To provide a period of time for job adjustment and an opportunity for
both the new staff member and the supervisor to determine whether to continue
the employment relationship.
It is the policy of the University to provide a probationary period of
six (6) months from the initial appointment of a staff member to a regular
staff position within the University (see exceptions for Police Officers,
professional librarians, and contract employees in 5.5 below). During
the probationary period a disciplinary or dismissal action may take place
without the staff member having recourse to the University's grievance
procedure. A probationary employee is entitled to use the informal complaint
procedure – see Policy Number 1.7.2, Complaint and Grievance. Employment
during the probationary period is "at-will". An employee in
probationary status may be terminated without cause at the discretion
of the department official who has the authority to terminate an individual,
provided the termination does not violate federal or state law. Human
Resources shall review all terminations prior to action being taken.
All new regular staff members shall serve a probationary period of six
(6) months from the initial date of employment with the University. (Exceptions
are noted in Items 5.4, 5.5 and 5.6 below.)
During the probationary period the supervisor shall orient and train
the new staff member so that he/she is familiar with the work assignments
and the accepted standards of performance and behavior.
5.1 Probation terminates at the end of the day prior
to the six-month anniversary date of initial employment, or the last
day of the month whichever comes first. For example, an employee whose
date of employment is April 15 will complete their probation as of the
end of the work day on October 14; however, if a new employee begins
work August 31, their probation end date will be February 28, or February
29 in leap years.
5.2 Neither the staff member nor the University is
obligated to continue employment through the probationary period.
a. A staff member may resign at any time during the probationary
period for any reason without prejudice.
b. If a staff member is deemed to be unsatisfactory prior to the
completion of the probationary period, the supervisor may, after reviewing
the case with the Assistant Vice President of Human Resources or his/her
designee, dismiss the staff member without advance notice or without
showing just cause provided the reason for termination is not illegal.
5.3 Participation in fringe benefits begins for the
probationary staff member in accordance with the policies pertaining
to each benefit even though the probationary period has not expired.
(See all policies under Section 1.5 Benefits Programs, also 1.4.13,
Vacation Leave, item 8.3.).
5.4 A probationary staff member may not transfer to
another department or to another postition within a department during the probationary period unless the Assistant
Vice President of Human Resources or his/her designee reviews the transfer.
If the transfer is made during the initial probationary period, the
staff member will begin a new probationary period of six (6) months
following the date of the transfer to another department or another position within a department. The period
of employment prior to the date of transfer does not count toward the
new probationary period.
5.5 Police Officers and Police Communications Officers
a. The initial appointment probationary period for Police Officers, not previously licensed by TCLEOSE
shall include the period of attendance at the Police Academy for Certification,
the initial department orientation and field training period, any required remedial training, and the six (6) months
following the date of completion of the department training period.
b. The initial appointment probationary period for Police Officers, with a current TCLEOSE license at time of employment, shall include the initial department orientation and field training period, any required remedial training, and the six (6) months following the date of completion of the department training program.
c.
Individuals promoted or transferred to a Police Officer position shall serve the same probationary period as initial appointments under either 5.5a or 5.5b above, regardless of their probationary status at the time of promotion or transfer.
d. The initial appointment probationary period for Police Communications Officers will shall include the initial orientation period, training period, any required remedial training, and the six (6) months following completion of the department training program.
e. Individuals promoted or transferred to a Police Communications Officer position shall serve the same probationary period as initial appointments under 5.5d above.
5.6 The initial appointment probationary period for professional librarians shall be as stated in the Rank and Status of Librarians document and/or as stipulated by the terms of their employment contracts.
5.7 A staff member who during the probationary period is granted a leave with or without pay of at least one calendar month or more may be allowed an extension of the probationary period for the number of days equivalent to the period of leave, at the discretion of the employing department.
5.8 Staff members have only the initial probationary period when first employed with the university. The probationary period may not be extended by the department or the employee, nor is there a second probationary period on promotion or transfer to another position, except in the circumstances noted in sections 5.4, 5.5, and 5.6 above.
5.9 If the employee leaves the University and subsequently returns, he/she will serve another six months probationary period.
