Students navigating college in today’s global and national environment are challenged with finding tools, strategies, and language to bridge divides in order to solve our most pressing problems. The Office of Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR) is uniquely situated to assist our students in learning critical skills for engaging in difficult dialogues and transforming conflict.
Want to get involved? You've come to the right place! There are multiple ways to get involved with the Office of Student Conflict Resolution and the conflict resolution process.
Serving as a Resolution Officer
Judicious and thoughtful faculty and staff members are relied on to serve as Resolution Officers (ROs) in the formal conflict resolution process administered by OSCR. Depending on the type of arbitration selected, ROs may determine responsibility themselves or assist Student Panelists during the hearing. ROs must participate in one weekend training during the fall semester where they learn more about how OSCR administers the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
Serving as a Student Resolution Panelist
Each year, sixty students are appointed to serve as Student Panelists in the formal conflict resolution process administered by OSCR. Serving as a Student Panelist is by invitation only, through random selection each winter. Those who accept the invitation participate in one weekend training during the fall semester to learn about the resolution process specified in the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities and hear from guest speakers from SAPAC, Student Legal Services, and many other corners of the University community.
Volunteering at OSCR
OSCR offers volunteer opportunities and unpaid internships to graduate and undergraduate students who seek hands on experience and training doing conflict resolution work. Volunteer opportunities are very flexible and may last the whole semester, the whole summer, or a shorter period of time during the school year such as facilitating resolution of a particular conflict. In addition to students, faculty and staff may also volunteer by serving as social justice mediators, facilitators.
Serving as an Advisor
Under the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities, students are allowed to bring an advisor with them to any and all meetings at OSCR. Advisors assist students participating in the conflict resolution process. All U-M students, faculty, and staff are eligible to act as an advisor after undergoing brief training provided by OSCR.