Office of Student Conduct and Resolution Services (OSCARS)

USI Mediation Services

Conflict... A Way of Life

Conflict is an inevitable aspect of life. Clearly, it can occur on college campuses, with faculty, peer groups, significant others, and roommates. Though many may want to avoid conflict and confrontation, it is important to learn healthy means of communicating issues and concerns with others. We may want to handle the issues on our own, however, sometimes having a neutral third party can make all the difference, and assist in finding a solution in a more convenient and timely fashion.

Mediation is an attempt to effect a peaceful settlement between two or more individuals. Mediation is a fluid dialogue, where matters are solved through controlled collaboration.

Our purpose is that through the process of mediation, trained mediators will strive to see connection and civility among participants through efforts of collaboration, cooperation, and communication, in order to find a compromising solution

View the OSCARS Mediation Program Purpose Statement

The Mediation Process

The Mediation Program, offered through the Office of Student Conduct and Resolution Services (OSCARS), serves to help Housing & Residence Life residents resolve disputes. Funded through conduct fines, the Mediation Program provides trained mediators to help individuals in conflict discuss their issues and identify possible solutions to resolve conflict. Mediators are volunteer professional staff members who have completed intensive training in mediation and practice by nationally recognized experts in higher education. Mediators maintain the highest level of privacy.

The Mediation Program has helped many individuals resolve their differences. In addition to solving the conflict, participants receive:

• Quality solutions – the Mediation Program works to provide a win-win outcome for all involved.
• Immediate assistance – sessions are scheduled promptly (most within three days of the request).
• Privacy – everything said in a mediation session remains private.
• Free service – the Mediation Program is funded through conduct fines
• Peace of mind – mediation helps to preserve important relationships and ends conflict peacefully. It serves to eliminate the issues and the uncomfortable situations they bring by providing effective conflict resolution.

The Mediation Process

The Mediation  Process  involves three steps:

1. Intake – Individuals interested in mediation contact the Office of Student Conduct and Resolution Services for assistance. A mediator is assigned to the case and an intake coordinator meets with both parties to ensure the conflict is suitable for mediation and that all are voluntary participants in the process.
2. Mediation Session – the mediator will hear the case, allowing both parties to voice their perspectives on the dispute. The mediator will work with parties to help identify the main issues and will help parties determine possible options for resolving the dispute.
3. Agreement & Follow-up – The mediator will help disputants develop a full or partial agreement based upon discussion in the mediation session. Afterwards, a staff member will contact the disputants to follow up on their progress.

How to Schedule a Mediation