The initiative to create a campus-based mediation program came from a number of areas across campus. This venture was a collaborative effort between Student Legal Services, the University Ombuds Office, Personnel Services, the Dean of Students Office, Career Resource Center, Academic Affairs (Department of Communications and Legal Studies), Counseling and Test Center, and Housing and Residence Life. These individuals met together as the Mediation Services Task Force and formed the backbone of what would eventually become UCF's Dispute Resoltuion Services.
September 1994
The campus-wide Mediation Task Force was created in to assess the need for coordination of on-campus mediation services. It was composed of 10 individuals from 9 different campus departments and met throughout the months from September 1994 until August 1995 when the first mediation training was to take place.
Late August of 1995
After about a year in planning, mediation training was conducted at the University of Central Florida by Dr. Bill Warters and Loraleigh Keashly, both from Nova Southeastern University. This initial class of 8 faculty, 8 staff, and 8 students offered a culturally and experientially diverse group representing all aspects of campus life. These 24 individuals became the mediators for UCF's still-developing program.
August 1997
The opening of the Student Union allows for the relocation of the Office of Student Activities and Student Government to this new building. The Counseling and Test Center move in to the building formerly known as the Student Center while Student Legal Services and Campus Ministries relocate to the building formerly occupied by Student Government. With the relocation of these units, Student Legal Services manages to allocate a single office with an adjoining conference room to serve as the new home of the campus-based mediation program.
August 2002
UCF's Dispute Resolution Services quietly celebrates five years of continuous operation. In that time the office has: implemented two significant outreach programs ("Bridge to the Community" and "Stepping Stones"); hosted a drive-in conference for colleges and universities in the State of Florida on the topic of mediation; provided mediation training to over 100 individuals (including UCF, Rollins College, and FIU participants); hosted more than a dozen presentations on the topics of "Conflict Management in College and Beyond" and "Ethics in Leadership and Daily Living" for the university community; and provided mediation services to countless individuals on- and off-campus. All of these goals have been achieved on a miminal budget through the dedication of the individuals involved with the administration of this program as well as the dozens of volunteer mediators that have served with the program during that time as well.
2007
DRS will be celebrating its 10 year anniversary in August 2007!
We would like to thank the following people who have contributed to the development and success of the DRS office:
Peter Wallace - Nadine Hosni - Michelle (Shelby) Ballenger - Nerine Hosni
Ericka Smith - Melissa Sims - Stephanie Arsht
