About FASAP

FASAP is a University of Michigan program that offers a number of services designed to help staff, faculty, and their immediate family members with personal difficulties encountered at both work and home. Our services include:

  • Short-term counseling services to all staff, faculty, and their immediate family members on personal, emotional, family and work place issues
  • Personalized coaching services to assist with achieving professional or personal goals such as overcoming procrastination, improving work organization and completion of specific projects
  • Critical incident, trauma and grief counseling
  • Brown/Bag Educational Presentations on a variety of emotional and mental health topics

All FASAP services are free of charge and confidential.

Confidentiality Statement

This Web site is intended to be a source of information and resources to the University’s faculty and staff. All of the communications with our office are treated with the highest level of confidentiality. This Web site is no exception. In order to maintain your privacy, there are no "cookies" or any other devices being used by this site to track who is logging in to find or review information.

PLEASE NOTE: The confidentiality of electronic messages cannot be guaranteed. Though confidentiality is intended in all Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FASAP) client-related e-mail transmissions, clients or potential clients are advised to speak directly to a FASAP representative to ensure confidentiality.

For more information concerning "cookies," their use and how to disable them, please visit:
http://www.umich.edu/~websvcs/umweb/cookies.html
http://www.cookiecentral.com

Mission Statement

The Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FASAP) provides support and assistance to University staff and faculty in resolving personal or work related concerns. Through a range of sensitive and innovative services, FASAP seeks to enhance the emotional health, well-being and job-performance of members of the university community. By providing confidential and professional counseling, coaching, training and consultation services to staff, faculty, retirees, benefit-eligible dependents and departments, FASAP helps individuals develop and foster strengths and resiliency to enhance their personal and professional lives.

University Policies

Standard Practice Guide 201.14 For FASAP Employee Assistance Services
(Note: This link will open in a new window)

Workplace Violence and Threats

At the University of Michigan, all faculty and staff share the responsibility to report threats, acts of aggression, and violence to a responsible authority, department head, or to the Department of Public Safety. Threats, acts of aggression, and violence in the University will not be tolerated by or toward faculty and staff members or towards students, patients or visitors. Such actions may result in disciplinary actions, up to and including discharge or expulsion. Prosecution may result if federal, state and local laws are violated.

Threats can be direct and immediate or vague and may occur either verbally or in writing. Acts of aggression include abusive behavior, stalking and tampering with property and are intended to intimidate, create fear, inflict harm, or destroy property. Violent behavior is behaving in a way that poses an immediate threat to self or others by acts of physical harm.

Acts of violence cannot be predicted with absolute certainty, although we can minimize the risk to everyone when behaviors that are observed are reported to appropriate authorities. Often threats or acts of aggression escalate to a level of violence when there is poor communication with the person and the person cannot cope under the stress.

When interacting with a potentially aggressive or violent person, be aware of your reactions, report all behaviors to others, and follow the suggested guidelines:

  • Remain calm, speak in a low voice...don’t argue or agree with distortions.
  • Let them know the consequences..."I’ll call security if you don’t sit down and stop yelling...I can’t help you if you don’t calm down."
  • Avoid invasion of "personal space;" keep a safe distance of 3-6 feet.
  • Treat people with respect regardless of their behavior and avoid being judgmental.
  • Do not make promises that you cannot fulfill.
  • If the person has an appeal to a higher authority, then so inform them.
  • Report all behaviors to appropriate authorities or call Public Safety at 911.

If the behavior reaches the point of violence then:

  • Remain calm. Dealing with the person calmly and confidently will help reduce further communication problems.
  • Call 911. If you cannot call yourself, have someone else call for you.
  • Do not try to physically force a person to leave. Do not touch the person.
  • If violent behavior is occurring, escape, hide if not already seen, or cover-up.
  • Position yourself, if possible, so that an exit route is readily accessible.
  • Never attempt to disarm or accept a weapon from the person in question.
  • Don’t argue, threaten, or block their exit.

The University offers many resources (Department of Public Safety, Academic and Staff HR Services, FASAP, Psychiatric Emergency Services) to assist you and others to prevent problems, conduct investigations, manage the workplace if a situation occurs, and to help faculty and staff members cope with stress if an event occurs.

Advisory Board

Bruce Pringle
Rep: Employee Relations
Staff HR
2012 Wolverine Tower
1281
763 2387
bpringle@umich.edu

Catherine Shaw
Special Assistant
Office of the Provost
Rep: At Large
5084 Fleming Bldg 1340
734-763-0380
cashaw@umich.edu

Dr. Jayne Thorson, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean, Medical School,
Director for Faculty Affairs
Medical School Admin.
Rep: Medical School
Medical School Admin.
D3261 MED Sci I 0628
734-763-0253
jthorson@umich.edu

Karen Dickinson
Relationship Manager ITD
Central Services
Rep: Women’s Groups
ITD – User Services
535 W. Williams #1102 4943
734-764-2213
karend@umich.edu

Kathleen Rychlinski
Assist. Mgr. Risk Mgmt. Claims
Risk Management
Argus I
400 S Fourth St 4816
kmrychili@umich.edu

Ken Chaves
U of M Trades Union
Rep: Unions
7920 Jackson Rd
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
734-424-0253
Ken@uofmskilledtrades.org

Laura Woolley
Administrative Services
Rep: Central Campus
Univ. Lib/Lib Admin Svcs
404 Hatcher N 1205
734-764-2546
lewoolle@umich.edu

Dr. Lawrence Root, Ph.D.
Director, Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations, Professor of Social Work,
Rep: Central Campus
Inst. of Labor & Industrial Relations
325 Victor Vaughn 2054
734-763-3116
and/or
School of Social Work
2770 Social Work 1106
734-763-6581
lroot@umich.edu

Marty Eichstadt
Director, Benefits Office
Rep: Benefits
Benefits Office
G405 Wolverine Tower 1281
734-763-1217
martye@umich.edu

Michael Herrington
Admin. Assoc. II
Rep: University Housing
University Housing
1500 SAB 1316
734-647-3049
mnherrin@umich.edu

Patrick M Smitowski
HR Manager
Rep: LS & A Budget & Admin
6525 Haven Hall (mailing)
4032 Dana Building (office)
505 S. State St. 1045
734-764-8197
psmitow@umich.edu

Sarah Ely
Manager
Plant Academy Training Center
1111 Kipke Dr #1050 2001
734-647-0831
sarahely@umich.edu

Stephanie Estes-James
Secretary III, Athletics
Rep: Minority
Athletics
Schembechler Hall 2201
734-763-4422
estesjam@umich.edu

Bruno Giordani
Associate Professor Psychiatry
Rep: Faculty/SACUA
Neuropsychology Division
Rm 480, Med Inn Bldg 0840
734-763-9259
giordani@umich.edu

Annual Report

The FASAP Annual Report is expected to be released in August 2007.