While the State Education Agency is responsible for providing mediation services, the process ultimately depends on the participation of administrators and parents in order to be successful. This resource describes the advantages and disadvantages of mediation from an administrator's perspective. The goal is to help other administrators make…

This discussion of potential uses of mediation as a management and communication tool focuses on the library setting. The nature of conflict is considered, and the concept, basic principles, and applications of mediation as a form of conflict resolution are presented. The four steps in the mediation process are then described: (1) Introduction,…

Basic characteristics and factors in conflict and conflict management in the context of institutions of higher education are examined, particularly as they interact in the context of a higher education institution. Drawing on the literature, trends in conflict management approaches, reasons for conflict, and results of conflict are identified.…

This report is designed to assist school administrators and school boards to prepare for negotiating issues relating to class size. It includes a brief summary of the research on class size, adapted from ERS's report Class Size: A Summary of Research. Viewpoints of both school management leaders and teacher organization leaders on negotiating the…

The study described in this report analyzed the status of grievance procedures in the Illinois community colleges that engage in collective bargaining. Following an introductory chapter offering a rationale for the study, chapter 2 provides an analysis of existing grievance procedures in the colleges based on a study of the collective bargaining…

Grievance procedures must be fast and fair to satisfy everyone and to disrupt the normal workflow as little as possible. The following factors help make for effective procedures: (1) binding arbitration, because it is orderly and unbiased; (2) contributions to contract language by the contract administrators; (3) absolute honesty about contract…

The paper addresses practical issues involved for building principals in mediating to determine the most "free appropriate public education" for handicapped children and avoiding due process hearings. Mediation is viewed as an ongoing process, and the harmful effects of legal battles over a child's placement or evaluation are noted. The paper…

Eighteen suggestions for reducing or even preventing grievance arbitration costs are detailed under negotiating the contract, administering the contract, and preparing for arbitration categories. (KS)

The conflict-resolution technique of interpersonal negotiation involves five steps: (1) state your positive intentions; (2) define, analyze, and discuss the problem; (3) summarize progress; (4) explore alternative solutions; and (5) set a time for follow-up. (MLF)

This resource guide describes approaches to evaluating the mediation of special education conflicts, especially the use of participant questionnaires in evaluating mediation programs. Section 1 establishes the evaluation context and lists 10 action steps in the design and implementation of an evaluation plan. Section 2 addresses issues for…

Advice about the role of the superintendent in the grievance and arbitration process: Be sure you are not violating the teachers' contract; check past practice; examine the basis of your decision; work closely with the school board's attorney; and plan for future related questions. (MLF)

The use of mediation to resolve conflicts in educational settings is examined especially in relation to handicapped students. Four sample case studies illustrating the informal and formal use of the technique are detailed. Tables illustrate trends in due process administrative decisions in Georgia and mediator training requirements and…

Mediation programs in higher education devoted to resolution of faculty conflicts are discussed. The nature of the faculty enterprise and faculty peer conflicts is examined, and three universities' efforts to incorporate faculty-to-faculty conflict resolution systems on campus are described. The organizational culture of each institution defined…

This conference presentation describes how Virginia Wesleyan College's (VWC) arbitration process, in conjunction with the ideas contained in Ernest Boyer's special report, "Campus Life: In Search of Community", enhances the concept of community at VWC. The paper opens with a brief profile of VWC, a 1,400 student liberal arts school…

This book examines the leadership role of higher education chief student affairs officers (CSAO). Organized in three parts, Part One consists of four chapters that survey the CSAO's responsibilities as a campus leader. The first chapter describes the various roles and functions of the position and discusses its origins and evolution. Chapter Two…