» Investigations and Institutional Disputes

Most people think of naivete as a lack of intelligence. In reality, some of the most naive people I have ever met were exceptionally intelligent. They were successful. Educated. Hardworking. Accomplished. And yet they repeatedly found themselves blin…

When people are falsely accused, their first instinct is usually the same: They want to explain. They want to clarify. They want to tell their side of the story. They want to make sure everyone understands what really happened. The impulse is natural…

Almost everyone understands that documentation is important. Far fewer people understand what good documentation actually looks like. When disputes arise, I often hear the same response: “I have documentation.” Sometimes they do. More oft…

One of the most difficult questions people face during a dispute is not whether they are right. It is whether the fight is worth it. The answer is rarely obvious. Many people assume that if they are right, they must fight. Others assume that if the p…

Few accusations are more common—or more confusing—than allegations of “unprofessional conduct.” Students are accused of it. Employees are accused of it. Professors are accused of it. Healthcare professionals are accused of it. Lawyers are acc…

Most people assume that false allegations happen only to other people. They imagine that accusations arise because someone made a mistake, behaved recklessly, or did something suspicious. They believe that if they are honest, hardworking, and profess…

One of the biggest mistakes students and faculty members make is assuming that university administrators think the same way they do. They don’t. Students are focused on outcomes. Faculty members are focused on ideas. Researchers are focused on…

When people learn they are the subject of an investigation, they often take comfort in one fact: “I’m innocent.” Unfortunately, innocence and success are not always the same thing. Over the years, I have seen students, professors, p…