i. Notice to Faculty Member
Formal proceedings shall be commenced by the delivery of the statement(s) of cause to the faculty member and to the Hearing Committee by the provost within 14 calendar days of its/their delivery to the provost. As an initial matter, the Hearing Committee shall consider the statement(s) of cause and determine, in its sole discretion, whether formal proceedings should be continued. If the Hearing Committee determines that formal proceedings should not be continued, it shall so notify in writing the faculty member, the person(s) involved (or, if the matter involves the department chair, director, or dean, then the department chair, director, or dean) and the provost and the formal proceedings shall be terminated.
If the Hearing Committee determines that formal proceedings should be continued, the procedures described below shall be followed. The Hearing Committee shall determine whether to continue formal proceedings and inform the faculty member, the person(s) involved (or, if the matter involves the department chair, director, or dean, then the department chair, director, or dean) and the provost of its determination, within seven calendar days of the delivery of the statement(s) of cause to the Hearing Committee by the provost.
Notwithstanding anything stated herein to the contrary, the faculty member may choose to continue the formal proceedings if the problem involves the dismissal of the faculty member for cause.
If formal proceedings are continued, the faculty member shall request a formal hearing before the Hearing Committee. The faculty member shall also be informed that he/she has the right to respond in writing to the statement of cause prepared by the department chair, director, or dean prior to any such formal hearing. The date of the formal hearing shall be scheduled at least seven calendar days but not more than 30 calendar days after the date that the statement(s) of cause is (are) delivered to the faculty member.