The position of director of faculty relations was established in 2007 in recognition of the need to provide services to faculty members and academic administrators to help develop and maintain working relationships that are positive and productive. These services include individual consultation, mediation, assessment of unit dynamics, and investigations of allegations of unprofessional behavior as defined in the Professional Rights and Duties of Faculty Members. 

Guiding Principles

  • Conflicts should be addressed and resolved at the lowest level as quickly and with the least formality possible.
  • Faculty Relations exercises independent judgment.
  • Contacts and communications between clients and the director of faculty relations are confidential except in cases requiring formal investigation and fact-finding or as otherwise required by law or university regulations.

Services

  • Coaching and training in leadership and how to manage professional relationships.
  • Facilitating conflict resolution, especially when the conflict is not well suited to the voluntary, informal, and confidential services of the Faculty Ombuds Office.
  • Conducting formal assessments of conflicts affecting faculty members within units.
  • Investigating and making written recommendations for disposition of allegations of unprofessional behavior or misconduct.
  • Making referrals to other on-campus resources.
  • Providing faculty development opportunities in service, administration, and leadership.
  • Offering “competency-based” training for department chairs, directors, Associate Deans and Deans to support, encourage and ensure the successful preparation of faculty for leadership roles through the Academic Leaders Institute (ALI).

Service Eligibility

  • Faculty members, including research faculty
  • Academic administrators holding a faculty appointment
  • Post-doctoral appointees who have a conflict issue with a faculty member
  • Graduate students on appointment who have a conflict issue with a faculty member (excluding academic appeals)

FAQ

Informal advice, coaching, and mediation are provided confidentially. Unless you grant permission, the director of faculty relations will not reveal your name or information about your situation to others. Note: Confidentiality cannot be assured in situations involving imminent physical danger or violation of law. By university policy, the director of faculty relations is obligated to report allegations of sexual harassment or discrimination.

Yes, you may bring a concern to Faculty Relations instead of, or prior to, employing other existing University procedures.

No. Faculty Relations makes recommendations to the appropriate appointing authority. Only the appointing authority may impose sanctions.

In addition to offering formal training for chairs, Faculty Relations can provide one-on-one coaching for any question that arises in the course of your work as chair. A confidential sounding board for you is always just a phone call away.

Services of the faculty ombuds are always strictly voluntary, confidential, and informal. The director of faculty relations may also advise, conduct formal assessments; make recommendations for actions and engage in more formal mediation processes (including mediation mandated by an academic administrator).

Yes. If you want to address the problem yourself, Faculty Relations can provide advice and coaching on how to proceed. Alternatively, Faculty Relations can engage the parties directly on your behalf.