35.1 GENERAL.
The term "suggestions" as used in this section refers to any proposals made by staff members for changes in terms of employment, working conditions, hours of work, compensation, and the like, which, if carried out, would necessitate a change in established University policies, practices, or procedures pertaining to nonacademic staff members. Many suggestions can be presented informally to one's supervisor. Other suggestions need to be handled on a more formal basis.
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35.2 FORMAL SUGGESTION PROCEDURES.

a. Staff members not covered by a collective bargaining agreement shall submit their suggestions in writing to their immediate supervisors. The supervisor shall, within one week, determine and inform the staff member what University officers can properly act upon such a suggestion. If the supervisor fails to supply the individuals with this information within the designated time, the individuals may then present their suggestion in a similar manner to the next ranking supervisor who shall supply them with this information.

b. The staff members shall then submit their suggestion for the proposed change in writing to University officers designated by their supervisor. They may also submit a request to be allowed to appear personally in behalf of their suggestion and, if they desire, be accompanied by a representative of their own choosing in accordance with University policy.

(This policy has been stated as follows: "The University believes that the relationship between itself and its staff members should be a direct one. Any staff member may approach the University as outlined above, without loss of salary. A staff member or group of staff members may be accompanied by a representative. If such a representative is a staff member of the University and on duty, the supervisor with whom the conference is to be held should be requested to make arrangements for release from such duty with pay. Such release shall normally be given, subject to necessary considerations of the regular duties of the representative.")

c. The University officers to whom the staff members have been directed to submit their suggestions for proposed changes shall be responsible for assuring that proper consideration is given to the suggestion and for obtaining for the staff members a statement as to final disposition. Until the staff members have been given a statement as to final disposition, they shall have the right after reasonable intervals of time to request information from these officers as to what is being done with reference to their suggestions.

d. If, during consideration of the suggestion, it becomes desirable for any reason to transfer the responsibility of consideration to University officers other than those to whom the suggestion was first submitted, the staff members shall be immediately informed of that change and the newly designated officers shall thereupon have the responsibility for assuring proper consideration and keeping the staff members informed as indicated in paragraph (c).

e. If the final disposition of the suggestion does not satisfy the staff members, they shall have the right to ask the University to reconsider it and shall follow the same procedure as outlined above. There shall be no limit to the number of times a suggestion may be proposed for reconsideration.

f. Many changes of the type which will be considered under this section can be approved only by the President of the University and the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, and staff members should understand that considerable periods of time may elapse before action can be taken on a specific proposal. At the same time the University accepts the responsibility of replying to suggestions within a reasonable period of time.