Tools that help – “Clear knowledge of the rules that apply to a given situation always helps.”
- “code of conduct” regarding emails and how to interact with professors
- Stress management, course in conflict management
- Communicate your concerns with respect – don’t hesitate to say so when you feel someone has
crossed a boundary
- Information on How to confront others who disrespect my work or status
- Academic staff rights
- Opening up a dialogue with others to express expectations
- Evaluation of new administrators within the first year of their employment
- Formal university statement
- Friendly by suggestive signs posted in appropriate areas
- All supervisors should receive some yearly training or possibly some type of newsletter on
important issues and ‘remember to’ sorts of articles
- Sensitivity training
- Ways to defuse a situation, negotiating skills
- Vehicle by which staff could evaluate supervisors
- Sample syllabus language to encourage proper behavior in class
- More discipline of improper student behavior; more backing from administration when student
misbehave.
- University-wide document about civility with examples relating to classroom instruction,
department meetings, email exchanges, etc.
- Case study scenarios that students can use in a class setting that place them in the situation of (1)
an instructor facing uncivil students, (2) a civil student attempting to negotiate a legitimate
request from an uncivil instructor, (3) an employee of an uncivil supervisor who makes
unreasonable demands, (4) a supervisor of an uncivil employee whose performance consistently
undercuts the office’s credibility with individuals or other units/departments, (5) a civil
individual surrounded by a crowd that turns nasty at a public event.
- Solid research on methods to induce civility in (1) age-groups like our students and instructors,
(2) respective socio-economic strata, (3) respective racial/ethnic groups of which UWEC has
representatives.
- Spending money on resources that reveal the problem is money less well spent. We know we
have the problem. Direct resource instead towards effecting change.
Methods –
- everyone should set the example for everyone else, particularly leaders setting the example for
the followers
- speakers and discussions
- civility brochure
- put up a few signs to remind others to be quiet when classes are in session
- include a section on civility for freshmen fall orientation
- set of rules or a covenant on how members of a group or committee will work together – the
process, that gets addressed, decided, and periodically reviewed before going on to the real work
of the committee or group
- new chancellor will set a tone, and frankly, that’s the only thing that will work
- Spectator article
- Role modeled by those in position of power
- Discussions to raise awareness
- Training for supervisors of classified staff members
- Establish ground rules in classes for acceptable behavior in that class. In that sense, instructors
are role modeling civil behavior and if the whole class has input to the “rules”, they all have
ownership.
- If there is going to be such a change, our chancellor has to back it wholeheartedly. Change starts
at the top and trickles down.
- In Phase II and FYE courses
- Awareness campaign
- Web page
- Buttons, make it a brand – treat it like a new product campaign
- Skits on good and bad behavior; small group discussions
- Mentioned in syllabi
- Role model it, expect it, reward it, and if people can’t be civil maybe they should be encouraged
to more on.
- Seminars, workshops, easily digestible tips (via email perhaps)
- It needs to start at the top. Supervisors need to promote civility themselves and not ignore
incivility when it occurs in the office.
- Committee composed of faculty, students, and staff to develop civility guidelines and
consequences
- The most effective method is top down campus commitment
- Consciousness raising awareness
- Placards, presentations, mailings
- Brown bag sessions, open discussions
- Those with more power and influence need to maintain and encourage civility in all cases
- It has to start from the top. The Chancellor needs to require civility in all staff, and address it
directly with Deans. Deans need to pass on the requirement to their staff, especially to Chairs;
Chairs need to continue the discussion with all other staff. Professors, advisors, and instructors
need to have discussions about civility with students. There needs to be a safe place on campus
where major incidents of incivility can be reported with the possibility of an independent mentor
where two people (students, staff, professors, anyone) could address an issue without the
possibility for repercussions.
- Setting good examples
- Something to help raise awareness
- Campaign with posters, newsletter blurbs
-
-
Brown bag sessions
Critical awareness of what incivility does to others
Motivational speakers
Group intervention with follow up evaluations for effectiveness
Modeling mutual respect (although this administration is completely top-down and could care
less what lowly faculty members think); Both top-down and bottom-up discussions of future
politics and issues as opposed to prefabricated ideas forced upon the underlings.
Phase II or orientation or FYE training