Mediation of Difficult Graduate Student and Faculty Discussions in Engineering and Science

This Research-to-Practice full paper introduces a custom-developed protocol and process to mediate difficult graduate student and faculty interactions within engineering and computer science departments. Positive and productive graduate student and faculty cultures and dynamics are essential for ensuring a healthy research environment. When interpersonal issues arise between a faculty and a graduate student a solution may not always be straightforward. As a result, healthy research environments may be at risk. While some research-intensive universities can afford services for mediation such as those offered by an ombudsman, not all universities and institutions of higher education have the resources to hire and financially support such services. Thus, it is important to provide easy-to-implement and accessible materials for mediation that engineering and computing departments can build upon to provide this much needed training and educational resource to its faculty, staff, and students. The materials presented on this paper were designed and created based on evidence-based practices of parent and teacher mediation meetings when seeking special education services and accommodations in K-12 school settings. The innovation elements of this paper include: (a) communicating and documenting concerns and needs from both the graduate student and the faculty member; (b) the creation of guidelines and restrictions for the mediation meeting; (c) the use of a handout and protocol; and (d) the follow-up processes that results after a mediation meeting. The paper introduces some of the most salient challenges documented in the literature regarding graduate student and faculty conflicts. Also, the paper introduces the considerations and resources that were used to create mediation materials and protocols. Furthermore, the author includes self-reflections and insights as they prepared for and conducted mediation meetings with the provided materials. The conclusion of the paper recommendations and implications for introducing these materials across engineering and computing education environments and ways that mediation can support healthier research cultures.