Senate Resolution on Academic Investigations
Resolution to Establish Rules and Procedures Regarding Academic Investigations
Whereas the Academic Rights and Responsibilities document approved by the Board of Visitors on November 18, 1976 states:
“Membership in the academic community imposes on students, faculty members, administrators and members of the Board of Visitors an obligation to respect each other’s dignity; to acknowledge each other’s right to express differing opinions…
An academic community, ideally enjoying a high degree of protection from outside interference in the pursuit of its goals, cannot tolerate disruptive interference within. All elements of the University are committed to open and rational discussion as an instrument for the clarification of issues, the settlement of disputes and the solutions of problems.
In the past, academic institutions have achieved eminence to a large extent because they managed to provide their faculties with a climate blended of academic freedom, economic security, adequate resources and most importantly, goodwill, mutually shared and bestowed among all of their members. Virginia Commonwealth University cannot achieve its goal with less….”
Whereas recent events have called into question several of the expectations secured in the Academic Rights and Responsibilities document;
Whereas faculty deserve the right to due process and a fair, accurate investigation.
Therefore, Be It Resolved that VCU’s Board of Visitors and administration should work with representatives from the Faculty Senate to adopt rules and procedures concerning employee rights and protections in any VCU investigation that shall include:
--the right of faculty to have a witness or advisor or both (of their choice) during investigatory interviews;
--the right to have audio/video recordings made of such interviews;
--the right of the interviewed to read and sign a report of their testimony under such questioning;
--any reference to a faculty member’s tenure or future employment should not be permitted in any official VCU investigation;
--employees suspected or accused of misconduct have the right to receive a written statement of the charges made against them.
Passed by Vote of the VCU Faculty Senate, October 7, 2008