Center for Urban and Regional Policy at Northeastern University
In 1999, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service entered into a cooperative agreement with Northeastern University's Center for Urban and Regional Policy in Boston, MA to examine “best practices” in cooperative labor–management relations in the private and public sectors. Several case studies published on this site are a result of that agreement. The studies examine diverse organizations that embarked on efforts to improve labor-management relations and organizational effectiveness. The development of the case studies has been under the supervision of Professor Barry Bluestone, a labor economist who heads the Center at Northeastern.

The Kennedy School at Harvard University
FMCS has entered into a cooperative arrangement with Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, one of several well-respected educational institutions at which TAGS-based electronic conferencing systems can be implemented. FMCS has determined a TAGS-based electronic conferencing system can be effectively established and administered in cooperation with the University, a respected center for academic research, education and community service. This partnership will specifically focus on the use of technology for the facilitation of public policy dialogue.

Additionally, FMCS is partnering with the Kennedy School to develop student externships, which will enable students to apply the theories and skills developed in a classroom environment to actual problems. They'll work under the guidance and direction of experienced practitioners, and will enhance knowledge, experience and effectiveness in the field of industrial relations and dispute resolution.  Students will also work with FMCS, to meet several objectives: (1) to give students practical conflict management experience, and to enhance their understanding of the application of the principles in general or specialized areas learned in class to actual problems; (2) to expose students to neutral conflict management and dispute resolution proceedings and by doing so, develop students’ neutral skills through participation in, or observation of training programs, facilitation, mediation or arbitration proceedings as appropriate; (3) to give students the opportunity to participate in, and gain an understanding of, the work of FMCS; (4) to encourage students to explore and consider different roles for managers of conflict, and to expose them to the range of career opportunities available in the field; and (5) to develop trained professionals in the field of industrial relations and dispute resolution who have a fundamental understanding of labor management relationships and conflict resolution systems. Further information may be found at www.ksg.harvard.edu

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
FMCS has determined a TAGS-based electronic conferencing system can be effectively established and administered in cooperation with the University, a respected center for academic research, education and community service. This partnership will specifically focus on the use of technology for dispute resolution, employment disputes, and collective bargaining contract negotiations in the St. Louis area. Further information may be found at www.siue.edu

Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University
The FMCS partnership with Straus includes its Law Journal, student externships, and systems design for mediation of statutory employment claims. Through the partnership, Pepperdine University agreed to publish an edition of its law journal focused on FMCS experience and best practices in conflict resolution. The Straus Institute is working with FMCS to develop recommendations for the design, promotion, and implementation of dispute resolution systems in the organized workplace. Finally, FMCS will sponsor an externship program to enable students to receive an uncompensated educationally related work experience. Further information may be found at www.pepperdine.edu

Sullivan University
This partnership supports the development of superior alternate dispute resolution education delivered through the online distance teaching and learning platform. This partnership includes ethics education for mediators and arbitrators, online dispute resolution processes, and other emerging issues in the ADR field. Emphasizing quality ADR content and engaging technology useful to experienced practitioners, Sullivan University has completed two major initiatives in collaboration with FMCS. The International Center for Dispute Resolution & Leadership continues to provide an acclaimed web-assisted Mediator Basic Skills course designed by ICDRL’s Executive Director, Tony Belak, JD. This course has been completed and team-taught by a number of FMCS Commissioners.

In Fall, 2003, Sullivan University Graduate School launched a new graduate degree to be delivered 100% online, the M.S. in Dispute Resolution . Degree designer and Chair, John Willis, PhD, took into account FMCS resources, programs and philosophy, in the development of this program. The online classroom delivers the curriculum, yet a Mediation Practicums Module© (MPM©) has been created to enable learners to transfer online learning into controlled, graduated, real-world dispute resolution experiences in their own workplaces. The MPM© requires collaboration between online learners and their management teams. Managers must approve mediation opportunities and, after training through the online Mediation Evaluator Training© module, are permitted to observe and evaluate their employee graduate students’ effective use of online learning applied in the workplace. From use of FMCS case studies on this website for course learning objectives, to FMCS’ historic emphasis in workplace dispute resolution, this unique approach is a win-win for learners around the U.S. and world, who obtain convenient, global access to quality education, as well as their workplaces—from their managers to their coworkers—who benefit greatly from dispute resolution applications and awareness. Finally, both Sullivan University and FMCS win through innovative education that creates a healthier workplace.

University of North Texas
Through this partnership, the University of North Texas will assist in developing an electronic conferencing center designed to support FMCS' Youth Initiative and the goals of that program.  After implementation, FMCS will enlist the support of UNT and other academic partners to monitor the efficacy of the violence prevention measures being implemented through the Youth Initiative. Further information can be found at www.unt.edu