Student Employee Termination and Grievance UPPS No. 07.07.04
Procedure Issue
No. 3
Effective Date: 12/5/2003
Review: December 1 E4Y
01. POLICY STATEMENTS
01.01 We at Texas State are committed to recruiting and retaining a heterogeneous and qualified student body, and providing services which enhance their personal development and contribute to the fulfillment of their goals. The following procedure contributes to the implementation of this policy.
01.02 This UPPS sets forth policies for the
involuntary termination of student employees as defined in Section 02.01, UPPS No. 07.07.03.
It also provides an organized procedure whereby student employees may present
grievances.
02. PROCEDURE
FOR HANDLING UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE
02.01 Student
employees who demonstrate either unsatisfactory work performance or
unsatisfactory work attendance may be warned by the supervisor and given time
to correct the problem, or be dismissed immediately (see Section 05.02).
Upon demonstration of
unsatisfactory performance or attendance, the supervisor should immediately
warn the student and allow a reasonable period for the student to improve
his/her performance with the understanding that unless the student's work
performance or attendance improves, his/her employment will be terminated. The
supervisor should take steps toward improved communication or instruction
enabling the student employee to achieve satisfactory performance.
03. PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING NON-DISCIPLINARY TERMINATION
03.01 Termination is warranted for reasons of budget constraints, completion of a project, lack of work, or other such valid reasons unrelated to job performance. In these instances, employers must provide the student with a written notice at least one (1) week prior to the termination date. This notice must state the reason for termination.
04. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
04.01 Student
employees have the right to appeal matters regarding their employment which
they believe are unjust, improper or unwarranted. The procedure for resolving such complaints and differences is as
follows:
Step
I: The student should meet with his/her supervisor as soon as is reasonably
possible after there is an awareness of the concern and an earnest attempt
should be made by both parties to resolve the problem. However, if the student
has already met with the immediate supervisor to resolve the problem then
he/she need not repeat this step.
Step II: If the student does not feel the situation has been satisfactorily resolved, he/she should discuss the problem with the department head or account manager within five (5) class days of completion of Step I, unless that person is the same party the student met with in Step I. In this event, the student should be referred to the department head's/account manager's immediate supervisor for resolution.
Step
III: Should the student still feel the problem has not been satisfactorily
resolved after following Steps I and II, he/she should file a written grievance
(Attachment
II) with the Dean of Students within five (5) class days of completion of
Step II. (Student Employment Grievance Forms are available from the Dean of
Students Office, LBJ Student Center Room 5-9.2.) An investigation will be
conducted by the Dean of Students and a written decision rendered within ten
(10) working days after the investigation is completed. The decision of the
Dean of Students is final and binding on all
parties. If a grievance should be filed against the Dean of Students, the
investigation should be conducted by the Vice President for Student Affairs or
his/her designee.
04.02 Students
are encouraged to seek advice and assistance from the Dean of Students Office.
If a student experiences delays or a lack of employer responsiveness, he/she
may proceed to the next step in the above-mentioned procedure.
05. PROCEDURES FOR TERMINATION
05.01 Career
Services must be notified of the termination of student employees using a
Student Termination Form (see Attachment I).
This form should be completed and signed by the account manager and must
indicate the last date of service. The data from this form will assist the
Career Services Office in future employment verification of prior state
service. Generally, the period of
employment is considered for the duration of the semester, although employment
may carry over from one semester to another. (Work-study students are permitted
to work until they meet their award limit, unless the account manager makes
other budgeting provisions.) The decision to continue employing a student from
semester to semester is the sole prerogative of the employer. Student employees
should be advised upon their hire of the anticipated length
of their employment so they can plan accordingly.
05.02 Departments
should provide at least one (1) week's written notice prior to releasing
students from their work, except in cases of flagrant, willful violation of
University rules, gross misconduct/insubordination, or violation of applicable
statutes.
05.03 Student
employees should give at least one (1) week's notice to their employer when
resigning from a University job. All university properties such as keys,
uniforms, and tools must be returned to employers before final paychecks are
released.
05.04 Procedures
for processing resignations are handled the same way as terminations, with the
exception of attaching a letter of resignation to the student's Termination
Form.
06. NOTIFICATION
06.01 Students will be notified of this policy and procedure through reference to this UPPS in the student handbook.
07. REVIEWERS OF THIS UPPS
07.01 Reviewers of this UPPS include the following:
Position Date
Mr. Curt Schafer December
1 E4Y
Director of Career Services
Dr. John Garrison December
1 E4Y
Dean of Students
Ms. Shannon Fitzpatrick December 1 E4Y
Attorney for Students
07. CERTIFICATION OF STATEMENT
This
UPPS has been approved by the following individuals in their official
capacities and represents Texas State policy and procedure from the date of
this document until superseded.
Mr.
Curt Schafer, Director, Career Services Office; senior reviewer of this UPPS
Dr.
Greg Snodgrass, Assistant Vice President for Student
Affairs and Director of Counseling Center
Dr.
James D. Studer, Vice President for Student Affairs
Dr. Denise M. Trauth,
President