Iowa State University


Inside Iowa State
February 4, 2000

Committee reviews comments on conduct policy

by Linda Charles
A proposed faculty conduct policy has received "a lot of positive responses," says Jack Girton, chair of the three-member committee that is working on the policy.

Over the past two months, the committee has solicited responses to a policy draft through focus groups, open forums and the Faculty Senate. While the two open forums drew only two people, 15 to 20 administrators and faculty attended each of the four focus groups. In addition, Girton said he has received about a half dozen e-mails from faculty senators commenting on the proposed policy.

Paul Tanaka, director of University Legal Services, provost Rollin Richmond and assistant provost Faye Whitaker also have gone over the policy "almost line by line," Girton said.

The proposed policy includes procedures for investigating complaints, providing due process to the accused while "safeguarding the dignity of the accuser," and determining if sanctions are warranted.

"Review by one's peers is an intrinsic part of this entire process, so the faculty role is essential rather than merely advisory," the policy states.

The proposed conduct policy provides two ways to deal with alleged faculty misconduct. The first, an informal process, allows allegations to be settled through mediated discussions among those involved. The formal proceeding calls for a faculty committee to be assembled to review the case.

If dissatisfied with the results of the informal process, the accuser may elect to file a formal complaint, or the informal process may be skipped altogether.

The policy also allows for situations in which the provost may need to take immediate action without assembling the committee. Such cases might involve threat of physical danger to people or property; reasonable indication of criminal violation or health hazards; need to protect equipment or funds; or need to protect the person making the allegation or the person who is the subject of the allegation.

Girton said while parts of the proposal need to be reconsidered, the idea of a single procedure for dealing with faculty conduct matters has drawn favorable comments in general. Also drawing favorable response was the idea of peer review.

"There's peer review for hiring faculty, for promotion and tenure. If faculty members behave in an inappropriate manner, it is right that their peers censure their actions," Girton said.

The informal option also drew wide support, Girton said. People like the idea of being able to solve a problem early before it escalates.

"Overall, people seem to think the proposed policy is a tremendous improvement," Girton said.

The committee has reviewed responses from the focus groups and now is going through comments made by administrators. Judging from comments reviewed thus far, Girton said a clearer explanation may be needed for the roles of DEOs, deans, mediators and assistors.

The roles of the university's president and provost also need to be more clearly spelled out, especially in a legal sense, Girton said.

The committee hopes to complete its work and present the policy to the senate and provost for additional comments by mid-March.

To become part of the Faculty Handbook,the policy needs to be approved by the Faculty Senate, then President Martin Jischke, and finally the Board of Regents, State of Iowa.

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