Strategies and Tips

UMass can be a wonderful, rewarding place to teach, research, and produce scholarly work and at the same time, being part of a large public university has challenges that can bring about conflict.   Conflict is a normal part of every person’s life and yet not many feel confident about dealing with it effectively. Here are some resources that may be of help.

For All Faculty

• Five Competencies for Culturally Competent Teaching and Learning
• The Art of Disagreeing Agreeably
• The Six Minute Summary of Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott
• Problem Solving Conversations Guidelines [pdf]
• CPI’s Top 10 De-Escalation Tips [pdf]

For Chairs and Heads

• Enhancing Department Climate: A Guide for Department Chairs [pdf]
• The Conflict Management Tool Kit
• Dealing with Dysfunctional Academic Departments
• Why Inclusive Leaders Are Good for Organizations and How to Become One
   

On-campus Resources

• The Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) is a free and confidential counseling, consultation, and referral service that assists employees in resolving personal, work-related, and family problems.
• The Stonewall Center provides support, resources, programming, and advocacy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA) and allied students, staff, and faculty at UMass Amherst and for the larger Pioneer Valley.
• Workplace Learning and Development promotes employee and organizational growth, development, and empowerment by providing free workshops.
• The Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity (EO&D) addresses discrimination issues and manages related Grievance Policies and Title IX compliance.
• The Center for Women and Community provides counseling, Rape Crisis services, community education and trainings about sexual violence, healthy relationship and other topics, as well as information and referral services.
• The Labor/Management Workplace Education Program offers tailored instruction to frontline employees on campus and off, including those with different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

Off-campus Resources

Through Mass4You Employee Assistance Program (EAP) (use access code: Mass4You), GIC benefits-eligible employees and their families can find easy access to a comprehensive suite of free, confidential support available 24/7, including:

• Three in-person or Tele-EAP (virtual) counseling visits per issue per year – at no cost
• 30-minute telephonic or in-person legal or mediation consultation per issue per year – at no cost
• Guidance from a financial advisor to help with debt, foreclosure, financial planning and more
• Get referrals for a variety of Work-Life convenience services: child care, elder care and more
• Access to Optum’s 24/7 confidential Substance Abuse Treatment Helpline and a licensed clinician

No formal enrollment is required.