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Dear Faculty Relations: I have two colleagues who are locked in perpetual conflict. It can be frustrating when it comes to committee assignments, or just having to be mindful of whether they’re going to run into each other. They’re never going to be friends, but is there anything I can do to improve this situation? —Confused Chair

Dear Confused Chair: As academic leaders, it’s not only our responsibility to improve situations like this, but also to make sure that conflicts do not affect the culture of our units.��

I am going to assume the conflict is just a run-of-the-mill personality clash. If the behavior rises beyond this, you should consult the Professional Rights and Responsibilities (PRR). According to the PRR, every faculty member must “treat all members of the campus community with mutual respect.” If either of the people in your department is not living up to this standard, then consider talking with Faculty Relations.����

Otherwise, I would sit down with both colleagues and explain to them how their animosity is affecting the unit. For example, my department includes fewer than twenty faculty members, and if this situation occurred between senior colleagues, it would be very difficult to keep them off committees together.��

To begin, simply acknowledging the conflict can have positive effects. In many situations, leaders know these conflicts exist, but do not bring them up because they believe they are unfixable.

Next, try not to fix, minimize, or invalidate their conflict, but rather make them understand that they need to be able to set their differences aside for the good of the unit. I might start by saying, “We need to figure out how to move forward so that whatever is going on between the two of you doesn’t negatively affect the rest of us.”��

Too often we try to fix conflict, but sometimes just openly acknowledging it and making clear it is affecting others can work. This way we can make sure faculty conflict doesn’t begin affecting the whole of the unit, which can lead to worse problems.��

As leaders, we’re not trained mediators (even if it feels that way sometimes). But we are entrusted with making our unit’s culture the best it can be. My advice? Quit trying to fix personal issues and try speaking directly to your colleagues.��

Written by Pat Ferrucci, Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Journalism, and Faculty Director for Academic Policy and Faculty Support, Office of Faculty Affairs.

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