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BE PREPARED

BE PREPARED. Reflections of a Recovering Department Head David W. Mogk Dept. O f Earth Sciences Montana S t ate University AGU Heads and Chairs Meeting, December 11, 2016.

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BE PREPARED

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  1. BE PREPARED Reflections of a Recovering Department Head David W. Mogk Dept. Of Earth Sciences Montana State University AGU Heads and Chairs Meeting, December 11, 2016 For Bullying, Sexual Harassment/Assault, Alcoholic Incidents, Psychological Breakdown, Expectation of Violence, Suicide, and all manner of Unprofessional Bad Behaviors….

  2. As Department Head/Chair You Have Responsibility (but probably not full authority) • To provide a safe and productive work environment for students, staff and faculty; • To keep the department running • Courses • Undergraduate advising • Graduate research • Departmental facilities • Extracurricular programs • All department functions can be compromised by unprofessional behaviors

  3. Nothing in my professional training prepared me for: • The severity of interpersonal conflicts; • Institutional policies that c/would not appropriately, effectively respond in a timely fashion; • The need to coordinate evidence and documentation from: College Dean, Graduate Dean, Office of Sponsored Research, Intellectual Property, Information Technology, Legal Counsel…. • The irreversible damage that was done to individuals and the overall department; • Having to find the tools and resources needed to effectively respond • Having to prosecute 2 post-tenure dismissals that took years to resolve

  4. IMPACTS • On the victims • Departure from the program; psychological disorders (medication, counseling); fear to be in the building; reassignment of faculty advisors (and committees, thesis topics, new funding); attempted suicide….in the end 17 graduate students were impacted (not counting impacts on the undergraduate program) • On other faculty/staff • Assigned additional UG advising, courses with new course development (as faculty were suspended with pay, so there were no funds for temporary replacements) • Added mentoring/counseling for distressed students • Supervision of grad students; defining new topics, forming new committees, seeking new funding, without ability to pubish due to IP issues with former advisors. • On the department • Dept. was punished as faculty lines were left open for 2+ years after suspensions • Uncertainty; as classes were canceled, rescheduled, students reassigned new advisors • Rumor mill—although “confidential” students witnessed many events that were then posted on social media • Lack of confidence—a very conspicuous silence by the administration that would not acknowledge that these issues existed and were being addressed; no thaks to those who stepped up and kept the department functioning

  5. Soccer (as metaphor for life….); As Department Head/Chair (referee) • Know the rules and procedures; • Position yourself to make the call; • Practice proactive officiating (intervene early before people get in trouble) • Be decisive, and act to protect safety (of players) and the integrity of the game • Realize that in dynamic situations you have be prepared to act immediately • No one wins by not showing a card…get bad behavior out of the game early, before something irreversible happens

  6. What I learned: • It’s all about POWER, that is used to inappropriately coersce and exploit • The impacts on individuals is devastating and irreversible • There WILL be huge collateral damage to the entire department • Silence is not an option; no one can be neutral • Empower victims and by-standers to report and act • Suspension is not sufficient; perpetrators must be isolated from the victims; • Faculty performance reviews are inadequate if they only address teaching, research service; need additional latitude to also report on professionalism, civility, departmental citizenship

  7. Final (hard earned) Advice • Be proactive; be prepared • Look for the warning signs; intervene early • Have an incident plan in place; know policies • Know the chain of communications, who to report to • Build relations with Student Services, Affirmative Action, Human Resources, Campus Security, Counseling and Psychological Services • Protecting personal safety must be your highest priority; but protecting privacy, confidentiality is also important. • Ensure a departmental climate that is inclusive, welcoming, and SAFE; set the standard for the department • An ounce of prevention is always the best policy.

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