UNIVERSITY GRIEVANCES
The following is a listing of the various grievance and complaint procedures available to University employees, and the time limits to initiate a grievance or complaint under each process. It is important to recognize these limitations in utilizing these procedures; however, these time limits may be extended by the mutual written agreement of the parties involved. Requests for extensions may be directed to the relevant administrator for student employees, Employee and Labor Relations for graduate assistants and staff, and the Office of the Provost for faculty.
University of Iowa Faculty Grievances
- For denials of tenure, promotion, or reappointment, a request for a statement of reasons must be filed with the Academic Officer within thirty (30) business days of having been informed officially of the decision by the collegiate dean. [Operations Manual §III-29.5c]
- For other types of grievances, following informal discussions and exchange of letters and further discussion, a request for investigation must be sent within twelve (12) months of the faculty member’s receipt of the administrator’s reasons for action or non-action. [Operations Manual §III-29.6d(1)]
University of Iowa Professional and Scientific Grievances
- A staff member must initiate a request for administrative review or file a grievance within 15 days of the discovery of the action or non-action giving rise to the grievance but, in any event, no later than 12 months from the date of the action or non-action. [Operations Manual §III-28.4 (e) (2)]
University of Iowa Merit Grievances
- Contract – A grievance must be presented no later than fourteen (14) calendar days from the date the date the grievant first became aware of, or should have become aware of, the cause of the grievance, but, in any event, not after six (6) months from the date of the occurrence.
- Merit System (Exempt, Confidential)– A grievance must be initiated within 21 calendar days from the date of the discovery of the grievance, but, in any event, no later than one year from the occurrence of the event which gave rise to the grievance. [Iowa Administrative Code, §681—12.10(1)]
University of Iowa Student Employment Grievances
- The initiation period for a grievance must be within twenty-one (21) calendar days of the date of discovery, by the employee, of the grievance, and within one year of the actual incident. [Operations Manual §III-30.c]
University of Iowa Graduate Assistant Contract Grievances
- Initial informal efforts to resolve grievances must be initiated within thirty (30) days following the time at which the grievant could reasonably have been aware of the grievance, but, in any event, not after twelve (12) calendar months from the date of the occurrence.
University of Iowa EOD Complaints
- No specific time limits.
OTHER DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT DEADLINES
Please note that the University has no authority to extend the deadlines of the following outside agencies:
- Iowa Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) – Complaints must be filed within 300 days from the alleged discriminatory act [Iowa Code section 216.15(12)].
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) – Complaints must be filed within 180 days from the alleged violation, or 300 days if the complaint was filed with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission.
- Department of Civil Rights/Office of Civil Rights – Complaints must be filed within 180 days from the alleged discriminatory act, although the OCR can extend the time for “good cause.” (Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, Title II of ADA, Age).