Conflict Resolution Committee

Function

The Bryn Mawr College Conflict Resolution Committee (CRC) is an SGA appointed committee that aims to aid students in resolving social issues. If a student thinks that a social infraction occurred and is not able to work out the problem in a one-on-one conversation, the student may seek the help of the Conflict Resolution Committee (CRC), Honor Board Dorm Liaisons, the Counseling Center, or by asking a Hall Adviser or Dean to facilitate (not mediate) a meaningful conversation.

To get in touch with the CRC, email emthompson@brynmawr.edu. or fill out the CRC Conflict Intake Form

Mission

The primary role of the CRC is to facilitate dialogue and assist students to find solutions that benefit all parties involved. We believe it is always best to confront the problem as opposed to “letting it slide.”  While confrontation often has a negative connotation, we view it as a tool of empowerment. We believe our students to be absolutely capable of addressing issues as part of the learning and growth process.

We encourage fellow students to feel empowered and confident in expressing their perspective. We hope to create sustainable solutions in order to uphold a culture that is able and willing to confront conflict when it arises. 

As a third party we listen to concerns and offer recommendations in order to have a framework for positive resolution. Our goal is to provide intentional solutions that will lead to wholesome resolution of conflicts.

Social growth as described in the Honor Code allows students of the community to address concerns through confrontation. Confrontation is by no means meant to be hostile, but rather viewed as a tool for understanding one another, exchanging ideas to move forward, to self-reflect and to resolve issues. This helps establish a safe community in which all members are respected and can truly feel valued.

Confidentiality is vital to the success of the Honor Code. Knowledge of any social conflict is confined to as few people as possible (parties involved, members of the Honor Board and those who might have taken part in mediation processes). All witnesses and parties are required to keep all proceedings strictly confidential.

Process

  1. A party talks to members of your DLT about the situation to help process and target the problem. Once after defining what you would like to have resolved, HAs may opt to facilitate a conversation between yourself and the other party.
  2. If no resolution can be reached, your HA will ask that you fill out the CRC Conflict Intake Form, informing us of the problem and which days and times work best for you to hold a conversation. The CRC will then reach out with you to meet, in the private SGA offices unless otherwise requested. 
    1. If you would like to speak directly with a member of the Conflict Resolution Committee, we can be reached via our personal Bryn Mawr emails. 
  3. The CRC encourages you to get in touch with the other party to also fill out the Intake Form. If you are unwilling to do so, the CRC can help draft the email or give you tips on the best ways to ask to have a mediated conversation with a third-party in person. 
  4. The CRC will review the submitted Conflict Intake Forms and will set a date and time during which all the parties are available for a mediated conversation. If the situation is one wherein one or both parties are unwilling to mediate, the CRC will have conversations with both parties to reach an agreement. Each mediated conversation will have two members of the CRC present, avoiding any members to whom the parties have objections. 
    1. In the rare case all CRC representatives are compromised because of conflicts of interest, the CRC will work with the Honor Board to find further trained mediators.
  5. At the end of the mediation process, the CRC and all involved parties will come to a resolution of some kind regarding following conduct. 
  6. Following the mediated conversation(s), the CRC will follow-up with the parties involved to gauge an understanding of the parties’ satisfaction with both the process and the recommended resolutions.
  7. If further conversation is needed, the CRC will be able to meet with the same parties on the same issue up to 3 times total before they recommend a Social Honor Board Hearing. Repeated failure to act in accordance with past CRC resolutions will be considered during the Social Honor Board process.
    1. Social Honor Board Hearings create binding resolutions. Failure to comply with Social Honor Board Hearing resolutions agreed upon by a Social Honor Board will be considered an additional infraction of the Honor Code and will be dealt with accordingly.
  8. All information involved in the process described above will be kept in strict confidentiality. Abstracts will be released online for the community for purposes of transparency and community education. These will be anonymized with no connection to dates or names, and will be released at the discretion of the CRC 2-4 semesters after the fact.