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Mediation and dispute resolution are rapidly growing fields of study and sought after skills in the workplace. This comprehensive course provides the core skill sets necessary for the practice of mediation. As it becomes more and more apparent that individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities and nations must begin to work together in peaceful ways for the common good, mediation and dispute resolution are poised to become increasingly popular. In mediation, a neutral third party, termed a mediator, works with both sides of a dispute to have them agree on their own terms, without someone else deciding what is best for them.

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Mediation and dispute resolution are rapidly growing fields of study and sought after skills in the workplace. This comprehensive course provides the core skill sets necessary for the practice of mediation. As it becomes more and more apparent that individuals, families, groups, organizations, communities and nations must begin to work together in peaceful ways for the common good, mediation and dispute resolution are poised to become increasingly popular. In mediation, a neutral third party, termed a mediator, works with both sides of a dispute to have them agree on their own terms, without someone else deciding what is best for them.

Students are guided through stages of mediation and how these stages apply to actual case studies of mediation. Students are offered an overview of the nature of conflict and differing styles of human interaction and are asked to explore their unique style of engaging or avoiding conflict and how this might affect their role as a mediator. The course presents an overview of theories of conflict and power, influences of gender and culture and how each helps inform a mediator's interventions. The important skill set of negotiation, including how to apply negotiation techniques, the critical issue of timing, and caucuses and other techniques to deal with impasses in the mediation are presented. The course covers the standards and ethics of this growing profession. Students learn core people skills such as reflective listening, impartiality, reframing, effective communication, and the handling of critical moments.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Apply advanced dispute resolution skills to conflict situations.
• Apply concepts of conflict theory to conflict situations at multiple system levels.
• Apply the mediation process to interpersonal conflict.
• Analyze the differences between four of the most common mediation approaches.
• Analyze conflict using the concepts of empowerment theory.
• Increase self-awareness regarding approach and reaction to conflict.
• Understand the significance of gender and culture in mediation.
• Understand and apply skills for working through impasse in mediation.
• Demonstrate the ability to identify hidden interests in conflict.
• Demonstrate the ability to facilitate the resolution of conflict and reach agreement.
• Demonstrate effective communication and relationship skills in mediation.
• Articulate and apply ethical standards for practice.
• Demonstrate a stance of neutrality and impartiality in mediation.

I. Module One: Mediation and Advanced Dispute Resolution in Context
a. Introduction to the Mediation Process
b. Mediator Roles and Approaches
c. Overview of Roots of Conflict
d. Theories of Conflict

II. Module Two: Conflict Styles
a. Your Personal Style of Conflict
b. The Passive-Assertive-Aggressive Continuum
c. Aggressive Encounters and the Art of Questioning

III. Module Three: Pre-Negotiation and Designing Mediation
a. Management of Initial Contact with Disputants
b. Conflict Analysis and Pre-Planning
c. Preparing Ground Rules and Building Trust and Cooperation

IV. Module Four: Communication Skills for Mediation
a. Assessment of Conflict Communication Skills
b. A Foundation for Nonviolent Communication
c. Good Communicators are Good Listeners
d. Building Rapport

V. Module Five: Beginning the Mediation
a. Mediators Opening Statement
b. Creating a Positive Climate and Defining Issues
c. Setting an Agenda
d. An Overview of Negotiation

VI. Module Six: Mediator Neutrality and Issues of Power, Gender, and Culture
a. Neutrality and Impartiality
b. Impartiality and Counter-Transference
c. Gender and culture in mediation
d. Culture and conflict

VII. Module Seven: The Middle Stage of Mediation
a. Uncovering and Examining Hidden Interests
b. The Use of Caucuses
c. Dealing with Intractability and Impasses
d. Taming the Hard Bargainer

VIII. Module Eight: Mediation Ethics, Final Bargaining and Agreement
a. Generating Options
b. Final Bargaining
c. The agreement: crafting the MOU
d. Ethical Standards