The use of neutrals in higher education collective bargaining is considered, with specific reference to a pilot project in which a neutral worked for over a year with the administration and faculty union at a two-year public community college. Eighteen propositions that may promote the creative use of third parties are offered, including the following: neutrals can help the bargaining process only when both sides wish to improve their relationships and desire the use of a third party; a neutral can provide assistance, but parties must retain control of their bargaining relationship; a neutral can help parties collect and analyze data concerning their bargaining relationship to provide insight into the problems of their negotiations process and style; a neutral can help establish structures, such as workshops, in which bargaining parties can meet to discuss the nature of their relationship, and the changes that could improve it; neutrals can suggest new structures for bargaining that may help deal with complex issues; and involvement at the table by a neutral can be accepted as nonthreatening and supportive by the parties if it is focused on process and structure, rather than advocating specific substantive positions. (SW)