.

• If the grievant wishes to pursue a formal hearing, a written request for a hearing must be submitted as part of the response to the FSGC’s preliminary report.

• If no request for a hearing is made at that time, the grievant has waived the right to a formal hearing, and the FSGC’s final report, together with any responses to it, shall be submitted to the President.  

• The FSGC will make a report to the President within approximately ninety days from the time a grievance is received.  The President shall make a decision on the case and convey that decision in writing to the parties and to the Chair of the FSGC within twenty-one days of receipt of the FSGC’s recommendations.

• If a party requests a formal hearing, the FSGC shall follow the procedures below, and no report shall be made to the President until that process is concluded.

Once considered by the FSGC, a grievance may not be reopened unless, in the judgment of the Chair, there is significant new evidence that was not available at the time of the FSGC’s decision. Future grievances will be reviewed without prejudice.