The Philosophers' Cocoon

A safe and supportive forum for philosophers.

Owned & Moderated by Marcus Arvan (University of Tampa)

Contact: marvan@ut.edu

Blog mission & moderation policy

IMPORTANT NOTE on how to ensure anonymity in commenting
Job-Market Reporting Thread (2025-26)
Job-Market Discussion Thread (2026-27)

recent posts

about

Navigating a small department with preexisting internal conflicts?

In our new "how can we help you?" thread, a reader asks:

Thoughts about how to successfully navigate a small department with preexisting internal conflicts? (I'm a mid-career, tenured philosopher, fairly new to the place.) I'd prefer not to say more to avoid identification–though sadly, this description probably fits a few institutions.

Great question. I'm not sure that I have many good tips to offer, as fortunately my own small department doesn’t fit this description. But I guess if I had one tip to offer, it would be this: don't presume to understand the nature or the depth of the conflicts there are. Obviously, there are many sides to most stories, and believing you have a grasp of the nature of them might land you in trouble. Also, of course, not all conflicts are equal. Some are mere conflicts of personalities or priorities, others the result of legitimately bad or even unethical behavior. I don't know if there are any good rules for handling different types of conflicts like these, as they can differ in so many details (every situation is different).

So perhaps it would be best to hear from readers who have grappled with this stuff. Do you have any helpful experiences, tips, or other insights to share?

One quick reminder: please be mindful of the Cocoon's safe and supportive mission. The Cocoon isn't the kind of place to spread rumors or "out" people or departments, either explicitly or by implication. Comments that run afoul of our mission in these or other ways will not be approved.

Posted in

3 responses to “Navigating a small department with preexisting internal conflicts?”

  1. Sir Robin

    I was in this situation once. Here are some tips: keep notes and records of egregious behavior (you may need them later); make connections with people in other departments (not to share your horror stories, but to have some stress-free social interactions at work); connect with the administration – you should do this NO MATTER what your department is like, but it is especially important if you have to talk with a dean about a problem (even if you are only a witness to the problem); stay involved in your union. Unions really can solve some of the personnel problems on campuses (and they often operate with Marcus’ principle, that there are two sides to the story (and the truth may be somewhere between the two stories you hear)). Finally, keep your eye out for other jobs 😉 This is only a half-joke. But it is still sometimes sensible to run from from your problems (ask Sir Robin from Monty Python’s The Holy Grail)

    Reply
  2. juniortt

    Sir Robin’s advice is really good and they are correct that sometimes it is better to leave, especially if things are too fraught to even try to navigate, but if you’re committed to remaining there (maybe for career or familial reasons), you need to be clearly, openly neutral and refuse to engage when someone tries to draw you in. (eg, Them: “Can you believe that Professor X did [thing]?! What a jerk!” You: “Oh, wow, that sounds really frustrating. I’m sorry to hear that but I’ve got to get back to grading”) This will feel weird and maybe a bit rude, but one more person jumping into the fray will not make things better. Staying out of it is better for you and for any students who get caught up it the crossfire. Plus, if the department is going to function, there must be at least one person who can negotiate between parties or interface with administration in good faith.

    Reply
  3. also in a small department with some cranky people

    I’ve found that the squeakiest wheels are not usually representative of the majority of the department, their loud voices just make it seem like things are all-around awful. Also, these people are often awful because they feel unrecognized and unappreciated.
    Find the positive stuff going on in your department and emphasize that, both to yourself and others: events, publications, grants, student success stories. Recognizing other people’s wins (e.g. send a group email saying congratulations) can help change department culture and create good will.
    Also agree about making friends with people outside the department. Life saving.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Discover more from The Philosophers' Cocoon

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading