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Volunteering as a MediatorThe Mediation Center is supported by its team of volunteer mediators who are called upon to mediate student disputes on an as needed basis. SJSU students, staff and faculty are eligible to serve as volunteers once they have successfully completed a 40-hour basic skills certification training. To receive training volunteers can attend the center's intensive 5-day training or register for COMM 195, a 3-unit class offered through the Communication Studies Department. Time CommitmentVolunteering does not require a large time commitment. You can decide how many mediations you would like to conduct during a semester, whether it's several or just one. We simply ask that you remain open to fielding requests from the center coordinator. The only other call on your time will be for skills maintenance and enhancement, since we want to ensure that you feel comfortable and prepared when it comes time to mediate. Volunteer CommunityThe center would like to enrich the volunteer experience by building community among our mediators. Since volunteers can support and learn from each other by sharing experiences (without violating confidentiality) and asking for advice, we encourage open communication and collaboration among the volunteers. How this develops will be up to the volunteers with the center's assistance. SchedulingThe center schedules mediations from the morning through early evenings on weekdays. We will try to accommodate mediators' scheduling needs as best we can, taking into account the parties' schedules and room availability. We will contact mediators either through email or by phone. Please be sure to respond within 24-hours whether you will be available or not to mediate the case. We will provide at least seven days advance notice for most mediations. However, we may have critical situations that require a shorter turn-around. Please indicate whether you would be available to handle such cases. The MediationOnce you have been scheduled for a mediation, the coordinator will provide you with the exact location on campus, the name and contact information of your co-mediator, and more detail on the case. We ask that you arrive at the location 15 minutes early to review the case, meet with your co-mediator and ensure the room and supplies are in order. In most cases, the coordinator will be available prior to the mediation to provide logistical support. Coaching and Enhancement TrainingDuring your initial mediations we will be pairing you up with a seasoned mediator from either our program or Santa Clara County's Dispute Resolution Program. This person will be able to provide coaching and advice after each mediation. In no time at all, you will find yourself coaching others. In the meantime, there will be opportunities for skills maintenance or enhancement through practice mediations, discussions or training. Visit the events section for a list of upcoming mediation practices or skills-enhancement training. Volunteer Mediator Profile and Guidelines [pdf]All Mediation Center volunteers will be required to complete and sign a mediator profile and agreement. Please be sure to complete one and return it to the center prior to your first mediation. |
Conflict & Common Ground
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