1: Membership

The members of the Appointments and Promotions Appeals Board are three full professors, not concurrently serving as Ombudsman or on the Appointments and Promotions Committee or the Academic Freedom Committee. Members are elected for staggered three-year terms.

2: Responsibilities

The Appeals Board hears candidates' appeals from negative decisions made by the Appointments and Promotions Committee in matters of reappointment, promotion, and tenure. The grounds for appeal are serious procedural defect, fundamental unfairness, or violation of the College's policy with respect to non-discrimination and affirmative action. Information from other committees (e.g., the Academic Freedom Committee, the Affirmative Action Committee) bearing upon the appellant's case shall be submitted to the Appeals Board.

The decision of the Appeals Board, and a summary of the evidence and arguments supporting that decision, shall be communicated in writing to the appellant and to the Appointments and Promotions Committee. If the Board concludes that there was a serious procedural defect, fundamental unfairness, or violation of the College's policy with respect to non-discrimination and affirmative action, it shall direct the Appointments and Promotions Committee to rehear the case, without prejudice, in a fashion that, in the opinion of the Appeals Board, meets the objections cited by the Appeals Board in its report. Finally, the Appointments and Promotions Committee shall rehear the case and make a judgment.

3: Schedule for Appeals

The schedule for appeals is designed so that the appeals process will normally be completed within ninety days from the candidate's receipt of a letter reporting a negative decision. Partners who share an appointment may appeal decisions in the normal way subject to the following conditions: if neither partner is reappointed, each partner presents his/her case for reconsideration, separately; if one partner is not reappointed, that partner presents his/her case, independently.

3.1: Notification of the Decision to Appeal

In the event of a negative decision by the Appointments and Promotion Committee, an appellant will have ten days subsequent to the receipt of written notification of this decision to submit an intention of appeal to the Appeals Board.

3.2: Submission of an Appeal

The appellant will have thirty days from the date of receipt of written notification from the Appointments and Promotion Committee to submit a completed appeal; information from any other committee bearing upon the case must also be submitted within these thirty days. At the request of the appellant or of a relevant committee, the Appeals Board may extend this deadline, but ordinarily for no longer than ten days.

3.3: Decision of the Appeals Board

The Appeals Board will make every effort to render its decision within thirty days of submission of the completed appeal.

3.4: Rehearing by the Appointments and Promotion Committee

If the Appeals Board returns a case to the Appointments and Promotions Committee, that case will be reconsidered by the Committee as constituted when it was originally heard. The Committee will make every effort to render its final decision within thirty days after being directed to rehear the case by the Appeals Board.

3.5: Extended Membership on the Appointments and Promotions Committee

In the event that an appeal extends beyond the ninety-day period and is then returned to the Appointments and Promotions Committee, the term of the outgoing member of the Committee will be extended beyond August 15 for the purpose of hearing that appeal.

(Passed April 13, 1976; Revised October 11, 1977; Revised May 5, 1987; Revised September 19, 1989)