A. A campus mediation service on each Um campus
would enhance the university environment by providing
an informal means of dispute resolution and help
avoid lengthy and costly litigation.
B. Mediation is an informal, voluntary, and consensual
process in which disputing parties work with an
impartial mediator to resolve their differences.
Both parties must agree to participate in the
mediation.
C. 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. The mediator would
have no authority to impose a settlement. Rather,
the parties will be encouraged to seek solutions
that meet their respective needs. The mediators
may provide information, direct the parties to
appropriate resources, and, if needed, provide
an informal means of conflict mediation.
D. Neither the time period for filing a grievance,
pursuant to the academic grievance procedure or
the staff grievance procedure, nor the time frames
for taking any action regarding such grievance
will be extended as a result of the decision to
utilize the Campus Mediation Service.
E. The Campus Mediation Service on each campus
stresses confidentiality. Unless disclosure is
required by law, the mediator will not release
information received or records created by or
received by the mediator.
F. Each campus will establish its own Campus Mediation
Service by creating a campus-wide committee and
a campus coordinator to determine the procedures
for implementing the Service and to select mediators.
G. The chancellor on each campus will solicit
nominations from deans, directors, and department
chairs for faculty and staff to be trained as
mediators. Self-nominations from all campus faculty
and staff also will be solicited. Efforts will
be made to select at least 12 persons from each
campus to be trained. Mediators may be active
or retired faculty
and staff.
H. Efforts will be made to see diversity in the
pool. Mediators must demonstrate good listening
skills and have the ability and patience to
be impartial and trustworthy.
I. Campus coordinators will determine training
needs for mediators on an annual basis and will
reports to the Office of the Vice President for
Academic Affairds those needs. Each campus will
provide the appropriate publicity about the Campus
Mediation Service to all staff and faculty.
J. Faculty and staff on each campus with problems,
questions, or complaints may contact the designated
campus coordinator who will coordinate the selection
of a mediator. Further, no fee is charged for
the service.
