Wisconsin Administrative Code
Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
Chapter UWS 4 - Procedures For Faculty Dismissal And For Dismissal And Discipline In Title IX Cases
Subchapter II - Procedures for Faculty Dismissal and Discipline in Non-Title IX Cases
Section UWS 4.06 - Procedural guarantees

(a) The burden of proof of the existence of just cause is on the administration or its representatives;

(am) For complaints involving sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual exploitation, or stalking, the standard of proof shall be a preponderance of the evidence;

(b) No faculty member who participated in the investigation of allegations leading to the filing of a statement of charges, or in the filing of a statement of charges, or who is a material witness shall be qualified to sit on the committee in that case;

(c) The hearing shall be closed unless the faculty member under charges requests an open hearing, in which case it shall be open (see subch. V of ch. 19, Stats., Open Meetings of Governmental Bodies);

(d) The faculty hearing committee may, on motion of either party, and, if the complaint involves sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual exploitation, or stalking, on the motion of the complainant, disqualify any one of its members for cause by a majority vote. If one or more of the faculty hearing committee members disqualify themselves or are disqualified, the remaining members may select a number of other members of the faculty equal to the number who have been disqualified to serve, except that alternative methods of replacement may be specified in the rules and procedures adopted by the faculty establishing the standing committee under s. UWS 4.03;

(e) The faculty hearing committee shall not be bound by common law or statutory rules of evidence and may admit evidence having reasonable probative value but shall exclude immaterial, irrelevant, or unduly repetitious testimony, and shall give effect to recognized legal privileges;

(f) If the faculty hearing committee requests, the chancellor shall provide legal counsel after consulting with the committee concerning its wishes in this regard. The function of legal counsel shall be to advise the committee, consult with them on legal matters, and such other responsibilities as shall be determined by the committee within the provisions of the rules and procedures adopted by the faculty of the institution in establishing the standing faculty committee under s. UWS 4.03;

(g) If a proceeding on charges against a faculty member not holding tenure is not concluded before the faculty member's appointment would expire, the faculty member may elect that such proceeding be carried to a final decision. Unless the faculty member so elects in writing, the proceeding shall be discontinued at the expiration of the appointment;

(h) If a faculty member whose dismissal is sought has requested a hearing, discontinuance of the proceeding by the institution is deemed a withdrawal of charges and a finding that the charges were without merit;

(i) Nothing in this section shall prevent the settlement of cases by mutual agreement between the administration and the faculty member, with board approval, at any time prior to a final decision by the board;

(j) Adjournment shall be granted to enable the parties, including the complainant, to investigate evidence as to which a valid claim of surprise is made.