Welcome to Student Mediation Services

Through confidential, facilitated negatiation, the SMS empowers students to reconcile differences and build relationships.

What is mediation?

Mediation is a confidential and collaborative process to reach a mutually acceptable agreement by means of a neutral third party facilitating negotiation between voluntary participants in conflict.

The SMS was designed to empower OSU students by giving them the option to negotiate differing opinions with any party they feel would be an asset to resolving the dispute.

Students may mediate with:

• Roommates
• Friends
• Significant Others
• Faculty Members
• Professors
• Landlords
• Co-Workers
• Student Organizations

The Role of Participants:

Both parties determine what issues need to be discussed, and all decisions are mutual. Each party is expected to come with an openness to negotiate and an attitude of respect.

Participants may withdraw at any time, and everything said within the office is completely confidential.

The Role of Mediators:

Mediators are there to facilitate conversation between parties, clarifying goals and helping to enhance mutual understanding. Mediators may help generate options, but have no power to make decisions.