About The Campus Mediation Project
The Campus Mediation Project first came into being in 2001, after Rick Olshak donated the book "Mastering Mediation: Training Mediators in a College and University Setting" (LRP Publications) to the Association for Student Judicial Affairs (now the Association for Student Conduct Administration). The agreement between ASJA and Olshak stipulated that all requests for mediation training directed to the Association would be referred to Olshak and a group of consultants that he worked with. At the time, early consultants working on campus training programs included Olshak, Bill Fischer, Susan Trageser, Dan Kast, Nancy Giacomini, and a handful of others.
Since 2001 our consultants have provided campus mediation training programs to students, faculty members and staff members at colleges and universities across the United States, in addition to being regularly contracted to provide service at ASJA (ASCA) training programs. A complete list of colleges, universities and organizations where our consultants have provided service includes:
Association for Student Judicial Affairs/Association for Student Conduct Administration Gehring Academy*
ASJA Circuits IV, VII
Bowling Green State University (OH)
Central Illinois Dispute Resolution Services (IL)
College Administration Publications
Concordia University - Wisconsin (WI)
Cornell College (IA)
DePauw University (IN)
East Carolina University (NC)
Emory University (GA)
Illinois State University (IL)
Lander University (SC)
Louisiana State University (LA)
Metropolitan State College of Denver (CO)
Middle Tennessee State University (TN)
Penn State University (PA)
Rutgers University (NJ)*
Tufts University (MA)
University of Arkansas (AR)
University of Chicago (IL)
University of Notre Dame (IN)
University of Tampa (FL)
* indicates multiple consulting occasions
In 2008, Olshak determined that formalizing the Campus Mediation Project into a limited liability corporation was the logical next step for he and the consultants working with him. As systems for managing campus conflict become both more expansive and more complicated, it is our belief that colleges and universities are generally not inherently prepared to create internal systems in a manner that promotes campus acceptance and use of the programs and services created. Additionally, the sustainability of such programs will be better served by collaborating with individuals who have previously done this work and have a willingness to share their expertise. We believe that we have collected a group of individuals that will not only serve our individual clients well, but also provide a lasting service to our profession.