Faculty Senate to Update Grievance Process
Members of a special committee appointed by the Case Western Reserve University Faculty Senate have spent their summer studying the university's faculty grievance process.
The current Faculty Handbook procedures for university-lodged complaints against faculty and faculty-lodged grievances against other faculty or members of the administration are vague and inadequate, according to the grievance panel.
The panel has been advocating for a more streamlined process with greater emphasis on mediation rather than judgment.
In response, the Faculty Senate created and charged an ad hoc committee on grievance process reform, chaired by Bill Leatherberry, professor of law, to review procedures throughout the summer and make an initial report to the senate at its first meeting of the 2008-2009 academic year on September 24. The committee is expected to make its final recommendations no later than April 2009.
"The formal grievance process is time-consuming and relatively narrow as far as the range of possible outcomes," said Glenn Starkman, professor of physics and chair of the Faculty Senate. "We would like greater clarity in the process in general and would like to increase the fraction of complaints that are resolved through mediation."
"Through mediation, people work together through a process and are more likely to collaborate on a solution," Starkman continued. "It is easier to imagine a wider range of resolutions through a more flexible process like mediation."
Any changes to the grievance process will require modification of the Faculty Handbook.
Case Western Reserve, Cleveland Institute of Art to Host Noted Authors Adam Gopnik and Jonathan Lethem
Two of New York City's cutting-edge cultural commentators are coming to University Circle for one illuminating evening, courtesy of Case Western Reserve University and The Cleveland Institute of Art. On Thursday, October 2, both authors will offer exciting lectures during free, public events.
Adam Gopnik will deliver the talk, "What is the Museum For?" at 6 p.m. at the Amasa Stone Chapel. Following Gopnik's lecture, The Cleveland Institute of Art will present Jonathan Lethem at 7:30 p.m. as he speaks with Betsy Sussler of BOMB Magazine in the Aitken Auditorium, in the Gund Building at 11141 East Blvd. on the CIA campus. Read more.
Campus News
The Case Western Reserve University community is invited to a reception honoring School of Dental Medicine Dean Jerold Goldberg's service as interim provost. The reception is from 4-6 p.m., Friday, September 26, in the Hovorka Atrium. For more information, e-mail goldbergreception@case.edu.
The Kelvin Smith Library (KSL) September Research Spotlight brings news of unprecedented access to industry analysis, marketscopes, trends and data through Gartner Research, a database available to Case Western Reserve for a limited time via a collaboration between KSL and Information Technology Services. Gartner Research offers news and case studies for nine major industries such as energy, education, health and banking. Learn more. In other KSL news, the library is offering a Basics of Wikis class from 1-3 p.m., Thursday, September 25. Learn about wikis, the various uses and best practices for implementing your own wiki. Explore examples in action such as the Case Wiki, Wikipedia and more. Registration required.
SatCo (Saturday College) offers fun and provocative non-credit courses open to all Case Western Reserve students, faculty, staff and alumni, as well as community members. This year's offerings on September 27 and 28 will include everything from kung fu to tap dancing to movie screenings and discussions. Most classes are free. The registration deadline is Wednesday, September 24. Go online for class schedules and registration.
For Faculty and Staff
Case Western Reserve University President Barbara R. Snyder will deliver the 2008 State of the University address to faculty from 4:15-5:30 p.m. today in Strosacker Auditorium. President Snyder will provide an update, followed by a video presentation and a question-and-answer session. Reservations are not required.
For Students
Opportunities are available for Case Western Reserve students interested in tutoring Cleveland high school students by providing free ACT exam tutoring to John Hay High School and Cleveland School of the Arts students. The commitment is one or two hours per week. Tutoring begins September 29 and runs through November 25. If interested, contact Diane Lui.
The Case Western Reserve chapter of Habitat for Humanity is hosting its annual Let's Shack Up event beginning at 8 p.m., Friday, September 26. Every year, students gather on the Kelvin Smith Library oval to raise awareness about homelessness and funds for Habitat. To accomplish this goal, students build and decorate cardboard houses, and then sleep in those houses outside. Participants are asked to bring a suggested donation of $5 per person, gather a group of friends to build the best house and enjoy hot cocoa before going to sleep. In addition, pink and blue "Let's Shack Up" T-shirts will be on sale for $10. Contact Katie Rabovsky.
A new campus chapter of Unite For Sight, an organization dedicated to eliminating preventable blindness locally and abroad, will host its first general body meeting at 7 p.m., Wednesday, September 24, in Thwing Center's 1914 Lounge. The chapter aims to host fundraising events for the global cause, as well as vision screenings around the Cleveland area. During the meeting, the group will fill various executive board positions, as well as discuss events for the upcoming year. Refreshments will be available. Contact the group by e-mail for information.
Events
"Home-Centered Health Care: The Populist Transformation of the American Health Care System" discussion takes place from noon to 1 p.m., Tuesday, September 30, at Strosacker Auditorium. The keynote speaker is Mike Magee, physician, author and host of Health Commentary. Magee proposes a fundamental transformation of health care with prevention, planning and the home as its center. Free. Sponsored by the Case School of Engineering, the McGregor Foundation, and Judson Services Inc.
Carol Clark, (GRS '81), a professor of art history at Amherst College, will deliver the Department of Art History & Art's annual Alumni Lecture in Art History beginning at 4:30 p.m., Friday, September 26, at the Cleveland Museum of Art Recital Hall. She will speak on the topic of "Marking Time in Venice: Biography and Place in the Work of Maurice Prendergast." Free, open to the public.
The Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities at Case Western Reserve University will present a film by Cleveland videographer Tom Ball, The Beauty of Damage: A Film on the Art of Christopher Pekoc. As part of the Baker-Nord Center's work in progress series, the free, public program will be held Wednesday, September 24, at 6 p.m., in the lecture room at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Learn more.
The views and opinions of those invited to speak on campus do not necessarily reflect the views of the university administration or any other segment of the university community.
