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