Grievance system will be tested first at MU.
A pilot grievance plan approved by the University of Missouri System Board of Curators at its Friday meeting in Rolla could clear the desk of UM system President Elson Floyd by redirecting complaints to an investigating officer. The plan will expedite the way the system hears faculty complaints and be implemented at MU for a three-year trial basis before it can be adopted at other UM schools.
MU’s Faculty Council had discussed the grievance policy for at least five years before the curators’ approval, council chair Gordon Christensen said. The revised plan would create a standing committee to hear grievances and create the position of a part-time investigating officer.
Christensen said the creation of the investigating officer would make sure the grievance process would proceed as scheduled.
Floyd said the plan could prevent the backlog of grievances and resolve a personnel dispute before a formal grievance is filed.
The plan did receive criticism. Curator Don Walsworth called the plan “cumbersome.”
“Why not let human resources and the legal department handle it?” Walsworth asked.
MU Chancellor Brady Deaton said the previous grievance plan had taken away time from a lot of faculty and administrators.
“The more improved process reduces the amount of time they have to spend on grievances,” Deaton said.
Deaton said funding for the position would come from MU’s central operating budget, funds generated by indirect costs, state appropriations, auxiliary sales, tuition and fees.
The plan passed unanimously.
The curators also approved a Bachelor of Science degree in information technology to be offered through MU’s College of Engineering. Most of the degree program’s start-up costs would be covered by a $1 million donation disbursed over five years from Southwestern Bell. The degree comes in response to suggestions to the university from Boeing, IBM, Sprint and Southwestern Bell.The curators heard updates from the four campuses and UM Health Care about its goals and the operating budget for the 2006 fiscal year. Floyd also discussed the budget and state appropriations in his remarks to the board.
He said the state House is perfecting the budget but it appears it will pass a flat budget, consistent with the governor’s recommendation.
Floyd also said Gov. Matt Blunt’s $239 million in budget cuts indirectly affect the system, namely through a $2.3 million cut to UM Health Care.
“Any reduction in state appropriations to the health system is particularly problematic on top of the projected $5 to $10 million negative impact of the proposed Medicaid changes,” he said.
Floyd said he would work closely with leaders in the General Assembly as they balance the budget.
“It is still unclear what the Senate will do, but we anticipate the going will be rocky, and the outcome is still in doubt,” he said.