09/26/2022
By Steve O’Riordan

Conflict is inherent in higher education and proactively anticipating the need for conflict resolution and the development of resolution strategies can be essential to cooperative relationships while supporting innovative solutions. Mediation provides an important avenue for informal, collaborative, and a non-adversarial approach to resolving conflict.

UMass Lowell is looking for volunteers to complete specialized training this fall to become conflict mediators as part of a new, voluntary informal dispute resolution process that will be offered as an option to impacted parties following the filing of a formal complaint and prior to adjudication.

“Mediators are neutral parties who help individuals resolve their disputes,” said Clara Reynolds. associate vice chancellor for equal opportunity and outreach and diversity and inclusion. “They do not render binding decisions, rather they help facilitate discussion and guide the parties toward a mutually acceptable agreement.”

Research shows most people prefer mediation to a formal grievance, and there is evidence to suggest that people who use it tend to be more satisfied with the outcome. In many situations, the individuals have the answers to resolving the issue and the role of the mediator is to bring forward those moments of awareness and revelation.

Mediators would work with EOO and their supervisor to strike a balance with this work within the scope of their regular position’s responsibilities. Mediators will need to complete 42.5 hours of training spread out over five weeks in October with two roughly four-hour sessions per day. As a professional development opportunity, training is provided free of cost and conducted by an internationally accredited mediator.

“Our goal is that once trained, a mediator would conduct two to four mediations per academic year and serve for a minimum of three years,” Reynolds said.

Among the duties of a mediator include:

  • Facilitate communication between the parties to guide them toward mutual agreement
  • Clarify issues, concerns, needs, and interests of all parties involved
  • Conduct initial meetings with the parties to outline the mediation process
  • Explain and clarify procedural matters
  • Interview the parties to obtain information about disputed issues
  • Prepare settlement agreements for parties to sign
  • Evaluate information from documents such as complaints, documentation provided by the parties, and University's records

University community members interested in learning more about becoming informal dispute resolution mediators should contact Clara Reynolds at clara_reynolds@uml.edu. If they are interested in becoming mediators they should fill out this form once they have obtained approval from their supervisor.