Faculty Adjudication Committee

Definitions 

• The adjudication process provides for actions to address disputes through formal clarification and evaluation of the issues surrounding the complaint and information obtained during any investigations of the complaint for those disputes that have not been resolved through reasoned discussions and decisions of the involved parties and/or the University Ombudsperson.
• A “complaint” is any action or decision that a faculty member feels has adversely affected his or her professional capacity as an LSU employee that appears to have occurred or been decided unfairly, improperly, or in violation of University policy or has caused hostile or intolerable work conditions. The complaint will be considered a grievance when the Adjudication Committee agrees to accept the complaint as a grievance and begin committee activities on the complaint. Misapplications of University policies, but not dissatisfaction with existing University policies, may be considered as grievances. Violations of academic freedom, negative evaluations not based on objective criteria, salary decisions indicative of a pattern of poor administrative judgments, uncorrected inappropriate or unsuitable work environments, continuing intolerable conditions, and continuing behavior or conduct unbecoming a faculty member may be considered as grievances. Actions or decisions that may not be considered grievances are those that are encompassed by specific University policies, including, but not limited to sexual harassment; discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, disability or status as a disabled veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam era; or policies and procedures for appointment, tenure or promotion decisions. The committee shall not hear appeals arising from the dismissal for cause of a tenured faculty member, after due process as outlined in PS-104.
• The definition of the term, “faculty member,” as used by this committee, shall be the definition provided in Section 1-2.2 A, Bylaws and Regulations of the Board of Supervisors.

Membership

Nine tenured faculty members; three members elected each year by the Senate to serve a three-year term. Nominations may be made from the floor of the Senate. The three persons who receive the largest number of votes shall be elected. The fourth person shall be an alternate. If a replacement is needed for a member unable to serve a full term, the alternate shall serve. Chairs or heads of departments and higher administration personnel are ineligible to serve on this committee. The Committee at the beginning of each academic year will elect a Chair-elect who will succeed the Chair the next academic year, and the Chair will become the Past Chair, who will not serve on the Committee if the term has expired. Committee members may only be elected and serve for two consecutive 3-year terms. The committee will meet within the first month of each semester to review the operating guidelines and on a regular basis to discuss pending complaints or accepted grievances.

Members