Dismissal for Cause The following procedures shall apply in all cases of dismissal for cause:
19.3.1 The employment of an academic staff member may be terminated by reason of professional misconduct, wilful neglect of duties, or incompetence as demonstrated by annual review reports.
19.3.2 Except in the case of professional misconduct, due warning in writing shall be given by the Xxxx to the academic staff member pointing out the gravity of the situation and the possibility of termination if the problem is not corrected. In cases where no action is taken subsequent to the written warning and where no further warnings have been issued during three years, the Xxxx shall, upon request of the member, add a written note to the member's official file reflecting the member's current status in relation to the original letter of warning. Any written warning or response pertaining to this clause which is more than three years old, providing there have been no intervening written warnings of any kind, shall be removed from the official file. Notwithstanding the above, upon request by a member to the Xxxx, such material may be removed before the three- year period expires.
19.3.3 When it is to be recommended that an academic staff member be dismissed for cause, the member personally shall be given notice in writing, at a meeting where a Faculty Association representative is present, that seven days from the date of the notice, the Xxxx shall formally recommend to the President that the member be dismissed. In the event that it is not possible to personally present the member with the notice the Xxxx shall forward the notice by registered mail, airmail if appropriate, to the last known address of the member. Such mailed notice shall provide for a period of fourteen calendar days from the date the notice is sent until the formal recommendation to the President. A copy of the mailed notice shall be sent to the Faculty Association. When it is unlikely that the academic staff member will receive the mailed notice within fourteen days, the Faculty Association may request an extension of seven days to the notice period. The notice to the member shall contain a complete statement of the grounds for the recommendation to dismiss. From the date the notice is given, the member may be relieved of all duties by the Xxxx.
19.3.4 If the academic staff member or the Faculty Association requests it, the President shall convene a meeting during the notice period specified in 19.3.3 attended by the member (if available), the Xxxx, the department head (if applicable) and a representative of the Faculty Association to hear whatever representation any of the parties wishes to make concerning the intended dismissal. The meeting shall be without prejudice to the interest of any person attending, or to the formal grievance process.
19.3.5 At the end of the notice period, the Xxxx shall either:
(a) inform the academic staff member in writing with a copy to the Faculty Association that the action is discontinued OR
(b) formally recommend in writing to the President, with a copy to the academic staff member and to the Faculty Association, that the member be dismissed.
19.3.6 Upon receipt of a formal recommendation from a Xxxx to dismiss an academic staff member, the President shall, within seven calendar days of the date of the recommendation, inform the member in writing, with a copy to the Faculty Association, either that the action is discontinued or that the dismissal action is proceeding.
19.3.7 In the case of dismissal for reasons other than professional misconduct and unauthorized absence from campus, from the date of the President's letter the academic staff member is suspended with pay for twenty-one days. In cases of dismissal for professional misconduct or unauthorized absence from campus, the member may be suspended without pay for twenty-one days from the date of the President's letter. At any time during a suspension the member may be relieved of all duties. If the academic staff member or the Faculty Association does not enter a grievance within the twenty-one day period, the member's employment is terminated at the end of the period. If a grievance is entered, the member remains suspended (continuing with pay or without pay as the case may be) until the resolution of the grievance. If the grievance is not upheld the member's employment is terminated. As provided in Article 22.2, while on suspension the member's non- salary benefits are not to be withheld. If the member is suspended with pay, the member is responsible for the normal share of benefit costs. If the suspension is without pay the University shall assume payment of all costs, but if salary is subsequently restored the member shall be charged the normal share of costs from the effective date of salary restoration.
19.3.8 All correspondence to the academic staff member required by this clause shall be delivered directly to the member where convenient, and in other cases forwarded by registered mail, airmail if appropriate, to the last known address of the member. The copies for the Faculty Association shall be delivered to the Chair or, in the Chair's absence, to an officer of the Faculty Association.
19.3.9 Failure to act within the time limits set out above shall constitute waiver of rights except where a party, acting in good faith, clearly was unable to do so. The onus is on the party violating the time limits to show cause why it was unable to act prior to the time that the action is now taken.
