To the extent possible OSCR seeks to embody Restorative Justice in all of its practices. It is one of the underlying philosophies that guide OSCR’s work in Building Trust, Promoting Justice and Teaching Peace.
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Vision
A safe and scholarly community in which students navigate conflict in a peaceful, socially just, and self-reflexive manner.
Mission
OSCR provides a variety of programs and services designed to support a safe, just and peaceful community, and to help Michigan students learn how to manage and resolve conflict peacefully. OSCR offers a full-spectrum menu of conflict resolution pathways. These include Facilitated Dialogue, Restorative Justice Circles, Shuttle Negotiation, Social Justice Mediation, as well as the Formal Conflict Resolution process as described by the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities. The Statement is a community-owned expression of Michigan's values that outline both the rights that U-M students enjoy as well as responsibilities they accept as members of this community. OSCR continually strives to Build Trust, Promote Justice, and Teach Peace.
Our Values:
As detailed in the Statement, the University is dedicated to supporting and maintaining a scholarly community. As its central purpose, this community promotes intellectual inquiry through vigorous discourse. Values which undergird this purpose include civility, dignity, diversity, education, equality, equity, freedom, honesty, and safety.
Our Work:
Build Trust
OSCR builds trust by conducting an operation that is educationally focused, student-driven, and community-owned through:
- Supporting the amendment process of the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities that is revised and approved by students, faculty and staff
- Collaborating with students, student groups, student leaders and campus departments
Promote Justice
OSCR promotes justice by facilitating conflict resolution for the Michigan community and creating a just and safe campus climate through:
- Administering the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities with compassion, integrity, and fairness
- Implementing related university policies and developing procedures that provide adaptable conflict resolution
Teach Peace
OSCR teaches peace by serving as a campus resource for conflict management through:
- Providing proactive and preventive educational programming for students, student groups and campus departments
- Striving to set the national standard for campus conflict resolution
Participating in the Conflict Resolution Process
Our conflict resolution pathways, services, and procedures are designed to be student-centered and accessible to all members of our community. Please review the topic hubs below to learn more about participating in the conflict resolution process.
Responding to a Complaint: Frequently Asked Questions
I think OSCR really is what you make of it. You can literally come to OSCR for almost anything, and I think that is what sets this resource apart from others. Whether it is something you think is serious or trivial, OSCR can help. With all of the different outlets for conflict resolution, OSCR can fit into your specific conflict style. We offer information, conflict coaching, meditations, facilitated dialogues and much more. Coming to OSCR helps you learn a lot about yourself and gain a new perspective and awareness for others and their unique conflict styles. -- Tangela Woodley, U-M Student
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Erik Wessel, D.Ed.
Director
Erik serves as the Director of the Office of Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR). Prior to joining the OSCR team, Erik served as the Director of the Office of Student Conduct at Ferris State University and also worked in the Student Conduct Office at Penn State University while completing his doctoral work in Higher Education Administration with a cognate area of study in counselor education. Erik is committed to genuine dialogue and action that engages student learning, promotes achievement, and ensures the full and equal participation of all groups in society.
OSCR Research
Under the UM Policy on Sexual Misconduct by Students, OSCR is responsible for facilitating sanctioning processes designed to eliminate the misconduct, prevent its recurrence, and remedy its effects, while supporting the University’s educational mission and Title IX obligations. This is difficult work. It’s also important work because students are relying on us to help make things right no matter the outcome of the investigation.
Annual Reports
Per the Statement, "Statistical reports of actions taken through the Statement will be published following each academic term. These data will cover the number of complaints and the types of violations, resolutions, and sanctions/interventions." OSCR publishes this and other information related to its work in annual reports and other publications. Please choose a link below to download this information.
Annual Reports
Student Life & Conflict Resolution Resources that Inform or Describe OSCR’s Practice
"The University of Michigan–Ann Arbor ... is dedicated to supporting and maintaining a scholarly community."
–Opening words of the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities