Professional Conduct Committee
Bylaws of the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska
(As taken from the BOR website on 08/05/99.)
Chapter IV. Rights and Responsibilities of Professional Staff
4.15 Professional Conduct Committee.
4.15.1 Professional Conduct Committee: Power to Create.
Pursuant to power granted by these Bylaws, the faculty governing agency of each major administrative unit is empowered to create a Professional Conduct Committee, which shall have the functions and powers specified in Sections 4.15.2 and 4.15.3, in addition to any other power granted by the faculty governing agency to the Committee pursuant to these Bylaws.
4.15.2 Powers of Professional Conduct Committee.
A Professional Conduct Committee shall be empowered:
(a) To receive complaints from any person charging a member of the professional staff, as defined in Section 3.1.1 of these Bylaws, with professional misconduct.
(b) To investigate the facts relevant to the charge and to make factual determinations. Said investigation shall include advising the affected party of the charge, hearing his or her response, and considering any evidence produced by such party.
(c) To conclude whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person against whom the charge is directed committed acts that amount to professional misconduct.
(d) To advise the person filing the charge, and any other appropriate person or groups, of the Committee's conclusion and factual findings.
(e) To recommend to the appropriate University officer, or group, whetheraction should be taken with respect to the charge, and the nature of such action.
(f) To recommend sanctions less severe than appointment termination where the Committee judges less severe sanctions appropriate.
4.15.3 Function of Professional Conduct Committee.
The Professional Conduct Committee's function shall be to ascertain facts, to interpret standards of professional conduct applicable to persons engaged in teaching, extension work, research, service, and administration at the University, to apply those standards to the facts, to advise other persons or groups whether a violation of professional conduct has occurred, and to recommend an appropriate sanction, if it concludes a violation has occurred. The Professional Conduct Committee does not have power to impose sanctions, and its findings of fact, interpretations of professional standards, advice, and recommendation are not binding. The Professional Conduct Committee shall not serve as a prosecutor of cases involving alleged violations of professional standards. The Committee acts only in an advisory capacity.