Program Brochure - ILR School - Cornell University

Unions and employers
agree that there is a looming shortage of
qualified labor arbitrators. Today, many of
the nation’s premier arbitrators are nearing
completion of their labor arbitration careers. This
comes at a time when the nation’s workforce is
more diversified than ever and employers and
unions alike are confronting new challenges in
their relationships, generated in large part by an
increasingly volatile global economy.
To meet tomorrow’s needs to resolve labormanagement
grievances through the arbitration
process, the Scheinman Institute on Conflict
Resolution at Cornell ILR has created a unique
new program. Cornell ILR faculty members and
arbitration experts throughout the nation bring their
talents, expertise and experience to this program
to develop and enhance the process skills and
substantive knowledge of the select students who
are admitted.
Designed for attorneys, union leaders, human resource
professionals and others who have distinguished
themselves in labor-management relations and
who seek to transition into the practice of labor
arbitration, this program will teach the skills that are
critical to the success of this transition. Unlike other
programs designed for individuals who no longer
work as advocates, this program allows and anticipates
students to remain in current employment while
contemplating and or transitioning to a neutral career.
In addition to the process and substantive knowledge
segments, the program will devote considerable time
to teaching students how to build a successful practice
by creating a personalized strategic business plan.
Based upon our discussions with appointing agencies,
we believe our most promising graduates will have a
streamlined path to inclusion on various arbitration
and mediation panels.
THE SCHeinMan inStitUte’S labor arbitrator DevelopMent proGraM
FeatUreS A partiCipatorY anD CHallenGinG CUrriCULUM to be OFFereD
IN ONLINE AND AS TWO–TO–FIVE–DAY SESSIONS IN THE ILR SCHOOL’S
CONFERENCE CENTERS IN MANHATTAN AND ON THE ITHACA CAMPUS.
The program is divided into four modules.
Module 1 focuses on the fundamentals of labor
arbitration. Six courses are required, including a fiveday
introduction to labor arbitration and five two-day
courses on ethics, evidence, award writing, practice
development and advanced issues.
Module 2 consists of a series of foundational
courses including collective bargaining, labor and
employment law, contract interpretation, public,
private and federal sector issues, human resources
and labor relations. For students with extensive
backgrounds in the foundational areas of the
program, some or all of these courses may be waived
at the discretion of the Scheinman Institute.
Additional information on the modules and courses
are available at: www.ilr.cornell.edu/conflictres.
Module 3 consists of elective courses including
mediation, conflict management system design,
facilitation, public sector mediation, fact-finding and
negotiations.
Modules 4 provides participants with an in-depth
field experience. Students gain experience observing
hearings conducted by the nation’s best arbitrators.
Students write draft awards and will receive
personal feedback from the program’s participating
arbitrators. During this module, students will develop
their ADR business plan while working on
establishing a labor
arbitration practice.
Students in the Labor Arbitrator
Program will write multiple arbitration
awards and receive personal feedback
from top labor arbitrators.
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