University of Missouri System

University Relations

Spectrum

Volume 27, Number 5, September 2000

UM developing mediation service to improve working environment

Paula Short

Representatives from the four UM campuses, working with the UM System Academic Affairs Office, have developed guidelines for a Campus Mediation Service to provide an informal and effective means for resolving disputes between faculty and staff. As a result, President Manuel Pacheco has issued Executive Order 30 establishing the Campus Mediation Service. "A campus mediation service will enhance the climate on each campus by providing an informal means of problem resolution," said Paula Short, associate vice president for academic affairs.

She said low morale and a negative working climate could result when disputes involving faculty and staff go unresolved. In some cases, unresolved conflicts lead to formal grievance proceedings or costly, protracted lawsuits. In other instances there are no procedures in place to help the disputing parties resolve their conflicts, particularly during early stages of the conflict.

"The creation of a campus mediation service provides a tool to each campus for addressing disputes at early stages and helps improve and sustain a positive working environment on the UM campuses," Short said.

As part of the program, a trained mediator will work with the disputing parties to help them clarify their issues and interests, open lines of communication, and develop better working relationships for both faculty and staff. The mediator will have no authority to impose a settlement. Rather, parties will be encouraged to seek solutions that meet their respective needs.

According to Short, campus mediation services will be confidential to the extent allowed by law. "It is a flexible, informal mediation process with no relationship to the formal grievance process," she said. "The use of the mediator service by either faculty or staff to resolve problems and disputes is strictly voluntary."

By using mediation services, both types of dispute can be resolved and lengthy, costly litigious proceedings can be avoided. Informal mediation serves to resolve problems and disputes to the mutual satisfaction of both parties.

"Otherwise, these disputes tend to take root and mature until each party becomes entrenched in her or his position," Short said. "Once entrenched, the only alternative to either party is to become involved in an arduous grievance process."

To operate the Campus Mediation Service, each campus has identified a coordinator. Approximately 12 faculty and staff volunteers, representing a diverse level of academic levels as well as racial and ethnic backgrounds, will be selected to serve as mediators. Mediators can be active or retired faculty, administrators or staff members.

The mediators identified by each campus will attend a three-day training session at the nationally-recognized Dispute Resolution Center at UM-Columbia.

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