Faculty and Staff Handbook Changes

Added a section to provide definitions for student employees.

Student employees fall into two categories:

Student Workers: UAFS students employed in departmentally funded positions and paid an established hourly rate on a semi-monthly, arrears basis for hours worked. Hours and earnings shall not exceed 18 hours per week and must stay within the allocated department budget.

Federal Work-Study: UAFS students who have been awarded Federal Work-Study eligibility and are employed in approved work-study positions. They are paid an established hourly rate on a semi-monthly, arrears basis for hours worked. Earnings must remain within the limits of the individual student's work-study award and shall not exceed 18 hours per week.

Added to bullet point #3: "The University shall carry out its disciplinary proceedings in a manner that is free from conflicts of interest by ensuring that there is no commingling of administrative or adjudicative roles. An advisor, adjudicator, and appellate adjudicator shall not carry out more than one role; however, it is not a conflict of interest for the University's investigator to present evidence to an adjudicator."

Added an additional bullet point: "The University shall maintain an administrative file that includes without limitation all documents and evidence in the institution’s possession or control that is relevant to an alleged violation and the University’s investigation. The parties shall have reasonable continuing access to the administrative file and may ask the Title IX Coordinator to schedule a reasonable time to inspect it. The administrative file shall not include privileged documents, internal communications, or communications from nonparties that the institution does not intend to introduce as evidence at a disciplinary proceeding. The administrative file shall include, without limitation, exculpatory evidence; statements by an accuser or an accused student or student organization; third-party witness statements; written communications; social media posts; demonstrative evidence; documents submitted by any participant involved in disciplinary procedures; and the University’s choice of a video recording, audio recording, or transcript of any disciplinary proceeding ultimately held on the matter."

Added a new section based on modifications to the UA System model policy:

XI. Compliance with Ark. Code Ann. § 6-16-2101 et seq.

Colleges and universities must report to the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) any incidents or complaints of Title VI discrimination or harassment that are received, observed, or addressed at the local or institutional level. This includes, without limitation, incidents involving discrimination or harassment based on race, color, and national origin or motivated by antisemitism. An authorized representative of the institution of higher education should submit the information through ADE's digital AR Act 721: Data Collection Form.