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The University seeks to provide a comfortable, welcoming,
and supportive living and learning environment for all who
live and work at the University. All members of the campus
community are encouraged to resolve problems and complaints
informally as they arise. When additional help is needed,
mediation can assist to help resolve conflicts in an informal
and confidential setting.
Mediation is a completely voluntary and confidential
process that helps two or more people in conflict to articulate
their issues and goals, communicate about the situation, and
try to reach a constructive resolution.
Mediators are trained neutral facilitators who help the parties
in a conflict to work together on the issues that are important
to them.
Mediators do not advise, recommend, or make decisions. All
decisions are made by the parties.
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- Mediation is private and confidential.
- Mediation encourages the parties to reach creative
solutions.
- It works! Mediated agreements work because the parties
to the dispute have designed them and are committed
to them.
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Just about anything: interpersonal conflicts, student group
issues, racial, cultural or gender issues, work related issues.
The primary constraint is that both parties must agree
to participate in the mediation.
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USM has a roster of students, staff, and faculty who are
trained mediators. We try to accommodate any preferences that
parties may have about who their mediators will be —with respect
to gender, University status, race, or other factors. Mediators
are also screened to assure their neutrality in relationship
to the parties involved and the issues.
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Anyone—staff, students, and faculty.
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- Contact Nolan Thompson, voice mail: 780-4073 or e-mail
thompson@usm.maine.edu
to request mediation.
- We call you within two days.
- The mediation coordinator talks by phone with the requesting
party to explore whether or not mediation is appropriate.
- If the contacting party wishes to go forward, the mediation
coordinator gets in touch with the other party to see if
he or she is willing to participate in mediation. Both parties
participate voluntarily.
- The coordinator selects a pair of mediators and schedules
the mediation session, usually within a few days of the
first contact, at a time convenient for all.
- At the start of the mediation session all parties sign
a written request for mediation, which confirms the confidentiality
of the discussion.
- The mediators facilitate the conversation and discuss
the guidelines for a safe and fair environment.
- You and the other party tell your stories and hear each
other’s point of view.
- The mediators listen and ask questions
- Mediators may sometimes meet privately with each party
to further explore the issues.
- A typical mediation lasts 2-3 hours. Either party can
withdraw from the mediation at any point. If needed, additional
sessions can be scheduled by mutual agreement.
- Both parties to the dispute contribute to working out
a mutually agreeable solution.
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