Peer Mediation

Peer mediation is a negotiation-based strategy that teaches students and student mediators alternative strategies to help resolve conflict among their peers. In peer mediation, students trained as conflict managers apply problem solving strategies to assist their peers in settling disputes in a manner satisfying to all parties. This is designed to help keep many minor incidents from escalating over time into more serious incidents. CHEC's goal is to teach students am alternative set of skills that they can 

apply in conflict situations. CHEC's hope is that they well learn there are alternatives to violence for solving personal problems 

or resolving inter-personal conflict. 

In this module, an impartial third party (our student mediators and/or trained mediator) will attempt to help students in conflict come to a win-win, rather than a win-lose resolution to their disputes. Student mediators are taught a process of communication and problem-solving that they apply to help their peers reach settlements of their disagreements without confrontation or violence. In the process of training, mediators learn that conflict can be constructive and positive, and that their role as mediators is not to judge, nor to force an agreement or solution. Rather, students come to mediation voluntarily, and are guided by mediators to move from blaming each other to devising solutions acceptable to all parties. 

In order to schedule a secession one of the parties or staff member should either fill out a mediation request form or contact one of the Deans. At which time both individuals/groups well be brought to a neutral room to begin the process. There are five steps of peer mediation that our mediators well use, and they are as follows:

Five steps to Peer Mediation Session 

1. Mediator opens session explaining process and rules. 

• • Be willing to work to solve the problem 

  • Agree to listen without interrupting 

  • Agree to show respect for one another 

2. Both sides tell their stories. 

• • Mediators practice “active listening” 

  • Both sides tell their story 

  • Mediators paraphrase to ensure understanding 

3. Brainstorming Solutions 

• • All solutions presented – no evaluation or judgment 

4. Choosing Solutions 

• • Solution should work for both sides 

5. Closing the Mediation 

• • Summarize the agreement 

  • Write out the agreement and both sides sign.