Senate Consolidated Hearing Committee
Committee Description
The Senate Consolidated Hearing Committee for Faculty Disputes (SCHC) hears grievances and complaints brought against faculty members at the University of Utah or by faculty members asserting rights including appeals from retention, promotion and tenure decisions. It is the hearing body for matters initially considered but not resolved by other committees, offices, or individuals.
Membership
The Senate Consolidated Hearing Committee consists of a pool of at least 30 faculty members nominated by the Personnel and Elections Committee of the Academic Senate. The Executive Committee of the Senate reviews the nominees and, in consultation with the administration, provides a slate to the Senate. The Senate votes sufficient members to fill the pool. SCHC pool members are normally appointed for six-year staggered terms. There may be expedited elections if necessary to fill vacancies in the pool or to provide sufficient members for a particular panel.
Powers & Duties
- Denial of retention, promotion, and tenure
- Complaint of discrimination
- Violation of Faculty Code
- Abridgment of academic freedom
- Termination or reduction in status for medical reasons
- Appeal of dismissal or reduction in status due to financial exigency or program discontinuance
- Appeal for restriction on speech under University speech policy
- Allegations of sponsored research misconduct
Current Roster
SCHC Complaint/Appeal Form Submission Information
Key Contacts:
Senate Hearing Coordinator: Jane Laird, jane.laird@utah.edu
Senate Assistant Hearing Coordinator: Maddie Hile, Maddie.hile@utah.edu
The Senate Consolidated Hearing Committee (SCHC*) process begins when the Senate Office receives a formal request for a hearing for complaints and appeal forms that fall under SCHC jurisdiction. Once filed, the matter now involves parties that include Complainant(s)/Appellant(s) and a Respondent(s). There are some steps to take prior to filing a formal complaint/appeal.
The first step is to note that the Office of the Ombuds can assist in a number of ways when considering a complaint. Those filing forms to get a hearing will need to make sure they have exhausted all other informal remedies. And, in the case of a Faculty Code complaint, efforts towards informal resolution is the first step prior before the SCHC can accept a request for a hearing.
The second is to carefully review University of Utah Policy 6-011 to ensure that anything filed falls under its purview. One crucial point is that the SCHC will only review those cases that include a faculty member as either a Complainant/Appellant or as a Respondent.
It is important at this step to explain in the form, or its attachments, exactly which policy has potentially been violated to expedite an accurate review. When an SCHC complaint form is sent to the Senate office, it will be reviewed to make sure that SCHC policy allows it to review the matter. For instance, Faculty Code violation complaints are first sent by the complainant to the cognizant SVP office delegate, typically the cognizant Office of Faculty, so these cannot be accepted until that step has occurred. In addition, the Faculty Code states: “Notwithstanding any contrary provisions of this code, violations of this code involving misconduct in research shall be governed by and handled in accordance with the provisions of Policy 7-001, and violations involving discrimination or sexual harassment shall be governed by and handled in accordance with the provisions of Policy 1-012 consistent with Policy 6-011.”