Mediation Training FAQs

Mediation Training Selection Process:

1) How do I apply for the training program?
Early in spring quarter, an email notification is sent out to the campus and medical center outlining the steps for applying for the program. The application includes a few questions which need to be answered in short paragraphs. Those individuals chosen to move forward to the interview stage will be notified via email shortly thereafter.

2) Will I automatically be accepted into the program?
No. Every year we receive over 100 applications for the training program, however there are only about 35 openings. As a result, applicants must pass both the written application and an interview stage for acceptance to the program.

3) Do I need to obtain permission from my supervisor to attend the training?
Yes. Because the training program is a weeklong commitment, supervisors must approve release time to participate. An applicant should seek permission to participate prior to applying for the program.

4) What happens if I need to reschedule my mediation-training interview?
If you need to reschedule, please notify the office at 949-824-7256 as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours prior to your scheduled interview.

5) What are you looking for in an applicant?
We are looking for a group of well-rounded and diverse participants that represent all sectors of the campus and medical center (students, staff, faculty, etc.). In addition, we look for individuals who are enthusiastic about the program and who can apply the skill set to their workplace, classroom or in the institutional setting at large.

6) When and how will I be notified as to whether I’ve been selected for the program?
Applicants who are selected for the program will be notified via email sometime around mid-June. Applicants will then have approximately one week to accept or decline a position in the training.

7) If I’m not chosen, can I be put on a waitlist in case an opening occurs?
Due to the large number of applicants, a waitlist is composed of individuals who are eligible if an opening occurs. If one of the initial participants selected is unable to attend, we will offer the seat to the next applicant on the waitlist.

8. If I’m chosen, can I defer my training to the following year?
If you are chosen for the training and for some reason cannot attend, you will be given priority consideration the following year.

Mediation Training Program:

1) What should I expect during the week of training?
Each day the training introduces modules that focus on the concepts and basic skills essential to the mediation process.  The modules are designed to progressively build upon each other.  The concepts and subsequent skills are taught through a combination of lecture, active participation, role play and other interactive processes.

2) Can I still attend summer school if I have to miss segments of the training?
It is imperative that participants attend each day of the training program. If a student is enrolled in summer sessions II, they must discuss potential time/exam conflicts during the interview stage, and obtain permission from the Director of the Mediation Program to miss any time needed for finals.

3) What skills can I expect to learn or improve upon by the end of the training?
The training will teach participants communication skills, conflict management skills, how to facilitate a dialogue and a structure for conducting mediations. Participants will experience serving in the role of mediator, as well as serving in the role of disputant in order to gain perspective on seeing things from both sides of an issue.

4) What do I get when I complete the basic mediation-training program?
All participants who complete the full weeklong training will receive certification under the Dispute Resolution Program Act (DRPA) which qualifies them to mediate for various community and court programs. At the end of the week, a speaker from the Orange County Human Relations Commission will address the group regarding additional ways in which class participants can use their newly acquired mediation skills off campus.
The purpose of the training is to give participants skills that can be used in the workplace, classroom and in an organizational setting.  As a result, there are no further time commitments required of participants beyond the conclusion of the training program.

5) Is there a panel of trained mediators who are called upon regularly to mediate disputes on the campus?

Yes.  At the discretion of the Director of the Mediation Program, participants may be asked to mediate disputes on campus as appropriate.