This information is found on the Web version of the CU Faculty Handbook.

Reasons For Dismissal for Cause and Grievances

A faculty member may be dismissed when, in the judgment of the Board of Regents constitutional and statutory authority, the good of the university requires such action.

The grounds for dismissal shall be demonstrable professional incompetence, neglect of duty, insubordination, conviction of a felony or any offense involving moral turpitude upon a plea or verdict of guilty or following a plea of nolo contendere, or sexual harassment or other conduct which falls below minimum standards of professional integrity.

No member of the faculty shall be dismissed except for cause and after being given an opportunity to be heard.

The individual concerned shall be permitted to have counsel and the opportunity to question witnesses as provided in the rules of procedure governing faculty dismissal proceedings. In such proceedings, the burden of proof shall be on the university administration. More information can be found here

PART D: PRINCIPLES OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM

5.D.1 Intent and Definition

(A) The University of Colorado was created and is maintained to afford men and women a liberal education in the several branches of literature, arts, sciences, and the professions. These aims can be achieved only in that atmosphere of free inquiry and discussion, which has become a tradition of universities and is called "academic freedom."

(B) For this purpose, "academic freedom" is defined as the freedom to inquire, discover, publish and teach truth as the faculty member sees it, subject to no control or authority save the control and authority of the rational methods by which truth is established.

(C) Within the bounds of this definition, academic freedom requires that members of the faculty must have complete freedom to study, to learn, to do research, and to communicate the results of these pursuits to others. The students likewise must have freedom of study and discussion. The fullest exposure to conflicting opinions is the best insurance against error.

(D) Academic freedom does not give either faculty or students the right to disregard the standards of conduct outlined in part B of article 7 of these Laws.

(E) All members of the academic community have a responsibility to protect the university as a forum for the free expression of ideas.

5.D.2 Faculty Responsibility

(A) Faculty members have the responsibility to maintain competence, exert themselves to the limit of their intellectual capacities in scholarship, research, writing, and speaking; and to act on and off the campus with integrity and in accordance with the highest standards of their profession. While they fulfill this responsibility, their efforts should not be subjected to direct or indirect pressures or interference from within the university, and the university will resist to the utmost such pressures or interference when exerted from without.

(B) Faculty members can meet their responsibilities only when they have confidence that their work will be judged on its merits alone. For this reason the appointment, reappointment, promotion, and tenure of faculty members should be based primarily on the individual's ability in teaching, research/creative work, and service and should not be influenced by such extrinsic considerations as political, social, or religious views, or views concerning departmental or university operation or administration. A disciplinary action against a faculty member, including dismissal for cause of faculty, should not be influenced by such extrinsic consideration.

(C) The faculty member is entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing the subject, but should be careful not to introduce into teaching controversial matter that has no relation to the subject.

(D) Faculty members are citizens, members of learned professions, and members of the academic leadership of an educational institution. When speaking or writing as citizens, they should be free from university censorship or discipline, but their special position in the community imposes special obligations. As faculty members however, they should remember that the public may judge their profession and institution by their utterances. Hence faculty members should be accurate at all times, should exercise appropriate restraint and show respect for the opinions of others, and when speaking or writing as private citizens should make every effort to indicate that they are not speaking for the institution.

Tenure 5.B.4 Tenured Appointments

(A) A tenured appointment may normally be held only by a professor or associate professor. Under exceptional circumstances, a tenured appointment can be held by an assistant professor, senior instructor, or instructor.

(B) Tenure may be awarded only to faculty members with demonstrated meritorious performance in each of the three areas of teaching, research or creative work, and service, and demonstrated excellence in either teaching, or research or creative work.

In the School of Medicine, tenure may be awarded only to faculty members with national and international reputations for academic excellence who are among the best in their field of academic endeavor and who have demonstrated excellence in scholarship and demonstrated excellence in, and dedication to, teaching (as further defined in the rules of the School of Medicine). Professional/administrative service and/or clinical activities should be weighed into any decision regarding tenure, but such activities in the absence of significant accomplishments in both teaching and scholarship are not an adequate basis for tenure.

(C) The process leading to award of tenure is an evaluation of a faculty member's cumulative performance and is a process that is separate and distinct from the annual merit performance evaluation.

(D) Tenure Probationary Period

(1) Unless waived by the faculty member and approved by the dean and chancellor, a decision upon a tenured appointment as a member of the university faculty shall be made after a maximum probationary period of seven years of continuous full-time service as a professor, associate professor, or assistant professor. Normally, the tenure review for a faculty member will commence at the beginning of the seventh year of service.
(2) In the School of Medicine, promotion and tenure are separate processes, but may occur concurrently.

(a) Unless waived by the faculty member and approved by the dean and chancellor, a decision regarding promotion to associate professor shall be made after a maximum probationary period of seven years of continuous full-time service at the rank of assistant professor. Normally, the promotion review of a faculty member will commence at the beginning of the seventh year of service.
(b) School of Medicine faculty members in the rank of associate professor or professor are eligible for consideration for tenure. There will be no maximum time limit for the award of tenure; however, the faculty member who is turned down for tenure may not be reconsidered for three years.

(3) The tenure probationary period shall begin when the faculty member is first appointed to the rank of assistant professor or a higher rank. However, a faculty member appointed to the rank of assistant professor without a terminal degree may decide at the time of initial appointment whether the probationary period will begin at the time of initial appointment or upon receipt of the terminal degree. Such a decision shall be made in writing and must be approved by the dean and the chancellor. Up to three years of full-time service in the ranks of assistant professor, associate professor, or professor at other institutions may be included in the probationary period.
(4) Under special circumstances, tenure may be awarded by the Board of Regents in less than seven years.

(E) Notification and conditions of appointment and reappointment, notice of tenured appointment and promotion, and notice of non-reappointment shall be given in writing in accordance with regent policy.

(F) Tenure remains in effect regardless of promotion to higher rank.

(G) Administrative positions do not carry the possibility of tenured appointments, but an administrator holding an eligible academic rank may be granted a tenured appointment in that rank as a faculty member.