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Bd. Min. 4-8-05; Extended Bd. Min. 4-4-08; Amended 12-12-08; 04-03-09; Bd. Min. 6-17-11. [The 6-17-11 version replaces 370.015 (Pilot Academic Grievance Procedure), and the prior version of 370.010.] Amended 6-19-14; Revised 2-5-15; Amended 2-9-17; Bd. Min. 9-24-20.

The Board of Curators, the faculty, and the administration of the University of Missouri recognize the importance of providing a prompt and efficient procedure for fair and equitable resolutions of grievances with the University without fear of prejudice or reprisal for initiating a grievance or participating in its settlement. To the extent possible, all grievances should be settled through informal discussions at the lowest administrative level, and disputed matters should be processed as formal grievances only when either party feels that a fair and equitable solution has not been reached in the informal discussions. Accordingly, the members of the faculty as defined in the rules and regulations, Section 310.020.A, including faculty who hold an administrative title or function, are encouraged to use this procedure for grievances relating to their status or activities as faculty members. Former faculty members may only use this process to grieve the non-renewal of their employment. This grievance procedure should not be used in connection with a matter relating to any administrative title or function which the faculty member currently holds or may also have had. The grievance procedure should not be used in connection with a matter relating to a complaint of discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment. Such complaints should be addressed in accordance with the applicable Title IX or Equity Resolution Process:

Section 600.030 Resolution Process for Resolving Complaints of Sexual Harassment under Title IX

Section 600.040 Equity Resolution Process for Resolving Complaints of Discrimination and Harassment against a Faculty Member or Student or Student Organization

Section 600.050 Equity Resolution Process for Resolving Complaints of Discrimination and Harassment against a Staff Member or the University of Missouri

The success of this procedure is contingent upon the good faith effort of all participants. It is the responsibility of the Faculty Council, Senate and Campus Administration, and the University President to encourage and sustain such efforts, and to ensure that the procedure is followed in its entirety in its spirit as well as letter. The Chancellors will be responsible for ensuring that the determination reached in a grievance is implemented. The Faculty Council/Senate Oversight Committee will monitor this process, as per Section 370.010.C.11.c.

1. Definition:
   
   1. A grievance is defined as an allegation that one or more of the following has occurred:
      
      1. There has been a violation, misinterpretation, or arbitrary application of written University rule, policy, regulation, or procedure which applies personally to the faculty member, notwithstanding that it may apply to others within or without the grievant's unit, relating to the privileges, responsibilities, or terms and conditions of employment as a member of the faculty.
      2. There has been an infringement on the academic freedom of the faculty member.
   2. This policy shall not be interpreted in such a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or the recruiting rights of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces or the Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America.
2. Termination and Non-Renewal of Regular Faculty
   
   1. The termination of regular faculty on continuous appointments, on whatever grounds, is governed by the Academic Tenure Regulations (Section 310.020) and the Procedures in Cases of Dismissal for Cause (Section 310.060) rather than this Grievance Procedure. Any matter related to the termination of regular faculty on continuous appointment cannot be grieved under Section 370.010.
   2. The non-renewal of regular faculty on regular term appointments, on whatever grounds, is governed by the Academic Tenure Regulations (Section 310.020) rather than this Grievance Procedure. As laid out in Section 310.020.F.3., if a tenure-track faculty member's non-renewal has been unsuccessfully appealed to the Chancellor, the faculty member may use this grievance process only to allege that the decision resulted from inadequate consideration or that the decision was based significantly on consideration violative of academic freedom.
3. Grievance Process:
   
   1. Grievance Resolution Panel