Appeals Committee for Resolution of Student Complaints About Faculty in Academic Settings

Appeals Committee for Resolution of Student Complaints About Faculty in Academic Settings – 3 members elected by the college council.

Charge of Committee:  The college respects the academic freedom of the faculty and will not interfere with it as it relates to the content or style of teaching activities. Indeed, academic freedom is and should be of paramount importance. At the same time the college recognizes its responsibility to provide students with a procedure for addressing complaints about faculty treatment of students that are not protected by academic freedom and are not covered by other procedures. Examples might include incompetent or inefficient service, neglect of duty, physical or mental incapacity and conduct unbecoming a member of the staff.  In short, an investigation is conducted by a “fact finder,” typically the department chair, and a report and decision in made by the fact finder.  This committee exists to handle the appeal from a student or faculty member should the student or faculty member be unsatisfied with the outcome of the aforementioned process.

Composition on Committee:  3 full time tenured faculty members of rank of associate or higher. Members do not have to be college council members.

Eligibility:  Full time, associate or higher faculty members.

Method of Election:  Elected by members of the college council in the first meeting of the fall semester. 3 members need a plurality of votes. No 2 members can be in the same department.  If more than one member of a single department runs only the candidate with the most votes will be elected.

Term:  1 year term.

Additional Stipulations:  No faculty member shall serve more than 3 consecutive terms.

(In NYCCT Governance Plan and NYCCT Bylaws)