SUBJECT:

Faculty Peer Mediation Program at UC San Diego

The Center for Faculty Diversity and Inclusion, a unit of the Office for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, is now offering faculty peer mediation services to assist in resolving disagreements among faculty.

Faculty Peer Mediation can assist in any interpersonal conflict between faculty that does not require formal reporting (e.g. does not involve a violation of university policy or federal or state law) and has not been filed as a formal grievance with another administrative unit (e.g. Research Affairs or Academic Senate). Both parties should have a stake in resolving the matter.

Examples of issues that may be brought to faculty peer mediation include:

· Perceived unfair treatment or offensive comments by a colleague

· Issues around power dynamics

· Other interpersonal conflicts

Mediation is a form of dispute resolution in which a neutral mediator facilitates a discussion between parties who have a disagreement and assists them in identifying a mutually acceptable resolution. The process is confidential, informal, and strictly voluntary. It also promotes understanding and joint problem-solving.

Peer mediators are volunteer faculty members who have completed 40 hours of rigorous mediation skills training with the National Conflict Resolution Center and passed a series of performance-based simulations.

For additional information or to request mediation services, please visit http://facu lt ydiversity.ucsd.edu/mediation/index.html or call 858-246-1923.

Becky Petitt, Ph.D. Vice Chancellor – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Alexander Norbash, M.D., M.S. Associate Vice Chancellor Faculty Climate and Professional Development