Rejoinders, reconsideration requests, and grievances
Updated 2026
There are three different processes available to faculty depending on the circumstance, including rejoinder, reconsideration and grievance.
Rejoinder
A rejoinder is a written statement submitted by a faculty member that provides context and/or additional information regarding a decision related to their annual evaluation (evaluation rating, merit score, or content in evaluation). Rejoinders are only available when a faculty member disagrees with an annual evaluation submitted by their supervisor or a personnel committee that affects the faculty member’s evaluation rating or merit. Rejoinders are not available for decisions related to promotion, tenure, or reappointment.
A rejoinder may include contextual information or a rationale explaining the faculty member’s disagreement with the evaluation or decision. However, a rejoinder does not constitute a request for institutional action or a change to the decision. Faculty who wish to appeal a decision or request a change must use the reconsideration or grievance processes.
Rejoinders are retained in the faculty member’s personnel file and may be reviewed as part of future personnel processes, including tenure review and annual evaluations.
There is no time limitation for submitting a rejoinder. A rejoinder may also be submitted alongside or following a request for reconsideration or a grievance. The written statement should be sent to Elena Butler at Human Resources at elenabutler@unr.edu, who will upload to the faculty member’s personnel file. Faculty are encouraged to provide a copy to their supervisor.
Reconsideration
Reconsideration is a formal written request for administrative review of certain decisions as specified in University Bylaws 3.2.4. If an administrative decision is eligible for the grievance process, a request for reconsideration may be submitted before initiating a grievance. However, submitting a request for reconsideration is optional and not required before filing a grievance. Reconsideration may also be used as a standalone process and does not need to lead to a formal grievance. Not all matters eligible for reconsideration may be grieved. Faculty are encouraged to contact the Faculty Senate Office before initiating the reconsideration process.
Issues subject to a request for reconsideration include the following:
- Adverse annual evaluation rating and denial of a salary increase
- Denial of Promotion or Tenure
- Notice of Non-Reappointment (NNR)
- Notice of Termination, or Lay-off
Reconsideration for furlough, pay reduction, or layoff due to financial exigency or curricular reasons is limited in scope as to whether there was:
- Sufficient evidence to support the specific decision to furlough, reduce pay, or lay off the faculty member requesting reconsideration, or
- A deviation from the procedures required for making such a decision.
Other decisions are not eligible for reconsideration, such as the following:
- Policy decisions made to declare financial exigency, discontinue or reduce in size an administrative unit, project or program because of financial exigency or curricular reasons
- Unpaid leave and temporary workload increases
- Removal of a tenured faculty member from an administrative position and reassignment of administrators
The reconsideration process and deadlines are found in University Bylaws 3.2.4 and condensed guides are provided via the links below:
- Reconsideration Process: Evaluation or Denial of Salary Increase (Merit)
- Reconsideration Process Flowchart: Tenure, Promotion or Reappointment
Grievance
As defined by NSHE Code Title 2 Chapter 5, Subsection 5.7.2, a grievance is an act or omission to act by the respective administrations of the System institutions, allegedly resulting in an adverse impact on the employment conditions of a faculty member relating to promotion, appointment with tenure or other aspects of contractual status, or relating to alleged violations of the NSHE Code or University of Nevada, Reno Bylaws.
Filing a grievance initiates a formal hearing process to review a decision. The grievance is heard by a committee of faculty members, which conducts a formal hearing and makes a recommendation to the President. The President renders the final decision.
It is important to understand that a grievance can be difficult and, at times, adversarial. Before filing for grievance, faculty members are encouraged to consider seeking an informal resolution or requesting reconsideration. The Faculty Senate Office facilitates the grievance process and is available to answer questions about the procedures and process. Faculty members considering filing a Notice of Grievance are encouraged to contact the Faculty Senate Office as early as possible to discuss the process as there are steadfast deadlines governing grievances.
Decisions that are subject to a request for grievance include the following:
- Adverse annual evaluation rating and denial of a salary increase
- Reprimands or Warnings
- Denied Promotion or Tenure
- Other aspects of contractual status
- Alleged violations of the University of Nevada, Reno Bylaws or the NSHE Code
Many decisions are not eligible for grievance, such as the following:
- Notice of Non-Reappointment (NNR) or Termination of Employment
- Reprimands or Warnings if mediation is used for the same reprimand or warning
- The President's decision if mediation is requested as a response to a warning or reprimand
- The furlough or lay-off of faculty for financial exigency or curricular reasons
- The decision of an appointing authority not to accept a request to rescind a resignation more than three working days after its written acceptance is not subject to grievance or appeal
- Decisions of the Board of Regents
- Duration of employee contracts
- Bridge funding
- Minimum notice of non-reappointment for non-tenured academic and administrative faculty
- Shortened notice of non-reappointment for non-tenured academic and administrative faculty for financial exigency
- Notice of termination for non-tenured academic and administrative faculty (including at the rank of dean or above) hired on or after March 1, 2005
- Interim measures to address sexual harassment charges against faculty
The grievance process and deadlines are found in University Bylaws 3.2.4 and a condensed guide is provided via the link below:
University Grievance Instructions and Procedures
Mediation under NSHE Code
A faculty member affected by a proposed disciplinary action to warn or reprimand under NSHE Code Title 2, Chapter 6, Subsection 6.6 has the right to mediation as outlined in 6.6.4, or through 6.6.8 using a procedure jointly developed by University administration and the Faculty Senate. The approved process is linked below. Please contact the Senate Office Manager, Heather Kemmelmeier at hkemmelmeier@unr.edu, with questions or to initiate the mediation process.