Transcript Dispute Resolution and the ADR Initiative

Conflict Resolution and the
Alternative Dispute Resolution
(ADR) Initiative
Carol Bray
CCR Liaison for EGC
This document will discuss:
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The nature of conflicts
Conflict resolution approaches
So what is mediation?
History of ADR in USG
Conflict resolution at EGC
What can you do?
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The nature of Disputes
Sources of Conflict
• Values
• Data conflicts
• Structural Conflict
• Relationship Conflict
• Interest Conflict
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Grievances
Lawsuits
Complaints
Strikes
Disciplinary Actions
Conflicts can lead to...
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Conflict Resolution Approaches
• There are 3 basic approaches to getting
conflicts resolved...
– Rights Based: adjudication
– Interest Based: negotiation and mediation
– Power Based: acts of aggression or the with
holding of the benefits of a relationship
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The ADR/Mediation Approach
• The Conflict Management or Conflict
Resolution/Mediation Approach is interest
based and it can be characterized by the
following:
– Informal
– Fast
– Inexpensive
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So what is mediation?
• Mediation is a conflict resolution process
that is voluntary and less costly in time
and money than litigation. In mediation, a
third party acts as a neutral intervener
who assists disputants to reach a mutually
acceptable resolution. Mediation is a
cooperative win/win process.
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History of Alternative Dispute Resolution
(ADR) and Conflict Resolution (CR) Process
• In 1994 the BOR established the Blue Ribbon
Study to research ways to reduce the
adversarial means of resolving conflict on our
campuses. The goal was to create a more
collaborative approach to resolving issues.
• In 1995 the ADR, Alternative Dispute Resolution
Initiative, was developed and implementation
began on campuses.
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History cont’d...
• CNCR*, Consortium on Negotiation and Conflict
Resolution, located at GA State, “...provides
technical expertise and training support,
administers the System-wide Mediation
Program, and conducts periodic evaluation of
the development and implementation of CM.”
* <http://law.gsu.edu/cncr/research/conf_mgmt.html>
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History cont’d...
• Each campus president appointed a Campus Liaison to be
the primary contact for the institution and to be the primary
intermediary between the Chancellor’s Office and the USG
Advisory Committee on Conflict Resolution.
• Each campus was to form a Campus Conflict Resolution
Committee to aid in their work, provide feedback, and serve
as a focus group.
• In 1996 each campus was charged with determining the
following:
– Where are we now?
– Where do we want to go?
– How do we get there?
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Conflict Resolution at EGC
In 1996/97 EGC...
• Formed Campus Committee
• Began educating and training selected
faculty and staff
• Assessed the current conflict systems
• Created a ‘mediation’ procedure that was
published in Faculty and Staff handbooks
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Information about Conflict Resolution
is
• published in faculty, staff, and student
handbooks and other student handouts
• posted on a webpage dedicated to this initiative
and linked on other EGC webpages (Institutional
Support, Current Students, Online Help, Human
Resources, and Counseling)
• Presented each summer at the college’s Fall
Conference
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What is EGC’s Campus Conflict
Resolution (CCR) Committee’s
Role?
• To encourage faculty, staff, and students
to use mediation to resolve conflicts
• To attend training to fine tune skills...and
• To offer assistance for bringing in a
mediator from another campus
• To evaluate procedures
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