Coping with Incapability. Mendip Papers.

This paper examines methods that postsecondary institutions can use to cope with faculty and staff incapability, focusing on schools and practices in the United Kingdom. It first discusses the nature and scale of faculty/staff incapability in the United Kingdom, reviewing relevant court decisions. It then examines administration responses to incapability that may result from incompetence, short-term sickness, and long-term illness. The paper suggests that administration responses to incapability need to address the purpose of action, coverage, stages, time limits, appeals, sanctions, and records. It also discusses the conduct of review panels, investigations, and hearings, as well as the relevance of communication, training, and collective bargaining agreements. Appendices offer guidelines and procedures for decision-making in determining incapability. (Contains 15 references.) (MDM)