Wisconsin Administrative Code
Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
Chapter UWS 11 - Dismissal Of Academic Staff For Cause
Subchapter IV - Procedures for Dismissal for Cause in Special Cases - Indefinite Academic Staff Appointments
Section UWS 11.31 - Expedited process

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง UWS 11.31

Current through August 26, 2024

(1) Whenever the chancellor of an institution within the University of Wisconsin System receives a report under s. UWS 11.30 or other credible information that an academic staff member holding an indefinite appointment has pleaded guilty or no contest to, or has been convicted of a felony of a type listed in s. UWS 11.29(1) (a), in state or federal court, the chancellor shall:

(a) Within 3 working days of receipt of the report or information, inform the academic staff member of its receipt and, after consulting with appropriate institutional governance representatives, appoint an investigator to investigate the report or information and advise the chancellor as to whether to proceed under this section or ss. UWS 11.02 to 11.10 or ss. UWS 11.13 to 11.26. If the university knows the identity of an affected party, the university shall make a reasonable attempt to notify the affected party of the report or information at the same time as the academic staff member.

(b) Upon appointing an investigator and notifying the academic staff member, afford the academic staff member 3 working days in which to request that the investigator be disqualified on grounds of lack of impartiality or other cause. In the event that the chancellor determines that a request for disqualification should be granted, the chancellor shall, within 2 working days of the determination, appoint a different investigator. The academic staff member shall have the opportunity to request that any second or subsequent investigators be disqualified on grounds of lack of impartiality or other cause.

(2) The investigator shall be complete and file a report with the chancellor not later than 10 working days following the investigator's appointment.

(3) Within 3 working days of receipt of the investigator's report, the chancellor shall consult with appropriate institutional governance representatives and decide whether to seek dismissal of the academic staff member pursuant to ss. UWS 11.28 to 11.33, to seek dismissal of the academic staff member pursuant to ss. UWS 11.02 to 11.10, to seek dismissal of the academic staff member pursuant to ss. UWS 11.13 to 11.25, to seek an alternative disciplinary sanction, or to discontinue the proceedings as follows:

(a) If the chancellor decides to seek dismissal of the academic staff member pursuant to ss. UWS 11.28 to 11.33, the chancellor shall file charges within 2 working days of reaching the decision.

(b) If the chancellor decides to seek dismissal of the academic staff member pursuant to ss. UWS 11.02 to 11.10 or ss. UWS 11.13 to 11.26, the chancellor shall file charges and proceed in accordance with the provisions of those sections of this chapter and implementing institutional policies. If, during the course of proceedings under ss. UWS 11.02 to 11.10 or ss. UWS 11.13 to 11.26, the chancellor receives a report under s. UWS 11.30 or other credible information that the academic staff member has pleaded guilty or no contest to or has been convicted of a felony of a type listed in s. UWS 11.29(1) (a), and one or more of the factors listed in s. UWS 11.29(1) (b) to (e) are present, the chancellor may, at that point, elect to follow the procedures for dismissal pursuant to this section.

(c) If the chancellor decides to seek an alternative disciplinary sanction, the procedures under ch. UWS 13 or ss. UWS 11.13 to 11.26, and implementing institutional policies, shall be followed.

(4) If charges seeking dismissal are filed under sub. (3) (a), the academic staff member shall be afforded a hearing before the institutional standing committee charged with hearing dismissal cases and making recommendations under s. UWS 11.03. The hearing shall provide the procedural guarantees enumerated under ss. UWS 11.05 to 11.06, except that the hearing must be concluded, and written findings and a recommendation to the chancellor must be prepared, within 15 working days of the filing of charges.

(5) Within 3 working days of receipt of the findings and recommendation of the committee under sub. (4), the chancellor shall prepare a written decision on the matter. In the decision, the chancellor may order dismissal of the staff member, may impose a lesser disciplinary action, or may find in favor of the staff member. The staff member shall be notified of the chancellor's decision in writing. If the university knows the identity of an affected party, the university shall make a reasonable attempt to provide the affected party a copy of the chancellor's final decision at the same time as the academic staff member. This decision shall be deemed final unless the board, upon request of the academic staff member, grants a review based on the record.

(6) The administration or its representatives shall have the burden of proof to show that just cause exists for dismissal under this chapter. The administration shall demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that the academic staff member engaged in serious criminal misconduct, as defined in s. UWS 11.29.

(7) The chair of the academic staff hearing body, subject to the approval of the chancellor, may extend the time limits set forth in this section if the parties are unable to obtain, in a timely manner, relevant and material testimony, physical evidence or records, or where due process otherwise requires.

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