It is the sincere goal of the Chemistry Department to maintain an environment in which a spirit of collegiality and mutual respect prevails, for such an environment fosters optimum productivity and satisfaction among its members. To provide graduate students, postdoctorals, and staff with a well-defined mechanism for conflict mediation, the Chemistry Department has appointed two members of the faculty, Professors Tim Jamison and Troy Van Voorhis, as "Department Mediators". The Department Mediators provide a resource for the chemistry community to assist with a wide range of problems that may arise in the course of their appointment to the department. One key role of the mediators is to offer advice to students, postdoctoral personnel, and staff who find themselves in conflict with other members of the department, including their faculty supervisors. Such conflicts with co-workers could include harassment, concerns over safety, and disagreements over authorship and over what constitutes an acceptable unit of work for publication or for the award of a degree. Although the mediators will help individuals deal with most problems locally, they are also well informed on the many services that MIT offers to members of the community who find themselves in distress. The mediators can maintain confidentially in most matters, but in cases where they cannot, they can refer individuals to resources where confidentiality can be guaranteed.

Also available for conflict mediation are the CHEMISTRY "R.E.F.S. (Resources for Easing Friction and Stress), a group of chemistry graduate students trained and certified by MIT as mediators, and specializing in conflict resolution.. All REFS were trained through MEDIATION@MIT in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, c. 233, sec. 23C. All interaction with the Chemistry Mediators and REFS program is confidential and voluntary. Please visit the REFS website for a comprehensive description of the program and REFS contact information.