Office
helps faculty, administrators with disputes
By Laurie
Mellas-Ramirez
UNM is
one of only a handful of universities offering a Faculty Dispute
Resolution (FDR) program as well as services specific to staff.
Communication
expert Jean Civikly-Powell, Communication and Journalism professor
emerita, directs the office, which offers consultation and mediation
services for full and part-time faculty at the main and branch
campuses.
 |
| UNM
also offers dispute resolution for staff. From left: John
Cox, biology; Anna Maria Martinez, engineering; and Joseph
Gonzales, financial aid, take part in a recent mock mediation
training for UNM staff. A new training session begins in
March. Call Kathy Jackson to register, 277-2993. Photo by
Laurie Mellas-Ramirez. |
Interpersonal
conflict in the workplace affects energy, involvement and productivity,
she says.
Part
of a mediators job is to maintain objectivity and to keep
the process a safe environment in every way, Civikly-Powell
said. Everything is confidential. There are no reports,
no records. If the parties agree, we have an agreement form
where they can describe this is what weve agreed
upon to settle the dispute and if they want the office
to have a copy they give us permission.
No one
is required to participate in mediation. Faculty voluntarily
agree to work in good faith to resolve difficulties. If agreements
are not honored, the parties can return for additional discussion
and negotiation.
To date,
68 percent of faculty disputes have resulted in mutual agreements,
she said. When appropriate, the office suggests that faculty
confer with other campus entities such as the Office for Equal
Opportunity and the Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee.
Disputes
brought to FDR are often about academic appointments, workload
or workspace, not being treated respectfully, not being informed
or involved in decision-making processes, or a breakdown in
communication.
Conflicts
occur at all levels of academia, Civikly-Powell said, but more
than half of faculty disputes are with superiors.
Mediation
sessions are scheduled for two hours. Each person is invited
to describe what he or she perceives as the problem and how
it affects him or her.
Mediators
dont make decisions. Its up to the parties to decide
what to do. The presence of a mediator certainly makes it more
constructive, Civikly-Powell said.
Another
FDR service is faculty mediation training. Some 58 faculty across
disciplines are now trained FDR mediators who can assist with
disputes. Each semester faculty take part in the free training,
which requires 32 class hours and two mediation observations
usually at Metropolitan Court. A certificate of completion
is awarded.
About 45
staff at UNM are also trained mediators. Civikly-Powell said
if there is a faculty/staff dispute, a faculty and a staff member
serve as co-mediators. Staff mediation training begins in March.
For information, contact Kathy Jackson at 277-2993.
Civikly-Powell
would like to boost the numbers of chairs, deans, associate
deans and administrators who are trained as mediators. She is
also interested in providing training to branch campus faculty.
Ive trained nine faculty in Gallup and I would be
happy to go
to other campuses, she said.
The spring
semester faculty mediation training is set for Feb. 7, 8, 14,
15. Enrollment is limited.
Call 277-3212
for information.