About

The Office of Conflict Resolution and Student Conduct (CRSC) is committed to promoting and sustaining a safe and scholarly environment.  We support the University of Mississippi’s community values of civility, respect for human dignity, fairness, integrity, honesty, and freedom by administering Student Conduct Rules and Regulations.  When appropriate, we strive to respond to complaints of students acting in a manner inconsistent with community values informally through various forms of alternative dispute resolution. When necessary, we respond to these complaints formally through an equitable adjudication process.  Using education, facilitation, and support we continually endeavor to foster a safe learning community, support students as they overcome mistakes, and engage students in character development with an emphasis on ethical decision-making.

 

CRSC Philosophy

When students act inconsistently with values identified in the University Creed reflected in University policy, they have an obligation to repair harm caused to the community and its members.  The Office of Conflict Resolution and Student Conduct uses restorative justice tailored specifically to meet the needs of the University of Mississippi Community.  Centered around values identified in the University Creed and in our Community, our resolution philosophy consists of a collaborative decision-making process that includes victims (complainants/impacted parties), offenders (respondents), and members of the community (affected parties) working together to hold offenders accountable for their actions.

Through our philosophy, responsible people learn to do the following:

• accept and acknowledge responsibility for their offenses;
• to the best of their ability, repair the harm they caused to victims and the community; and
• work to reduce the risk of re-offense through reintegrating the offender back into the University community by (re)building positive social ties to the community.

Restorative Justice is used during every student conduct meeting through reflective questioning and sanctioning that focus on reparations to impacted parties (restitution, recommended apologies, etc.), the community (community service, relocation, separations for serious offenses, etc.), and to the offender (substance abuse education, anger management, decision making seminars, etc.).  For behavior that has had an impact on multiple community members, such as residence halls buildings or floors, if appropriate, a Restorative Circle (similar to a mediation) may be used to repair harm and reintegrate members back into the community.

 

UM Creed

The University of Mississippi is a community of learning dedicated to nurturing excellence in intellectual inquiry and personal character in an open and diverse environment. As a voluntary member of this community:

I believe in respect for the dignity of each person

I believe in fairness and civility

I believe in personal and professional integrity

I believe in academic honesty

I believe in academic freedom

I believe in good stewardship of our resources

I pledge to uphold these values and encourage others to follow my example.