| First Name | Xiaojuan |
| Last Name | Fan |
| Decision Date | 2/28/2025 |
| Docket Number | 2024-0217-MU |
| ALJ | LKB |
| Respondent | Marshall University |
| Employment Type | Higher Education |
| Job Title | Associate Professor |
| Topics | Classification/compensation |
| Primary Issues | Whether Grievant proved that Respondent acted arbitrarily and capricisouly or was clearly wrong in failing to promote her? Whether Respondent misapplied Grievant's promotion criteria which denyed her promotion to full professor? |
| Outcome | DENIED |
| Statutes | W. Va. Code St. R. § 156‑1-3, W. Va. Code § 51-11-4(b)(4), W. Va. Code § 6C-2-5(b), W. Va. Code § 29A‑5‑4(b). |
| Related Cases | Leichliter v. Dep’t of Health & Human Res., Docket No. 92-HHR-486 (May 17, 1993), aff’d, Pleasants Cnty. Cir. Ct. Civil Action No. 93-APC-1 (Dec. 2, 1994). Baker v. Bd. of Trustees, Docket No. 97-BOT-359 (Apr. 30, 1998); Hart v. Bd. of Directors, Docket No. 95-BOD-198 (Mar. 6, 1996). State ex. rel. McLendon v. Morton, 162 W. Va. 431, 249 S.E.2d 919 (1978).” Finver v. Bd. of Trustees, Docket No. 97-BOT-271 (Oct. 15, 1997). See also, Rankin v. Board of Trustees/Marshall University, Docket No. 99-BOT-421 (Jun. 13, 2000). Harrison v. W. Va. Bd. of Directors, Docket No. 93-BOD-400 (April 11, 1995), Sui v. Johnson, 784 F.2d 238 (4th Cir. 1984). Adkins v. W. Va. Dep’t of Educ., 210 W. Va. 105, 556 S.E.2d 72 (2001) (citing In re Queen, 196 W. Va. 442, 473 S.E.2d 483 (1996)). Bedford County Memorial Hosp. v. Health and Human Serv., 769 F.2d 1017 (4th Cir. 1985). State ex rel. Eads v. Duncil, 196 W. Va. 604, 474 S.E.2d 534 (1996) Id. (citing Arlington Hosp. v. Schweiker, 547 F. Supp. 670 (E.D. Va. 1982). Blake v. Kanawha County Bd. of Educ., Docket No. 01-20-470 (Oct. 29, 2001); Butler v. Dep’t of Health & Human Res., Docket No. 20140539-DHHR (Mar. 16, 2015). |
| Keywords | arbitrarily and capricisouly, teaching load, independent research program, promotion, tenure reviews, teaching performance, evaluated, exemplary performance, guidelines, teaching and advising, Service and professional development, portfolio, recommendation, dean, provost, research, scholarship, and creative activities |
| Intermediate Court of Appeals | |
| Circuit Court | |
| Supreme Court | |
| Synopsis | Grievant was denied a promotion to full professor, following which she filed a grievance alleging that Respondent misapplied promotion criteria. At the level three hearing, Grievant failed to prove that Respondent acted arbitrarily and capriciously or was clearly wrong in failing to promote her. Accordingly, the grievance is DENIED. |