Original url at: http://secretary.ucc.ie/statutes/HTML/StatuteE.html

Statute E

Universities Act, 1997

University College, Cork
National University of Ireland, Cork

We, the Governing Body of University College Cork -- National University of Ireland, Cork (the University) under and by virtue of the powers conferred on us by the above Act, do by this present instrument under the Seal of the University make the Statute contained in the Schedule hereof for the general government of the said University.

Given under the Common Seal of the University this Thirtieth day of January, 2001.

Present when the Common Seal of the University was affixed hereto:

(Signed)
G.T. WRIXON, President.
M.F. KELLEHER, Secretary.

SCHEDULE

Statute E

The Statutes of University College Cork and Statutes A - D of University College Cork -- National University of Ireland, Cork, shall be read and construed with the additions, modifications and amendments hereinafter set forth.

CHAPTER I
Suspension, Demotion and Dismissal

  1. The University may suspend, demote or dismiss any employee but only following the application of such disciplinary procedures as may be adopted from time to time by the Governing Body.
  2. Said procedures shall provide that disciplinary action be taken only after the employee, who is the subject of the disciplinary procedures, has had an opportunity to present his/her case and after due consideration has been given to all relevant matters.
  3. (a) The procedures shall ordinarily provide for a sequence, where necessary, of disciplinary sanctions, which may involve a verbal warning, a written warning, a final written warning, suspension, demotion and dismissal.
    (b) In cases of alleged gross misconduct, the definition of which shall be specified in the procedures, where an employee is the subject of an investigation to determine the actual chain of events, the employee will be suspended with pay pending the result of the investigation. Where it is found that the employee has been guilty of gross misconduct, he/she may be dismissed without the need to apply a sequence of warnings, suspension and demotion.
  4. (a) In a case where, following the application of the procedures, a final written warning has been issued and unsatisfactory conduct persists, or in a case of gross misconduct, the matter shall be reported to the President.
    (b) The President shall then consider the matter in accordance with the procedures referred to in section 1., which procedures shall provide that the President shall establish a Disciplinary Committee to conduct a disciplinary hearing.
    (c) The Disciplinary Committee shall report to the President, who shall decide whether disciplinary action should be taken and, if so, what type of disciplinary action, whether by way of suspension, demotion or dismissal, should apply.
    (d) In the event of the President determining that an employee be suspended, demoted or dismissed, the employee shall have the right to appeal.
  5. The appeal process shall be specified in the procedures referred to in section 1; the procedures shall provide for the notification of an appeal to the President, the hearing of an appeal by a sub-committee of the Governing Body and for the right of representation, as defined in the procedures, for the employee.
  6. In the case of a Professor, Associate Professor or Lecturer appointed, in accordance with the statutes of University College Cork, prior to the sixteenth day of June, 1997, a proposal for demotion or dismissal shall be considered by the Governing Body, and the provisions of Statute 1., Chapter XXXIV., of University College Cork shall apply.
  7. In the event of the President being the subject of disciplinary proceedings, all appropriate actions, whether in accordance with the procedures referred to in section 1., or otherwise, shall be undertaken by or under the authority of the Governing Body in a manner specified by the Governing Body, which shall retain its power of suspension, demotion or dismissal.

CHAPTER II
Dispute Resolution Procedures

  1. These procedures are for the resolution of disputes which may arise in the University, other than disputes which are dealt with through normal industrial relations structures operating in the University, and other than appeals by students relating to the results of examinations. Said procedures are hereby established to meet the requirements of the Universities Act, 1997, section 26.
  2. An employee or student member of the University may refer an issue for resolution under these procedures but only after every effort has been made to resolve the dispute using other established procedures. Notice of referral shall be served on the Secretary of the University.
  3. (1) Within twenty-one days of receipt of referral, the University shall appoint an Assessment Panel, which shall comprise three members and which shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (2) hereof, be appointed by the President.
    (2) Should the President be a party to any dispute referred under these procedures, or should the President have been otherwise involved in any determination of a relevant issue prior to its referral under these procedures, the Assessment Panel shall be appointed by an external member of the Governing Body or by another person nominated by the Governing Body.
  4. The University member referring an issue to the Assessment Panel shall submit a statement in writing, containing an account of the relevant facts and circumstances of the dispute, adequate to enable the Assessment Panel to determine whether the matter is one which falls within the remit of the Dispute Resolution Committee established under section 6(1) below and in accordance with the provisions of section 1 above. The statement should also set out the processes within the University which have been used to endeavour to resolve the dispute.
  5. Following due consideration, the Assessment Panel shall determine whether the dispute falls within the remit of the Dispute Resolution Committee. If the Assessment Panel determines that the dispute is within the remit of the Dispute Resolution Committee, the issue shall be referred to that Committee. If the Assessment Panel determines that the dispute is not one which falls within the remit of the dispute resolution procedure or that it should be referred to another forum (e.g. Labour Relations Commission, a relevant Employment Tribunal, an Examinations Appeals Board, a Promotion Appeals Board or other established forum inside or outside the University) it shall so direct.
  6. (1) The membership of the Dispute Resolution Committee shall comprise:
    (a) a chairperson nominated by the Governing Body;
    (b) a second member nominated by the Governing Body;
    (c) a member who shall be a nominee of the Chancellor of the National University of Ireland.
    (2) The members of the Dispute Resolution Committee shall not be members of the University.
  7. The members of the Committee shall meet as appropriate for the dispatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their proceedings as they deem fit. Questions arising at Committee meetings shall be decided by majority vote. All hearings before the Committee shall be held in private. No person shall be entitled to attend a hearing before the Committee without leave of the Committee. The quorum for all meetings of the Committee shall be two members.
  8. The Committee shall be entitled to seek such external professional advice as it deems necessary from the professional advisors to the University or others.
  9. The Committee shall have before it the written submission which will have been considered by the Assessment Panel. The Committee shall, in the first instance, review this statement. It may seek an additional statement or statements from the University members involved and/or may seek a statement or statements from any other party or parties to the dispute or from any other party or parties whom the Committee considers may be concerned. The Committee shall also require the parties to the dispute to appear before it and may seek the assistance of other members of the University by way of oral evidence or otherwise.
  10. The Committee shall call all parties to the dispute to appear before it and shall hear an account of the matter from each party to the dispute. A party appearing before the Committee shall be entitled to be accompanied by a friend or colleague or other representative acceptable to the Committee. The Committee shall consider all the evidence, oral and written, presented to it and may, if it sees fit, seek further information, by way of oral or written evidence, as it deems fit. Refusal or failure of any party to attend the proceedings or to comply with any time limits determined by the Committee shall not invalidate the proceedings, which may, at the discretion of the Committee, continue upon evidence that all other procedures stipulated by those Statutes have been properly followed.
  11. After due deliberation, the Committee shall determine its recommendations for the resolution of the dispute and shall inform the relevant parties accordingly; the Committee shall also report its determination to the Governing Body.

CHAPTER III

  1. This Statute may be cited as Statute E of University College Cork -- National University of Ireland, Cork or Stat. E. of U.C.C.
  2. This Statute shall come into operation on the Thirtieth day of January, 2001.

Present when the Common Seal of the University was affixed hereto:

(Signed)
G.T. WRIXON,, President.
M.F. KELLEHER, Secretary.