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Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Process

Consistent with the educational spirit of the Student Code of Conduct, Alternative Dispute Resolution services may be available to help students manage and resolve disputes. Services are free, private, and completely voluntary. These services can be accessed for a variety of types of conflict, including roommate disputes, disagreements with or between student organizations, and other types of student interpersonal conflict. Utilizing the Alternative Dispute Resolution process will not result in a student conduct record.

Summary of Process

Review

Upon the receipt of an incident report, the Dean of Students Office will review the alleged conduct and may refer it to Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Notice

An invitation letter will be sent out within 1-5 class days after the referral to Alternative Dispute Resolution. Invitation Letters will include a summary of the referred conflict and sources of information, where applicable. The Invitation Letter will instruct the student to contact the DOS within 5 class days of receipt of the letter to schedule an Intake Meeting. 

Intake Meeting

The intake meeting is part one of the two-part process of ADR process. The intake meeting is to discuss the process and the student’s rights during the process. Student(s) may use this time to ask any questions they may have. The Intake Meeting concludes by helping the students onto a clear plan of action for seeking resolution. At the end of the Intake Meeting, the DOS facilitator will offer the student(s) their next meeting options.

Resolution Options

Conflict Coaching

Conflict Coaching is a one-on-one session to engage the student in critical thinking about the conflict and think through alternative options to improve the situation. Conflict Coaching can include just one person or all involved persons. Each person will meet with the DOS facilitator one-on-one. These sessions are estimated to last about 1 hour, but please note that follow-up sessions may be necessary on a case-by-case basis.

Facilitated Dialogue

Facilitated Dialogue is a structured conversation between the conflicting parties. This option serves to allow participants to share ideas, information, and experiences, and to realize the impact their actions have on one another. The parties may not leave the Facilitated Dialogue in agreement, but they should leave with a clearer understanding of varying perspectives and having opened an ongoing dialogue in pursuit of conflict resolution. These sessions are estimated to last about 2 hours, but please note that follow-up sessions may be necessary on a case-by-case basis.

Mediation

Mediation is an open discussion format between the conflicting parties to communicate constructively about difficult topics in new and productive ways. There are two types of mediation: Restorative and Shuttle.

  • Restorative: Group mediation to constructively communicate about the conflict. The group will discuss concerns and start to identify next steps and solutions to the conflict.
  • Shuttle: The mediator will meet with each person separately to hear their perspectives of the situation and their goals. If appropriate, the mediator will then bring the group together to discuss next steps and solutions to the conflict.