Hearing Tribunal Selection Procedures - UTDPP1055

Policy Statement

The Rules and Regulations of the Board of Regents, in Rule 31008, Section 4 (https://www.utsystem.edu/board-of-regents/rules/31008-termination-faculty-member) provide for the use and appointment of a special faculty hearing tribunal in cases where the President has determined that allegations against a tenured faculty member or of a faculty member before the expiration of his or her appointment are supported by evidence that constitutes good cause for termination. Rule 31008, Section 6 further provides that tenure-track faculty whose appointments are not renewed or who are not granted tenure and are therefore given a one year terminal appointment as required by Rule 31007, Section 5 may be granted the right to have the decision reviewed by a special faculty hearing tribunal to determine whether the decision was made for reasons that are unlawful under the laws or Constitution of Texas or the United States. Procedures for the selection of a special hearing tribunal at U.T. Dallas are specified below.

The special hearing tribunal will consist of three members of the tenured faculty selected from a standing pool of tenured faculty chosen by the President and by the Academic Senate. The pool should reflect the diverse nature of the University and, to ensure fairness, should include members from all schools. Twenty members of the pool are to be selected by the Academic Senate via open nominations and a secret ballot no later than the last meeting of each academic year. Twenty additional members are to be appointed by the President to the pool by June of each year. The names of the faculty members selected for the pool by the Academic Senate will be published in the Academic Senate's minutes. The names of the additional faculty members appointed by the President will be published in the Academic Senate's minutes of the meeting during which the Academic Senate is informed of the appointment.

In a case where a special hearing tribunal is required by the Regents' Rules and Regulations cited above, the President, in consultation with the Academic Council, will appoint three faculty members from the pool to serve on the special hearing tribunal. A minimum of one member must be selected from the pool selected by the Academic Senate.