I’ve been reflecting on my nearly eight years as UMKC’s Faculty Ombudsperson. In total, I’ve talked to nearly 100 people across all of our schools, college, and several institutes.

Given the number and scope of ombuds visitors with whom I’ve worked, I want to share some general observations about our faculty and the work we do here at UMKC. These are all generalizations, so of course there are always exceptions, but I’ve found these observations dominant and compelling. My hope is you find them both affirming and informative.

First, faculty really care about their work and they are passionate about doing good work. Sometimes they shed tears and sob when believe the work they love may be threatened by resource reallocation, reassignment of responsibilities, or what they see as whim or caprice.

Second, faculty really care about their students: the ones they teach, those in their programs, and those in their schools. They are passionate about treating students fairly, giving them the resources to achieve, enhancing their enthusiasm for their profession, and ensuring they can succeed professionally.

Third, faculty sincerely enjoy working at UMKC. That’s often the reason they’re in my office: They want to improve their faculty-university relationship and are looking for a constructive path forward.

Fourth, they value their relationships with people with whom they work and seek a reputation as a contributor and a colleague. They are sometimes flummoxed by conflicts or misunderstandings, but nearly always have a goal of creating, repairing, or enhancing a good working relationship. They express a deep desire to meaningfully contribute and feel part of the team.

Fifth, they are fed up with what they interpret as political maneuvering on the part of colleagues or administrators. They resent unhealthy alliances and perceive them as obstructing excellence and productivity. They are sensitive to what they see as power-grabbing or manipulative supervisory actions, particularly if they seem aimed toward personal gain rather than productive scholarship or excellent teaching.

Sixth, and finally, while faculty often perceive supervisors and administrators as key partners in faculty achievement and accomplishment, they may also experience them as unreasonable, uncommunicative, and detrimental to success. Based on visitor observations as well as my own third-party knowledge, I reluctantly concur. While faculty supervisors typically work very hard and have tremendously difficult jobs (having been a department chair, program director, and interim associate dean, I get it!), they sometimes seem to lose the ability to work with faculty as colleagues and professionals, sometimes treating them callously, indifferently, or with deep disrespect.

In conclusion, these observations suggest that UMKC faculty and administrators work with passion and purpose, are committed to excellence, and devoted to student achievement. However, like most universities, and indeed, most organizations, we face critical challenges that must be addressed if we are to fully achieve reach our strategy and mission.