What constitutes a compassionate university?

Abstract

When compassion exists in personal and professional relationships, almost everything else is easier and more comfortable to achieve, including problem solving and conflict resolution. When our actions are consistent with our words, compassion can be achieved and arises from our interdependence with others to achieve outcomes we value. Because compassion cannot be compelled, social interactions are valuable as a foundation for confidence or belief one feels towards another or others to overcome doubt or fear. This chapter addresses two important questions: (i) What constitutes a compassionate university? (ii) How ideal campus workplaces can create compassionate cultures infused with common humanity, and common standards of citizenship and civility? Theoretically, it draws upon the lens of compassion as organizing, viewing compassion as a process that unfolds collectively across individuals in an institutional context, which can form the foundation for intersectional pedagogy. In terms of practical implications, it identifies compassionate communication skills based upon emotional intelligence, and outlines a charter for a civil and compassionate university, training for ‘compassionate trust leaders’, and an informal role of organizational ombudsman.