In 2018 the Center for Dispute Resolution (CDR) was awarded $7000 in grant funding by the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice to develop a trio of options for use in addressing violations of the Missouri State University Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
About the Programs
The grant submitted by the CDR proposed the development of three restorative options to address students who have violated the University’s Student Code of Conduct. These included the following:
- Campus Conduct Mediation/Dialogue – facilitated dialogues between those who commit violations and those impacted by their actions.
- Understanding Impact Program – a modified victim-impact program where students learn about types of harm caused by offenses, talk abo
- ut the impact of their own violations, and explore ways to repair the harm caused.
- Restorative Coaching – one-on-one coaching that explores the reasons for a violation; discusses the impact of the violation; develops skills needed to address the communication challenges that may have contributed to the violation; and makes plans for how the harm caused can be repaired.
Throughout the year the CDR has worked closely with Missouri State’s Office of Student Conduct to determine which options will be the most appropriate for the various cases that may be referred to the program.
Training for Students
In early spring of 2019 the CDR will be offering a training for students focusing on the Campus Conduct mediation/dialogue. This training will provide an overview of restorative practices and will prepare students to mediate traditional victim-offender disputes and similar cases that may be handled through or referred by the Office of Student Conduct. Students will develop their mediation skills and then be able to apply these skills as volunteers in the program.
Additional follow-up trainings for students will focus on conflict and communication coaching and other areas of conflict management. Students taking part in the training will be eligible to volunteer with the CDR’s Campus Conduct programs as well as other community outreach efforts.
For More Information
To learn more about the CDR’s Restorative Campus Conduct programming or to find out how you can take part in free volunteer training, please email CDR@MissouriState.edu or call 417-836-8831.