Northern settles discrimination claim

Montana State University-Northern has settled a racial discrimination complaint with a Native American studies adjunct professor and agreed to pay her $35,000.

The settlement reached July 14 with Yvonne Tiger is by no means an admission of fault by the university, Deputy Commissioner of Higher Education Kevin McRae said Thursday.

“Heavens, no, this is not an admission by anyone of guilt. In fact, the final settlement documentation accepted by the Human Rights Bureau clearly states there is no guilt or any determination on the merits of the accusations,” McRae said in an email.

Northern settled the case to save students and taxpayers money, he said, adding that it would have cost more to continue with litigation.

In the settlement, Northern also will pay Tiger’s attorney $15,000, McRae said.

Tiger accused Northern of discrimination based on her race and creed or religion because her contract was not renewed.

The complaint document filed with the Human Rights Bureau says Tiger, “a Native American woman with two master’s degrees,” was hired at the tail end of a contract term — April 4, 2016 — and was told she would have to sign a short-term contract that would be renewed July 1, 2016.

The program had money for her position until September 2017 and an additional six months approved by the Department of Labor. Tiger was told she would be hired at salary for the duration of the grant, the complaint said.

Tiger was at Northern for two and a half months before her contract expired and was not renewed. She was told by the Human Resources director, the provost and Chancellor Greg Kegel that her position was eliminated because of budgetary restructuring. But another person, who is not a Native American, was doing her job, Tiger’s complaint says.

The university then conducted an internal review and found that it “more likely than not engaged in racially discriminatory practices,” the complaint says.

In response, Northern attorney Leslie Taylor said the university reassigned the duties of Tiger’s position. Taylor said Northern is not obligated to give reason for why it allowed the contract to expire.

“There is no requirement to establish ‘good cause’ for allowing the contract to expire on its terms,” she said. “However, for purposes of the investigation, (Northern) is prepared to show that it had legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for its decision not to renew the contract.”

In the past, Tiger had worked as a part-time adjunct faculty member and a grant-funded administrative employee on an annual letter of appointment. Tiger will continue to work as an adjunct faculty member teaching one or two classes per year, McRae said

“The case that was resolved involved only the latter — the grant funded position. She will not serve in that grant-funded capacity any longer,” McRae added.

Tiger had also filed a racial discrimination complaint against Northern Montana Hospital sometime during the last five years. The complaint has been closed and no further information has been made available, Human Rights Bureau Attorney Tim Little said, adding that Tiger objected to the release of any information.