Section 1000: Campus Policy

Effective: December 1, 1990
Revised:
Last Review:   
Next Review:

Discipline

Corrective counseling and oral warnings are informal means of dealing with performance deficiencies or misconduct which may be used at the employer's option prior to or in addition to formal disciplinary measures.

The employer may formally discipline employees for unacceptable performance or behavior using such means as, but not limited to, written warnings, suspension without pay, disciplinary demotions, and discharge.

  • The employee shall receive written notice of any formal disciplinary action and a copy of such notice shall be placed in the employee's personnel file. Such notices shall include the reason for the discipline; the type of disciplinary action taken, including dates and duration where applicable; the improvement or corrections expected; and the consequences of failure to make required improvement.
  • The Director of Human Resource Services shall review all notices of disciplinary action prior to their issuance and shall be responsible for forwarding a copy of notice to the bargaining agent where required by a collective bargaining agreement.
  • Where notices cannot be issued in person, they should be delivered by certified mail.

Termination

Classified Employees

Classified employees who have not completed the six month probationary period in a permanent position may be terminated any time during the probationary period without cause and without prejudice. Employees who are terminated during their probationary period need not be given reasons for their termination nor are such employees entitled to the pre-termination review outlined in Section II A of this policy. Prior to termination of a probationary employee the Director of Human Resource Services shall be consulted.

Classified employees who have completed the six-month probationary period may be terminated for cause if they fail to perform their jobs in a satisfactory manner or if their behavior otherwise interferes with the efficient operation of the unit. Discharge should not be an initial disciplinary action except in the most serious cases of unacceptable behavior. Classified employees who are terminated for cause shall be given written notice of their termination which specifies the date the termination is effective and the reasons for the discharge.

The Director of Human Resource Services shall be consulted prior to the termination of a classified employee who has completed their probationary period. An immediate suspension pending investigation may be utilized if it is vital to remove the employee from the work situation. The Director of Human Resource Services shall review all notices of termination prior to their issuance and shall be responsible for forwarding a copy of the notices of termination to the collective bargaining agent where required by a collective bargaining agreement.

Contract Professional Administrative Employees

    • Employees who are employed through individual employment contracts under the authority of the Board of Regents may be terminated for cause at any time during the contract period. Discharge should not be an initial disciplinary action except in serious cases of unsatisfactory performance or unacceptable behavior. Employees with employment contracts who are terminated for cause shall be given written notice of their termination which specifies the date the termination is effective and the reasons for termination.
    • Employees who are employed through individual employment contracts under the authority of the Board of Regents may be terminated without prejudice and without a showing of cause upon written notice and expiration of their employment contract. Employees shall be given written notice of intent not to renew their contracts at least thirty (30) days prior to termination during the first year of employment, three (3) months prior to termination during the second year of employment, or six (6) months prior to termination during the third or subsequent years of employment. Employees who are given the specified notice of their termination or the pretermination review are provided for in Section II A of this policy.
    • The Chancellor is excluded from this policy.
    • Coaching staff explicitly exempt.

Procedures

A pretermination review shall be conducted prior to the termination of a classified employee who has completed the probation period. A pretermination review shall be conducted prior to the termination for cause during the contract period of an employee who is employed through an individual employment contract. The purpose of the pretermination review is to ensure there are reasonable grounds to believe the allegations against the employee are true and the allegations support the discharge decision.

  • The pretermination review shall be conducted by the Director of Human Resource Services (the investigator).
  • The supervisor recommending termination shall explain and support the reasons for the termination to the investigator prior to finalizing the discharge.
  • The investigation shall give the employee notice of the allegations supporting the recommended discharge action, notice of the substance of the evidence supporting the allegations, an opportunity to submit a written response, and opportunity to meet with the investigator, and an opportunity to present rebuttal witnesses.
  • After hearing the employee's side of the story and investigating areas of conflict between the supervisor's and employee's perceptions of the situation the investigator shall determine whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that the charges against the employee are true and support the proposed action.
  • Upon completion of the pretermination review, the investigator shall report his or her findings to the hiring authority and together they shall decide, based on the findings, whether or not the decision to discharge should be finalized.

At the time the termination becomes effective, the employee shall be informed of the right to appeal the decision to terminate.

Reference:

MUS Regent Policy 711.1, Employment Instruments; Professional and Administrative Employees, Effective November 19, 1998; Issued December 30, 1998.