By Mai Nyua Lee
News@Metro
Jonathan Gallop’s journey from law practice to community faculty has been fun and rewarding. A Duluth native, he obtained his law degree at the University of Minnesota. After earning his degree, he became a managing partner in his law firm (Milavetz, Gallop and Milavetz). Gallop also coached high school baseball for eleven years. He retired from the law practice in 2001.
Gallop teaches business courses at Metropolitan State University, Minnesota State University Mankato, and Anoka-Ramsey Community College. He is the originator of the CIDER Method (Communicate-Investigate-Document-Evaluate-Respond), which describes the proper process to handle all employee complaints. Recently, he spoke with me to discuss his love for teaching and his newly published book, The C.I.D.E.R. Method: A Human Resource Approach to Handling Employee Complaints.
What has your experience been like working for Minnesota State colleges?
I love teaching and have been doing so for 18 years. I really enjoy the interaction with students in seated classes. But I have taken pride in making my online classes far more than a glorified independent study class. I am actively involved in discussion posts. I try to make the online classes a fun and interesting environment to keep my students engaged in their learning.
Is there a preference on how you want to be addressed by your students?
[chuckles] No, I am not hung up on this (titles). I really don’t give my students an answer. They can call me Mr. Gallop, or professor. It doesn’t matter.
What have you learned from teaching?
I have become a better teacher learning from all of my students. For example, when I coached baseball, I needed to be able to describe different ways to approach and explain a method. It’s the same when I teach my students because we all learn differently.
That’s the purpose of school. If a teacher is not teaching in a way to help a student, it’s not good. I want my students to understand what I teach will help them in 5-10 years. I hope that what I’ve taught my student to help them with their life. The subjects I teach in class are reflected in the book also.
How did the idea for your book start?
I give seminars and during one, someone suggested that I write in article before someone takes my original idea of C.I.D.E.R. Method. My publisher heard and asked that I write it as a book. I said sure.
Is the CIDER Method a method you came up with?
It is all my method – it is the idea of having a systematic approach, not a haphazard way to treat each and every situation. Implementing the C.I.D.E.R. Method makes sure that each reported issue is handled in same manner although the company’s response to each reported situation may be different. You don’t want someone to ignore these issues at infancy, hoping they will go away. In my book, it’s about training a person in communication, not about talking, but it’s about listening to make sure they know the full extent of the problems.
How was your research process like?
I am constantly reviewing the new employment law cases from the appeals courts. Some cases are cited in the book. It’s also a culmination of what I’ve been doing for a long time, a great deal based on what I learned through practicing law and consulting with businesses.
How long did it take with writing the book from start to finish?
Five months – the information is what I’ve been lecturing on. Once I got the main points it was about organizing, polishing and a lot of editing.
Can anyone pick your book up and read it?
My audience is for business students, business owners and companies. I wrote it so college students can read and enjoy it. There’s humor in my book like my lectures, which helps for the lessons to be better remembered. It is 138 pages and I want it to be memorable, go beyond a typical textbook, and hope that anyone will keep and reference it.
Have you searched for yourself on the website rate my professor?
My daughters have sent me stuff. I don’t like reading this, but I do read the ones my daughters send me. I think it’s nice that students take the time to do this. Students have said some very nice things.
"The C.I.D.E.R. Method: A Human Resource Approach to Handling Employee Complaints" is Gallop’s first book and it is available for purchase through Amazon and his publisher, KendallHunt.