Opinion ID: 488009
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The University's Compliance with Procedures

Text: 35 Dr. McConnell also claims that, assuming, arguendo, that there was cause for his dismissal, the University was bound by the Faculty Handbook to follow prescribed procedures. He points to a disputed issue of fact as to whether one procedural step--transmittal of the report of the Grievance Committee to the Board of Trustees--occurred. 36 The Faculty Handbook sets forth a series of steps that must take place before the University can terminate the services of a tenured faculty member. Initially, [w]hen the fitness of a faculty member is under question, appropriate administrative officers shall discuss the matter with him directly. Faculty Handbook, reprinted in McConnell v. Howard Univ., 621 F.Supp. at 333. 10 If a mutually satisfactory resolution does not resolve, the matter shall be referred to the Grievance Committee of the school concerned. Id. The Grievance Committee is to be composed of five tenured faculty members from a department other than the department of the aggrieved party. Id. at 334. It is empowered to hold a hearing, at which it may hear the testimony of witnesses and receive other evidence relevant to the charges. Id. Both the Dean of the school and the faculty member may be represented by counsel, and both have the right to question witnesses. Id. After the hearing, the Grievance Committee must arrive at explicit findings with respect to each of the grounds for dismissal and formulate its decision for or against removal of the faculty member. ... The Dean and the faculty member shall be notified in writing of the findings of fact and decision. Each shall receive ... a copy of the record of the hearing. Id. 37 Neither party disputes that, up to this point, the procedures were substantially followed. The procedures go on to state, however, that: 38 The Dean shall transmit the full report of the Grievance Committee and its recommendation to the President for presentation to the Board of Trustees or its Executive Committee. If the Board of Trustees or its Executive Committee chooses to review the case, its review shall be based on the record of the hearing. The decision of the Board of Trustees shall be final. 39 Id. at 335 (emphasis added). Dr. McConnell maintains that, rather than transmitting the full report of the Grievance Committee, the President presented the Board with a two-page summary of the Grievance Committee's findings. In fact, Dr. Cheek, the President of the University, stated in his deposition that he did not think that he transmitted the full report to the Board. Deposition of James Cheek at 57, reprinted in Appellant App. 103. Howard University maintains that, in fact, the Board of Trustees did receive the report. 40 Failure to transmit the full report to the Board would clearly be at odds with the procedures set forth in the Faculty Handbook. Since the power to terminate the appointment of a tenured faculty member is subject to procedures set forth in the Faculty Handbook, it follows that this failure, if established at trial, would place Howard University in violation of its contract with McConnell. [T]he University ... is bound by the contracts it makes. Howard Univ. v. Best, 484 A.2d at 973. 41