Positive Environment
St. Thomas University School of Law
St. Thomas University School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2012-01
THE DEAN'S ROLE IN BUILDING A POSITIVE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT Douglas E. Ray
Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2011129
RAY_FINAL.DOC
8/15/2011 2:46 PM
THE DEAN’S ROLE IN BUILDING A POSITIVE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT
Douglas E. Ray* UCH of a dean’s job involves reaching out to various communities. We reach out to and build relationships with alumni and donors for needed financial support. We reach out to and build relationships with members of the bench and the bar to help expand employment opportunities for our students. We reach out to and build relationships with members of the University community to ensure cooperation and access to resources. We reach out to and build relationships with our students. This essay is about reaching out to and building relationships with our most important communities: those who work within the law school. In these difficult economic times, most law schools face the challenge of doing more with less. Budgets have been reduced, staffing levels have fallen, and there are limits on how much we want to raise tuition in light of the economic conditions our students face. To do well in this environment and to provide the most effective legal education and student services we can, we must make identifying and fostering the “people potential” of our institutions a high priority. This essay is about treating people the way you would want to be treated and setting a tone of professionalism and mutual respect. Although most of the discussion deals with professional and hourly staff relations, many of the principles also apply to relations with faculty and students. Some of these ideas may seem simple, but our fast-paced work environments and complex schedules make it very easy to overlook them. I think they are more important than most people realize. As a former labor lawyer and labor arbitrator,
St. Thomas University School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2012-01
THE DEAN'S ROLE IN BUILDING A POSITIVE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT Douglas E. Ray
Electronic copy available at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2011129
RAY_FINAL.DOC
8/15/2011 2:46 PM
THE DEAN’S ROLE IN BUILDING A POSITIVE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT
Douglas E. Ray* UCH of a dean’s job involves reaching out to various communities. We reach out to and build relationships with alumni and donors for needed financial support. We reach out to and build relationships with members of the bench and the bar to help expand employment opportunities for our students. We reach out to and build relationships with members of the University community to ensure cooperation and access to resources. We reach out to and build relationships with our students. This essay is about reaching out to and building relationships with our most important communities: those who work within the law school. In these difficult economic times, most law schools face the challenge of doing more with less. Budgets have been reduced, staffing levels have fallen, and there are limits on how much we want to raise tuition in light of the economic conditions our students face. To do well in this environment and to provide the most effective legal education and student services we can, we must make identifying and fostering the “people potential” of our institutions a high priority. This essay is about treating people the way you would want to be treated and setting a tone of professionalism and mutual respect. Although most of the discussion deals with professional and hourly staff relations, many of the principles also apply to relations with faculty and students. Some of these ideas may seem simple, but our fast-paced work environments and complex schedules make it very easy to overlook them. I think they are more important than most people realize. As a former labor lawyer and labor arbitrator,