Faculty Rights & Responsibilities Committee – Annual Report – 2024-2025

Members:

Name	Rank	Department	Div	E/A	Term Ends	Email
Thomas LeBel 1	Assoc	Criminal Justice & Criminology	PR	A	2028	lebel@uwm.edu
Margaret Noodin	Prof	English	AH	E	2028	noodin@uwm.edu
Kevin Muse	Assoc	World Languages & Cultures	AH	E	2027	kmuse@uwm.edu
Krishna Pillai	Prof	Mechanical Engineering	NS	E	2027	krishna@uwm.edu
Cary Costello	Assoc	Sociology	SS	E	2026	costello@uwm.edu
Sandra McLellan 2	Prof	Freshwater Sciences	NS	A	2026	mclellan@uwm.edu
Julia Snethen, Chair	Prof	Nursing	PR	E	2026	julia@uwm.edu

Charter:

5.44 Faculty Rights & Responsibilities Committee

1. Membership
   Seven (7) tenured members of the Faculty with at least one representative from each Faculty Division, no more than two (2) of whom shall be from a single Faculty Division.  No more than three (3) members shall be from a single college, or equivalent academic unit, and no more than one (1) member shall be from a single department.  Members who have been elected to and have served a full three-year term are not eligible for re-election until two (2) years have elapsed.  Members who are elected to a partial term are eligible for reelection.
2. Nominations and Elections.  
   Nominations for election to the committee shall be by the Nominations Committee and by the Faculty in accordance with the regular procedures for elected Faculty committees.  Elections shall be conducted in the same manner as for other Faculty committees.
3. Chair.
   In the spring semester, the committee shall elect a Chair for the following year from among its continuing members.  The decision shall be communicated to the Secretary of the University by April 15.  The duties of the new Chair will commence on the first day of the fall semester, except that the new Chair may serve over the summer by agreement of the committee in the event that the incumbent Chair is unable to serve.
4. Functions.
   All allegations of misconduct, which may include alleged human rights violations, made against one or more Faculty members or against a Faculty body are received through the University Committee, care of the Secretary of the University’s office. Upon referral by the University Committee, pursuant to the provisions of s. UWS 6.01, Wis. Admin. Code, the Committee conducts fact-finding concerning the allegations of misconduct and makes recommendations to the Provost concerning disciplinary action or appropriate corrective non-disciplinary action.  The Committee may consult informally with individuals concerning questions which may lead to allegations of misconduct prior to the filing of formal complaints with the University Committee.
5. Powers.
   1. The committee conducts fact-finding concerning allegations of misconduct and makes recommendations to the Provost concerning disciplinary action or appropriate corrective non-disciplinary action.
   2. The committee may recommend dismissal of the complaint, or referral to the department or other equivalent administrative unit, or to the Faculty member for disposition if the committee does not judge the allegation to be serious enough to warrant its further action.
   3. Upon determination by the committee that misconduct of sufficient magnitude to warrant consideration of dismissal for cause might have occurred, the committee shall refer the matter without further consideration to the Provost.
   4. When the Provost has brought dismissal charges against a Faculty member against whom a complaint has been filed under 5.23 above, the provisions of 5.21 through 5.29 supersede, and any proceedings under 5.40 through 5.46 shall be suspended immediately.

Meetings:

The FRRC met 10 times during the academic year 2024-25.  There were two new cases this year.

1. Case A: Case A was a new case for 2024-25 and the committee investigated the case and invited response to the complaint.  Following the response, recommendations were drafted and forwarded to the relevant parties, the provost office and the Secretary of the University.
2. Case B: Case B was also a new case for 2024-25.  The committee found that the complaint was in good order and investigated the case.  Following a detailed investigation that involved several rounds of inquiry and responses, the committee issued a draft finding to which the relevant parties responded and a final finding that was forwarded to the relevant parties, the department of philosophy, the deans office of the College of Letters and Science, the Provost Office and the Secretary of the University.

Chairs notes:

The committee worked admirably and tirelessly throughout the year to resolve both complaints.  Case B was an especially difficult case, but it speaks volumes that the committee was able to resolve it in a judicious manner.