Opinion ID: 1403992
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Does application of the APA to University of Alaska's grievance proceedings impermissibly circumscribe explicit and implicit constitutional and statutory grants of power to the University in the area of personnel management?

Text: As to this issue, we again refer to and adopt the reasoning of Judge Serdahely in Aden v. University of Alaska. In rejecting the same argument as the University makes in the case at bar, Judge Serdahely stated, Nor does the Court find that the application of the APA to Defendant's grievance procedure violates provisions of Alaska's Constitution establishing the University of Alaska and its Board of Regents. Likewise, the Court is unpersuaded that requiring Defendant to comply with the APA in connection with its grievance procedure constitutes unconstitutional or impermissible interference with the internal affairs or academic freedom of the University. In this Court's view, the University's academic freedom is strengthened, rather than undermined, by the existence of a grievance procedure for adverse employment decisions which comports with the basic requirements of the APA and due process. Ultimately, if Defendant seeks to be exempted from the workings of the APA, it must seek such remedy from the Legislature, not this Court. (Emphasis added).
The judgment of the superior court is REVERSED and the matter is REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. [9]