The goal of mediation is to empower students to creatively process and resolve conflict rather than allowing hostilities to build towards violence and adjudication. AUMS is a free service, requiring only that parties participate voluntarily and in good faith.
Mediation is facilitated by a neutral third party.
Facilitators have undergone mediation training and are committed to the productive resolution of conflicts. During Intake, parties meet with an intake worker to learn about the AUMS mediation process, to discuss alternative routes of resolution, and to determine the suitability of the case for mediation. If parties elect to use mediation, details about the conflict are gathered and the parties will be contacted by the mediator who will facilitate their session. Mediation will generally occur within the one week of intake, unless parties request otherwise. The length of mediation sessions vary, from two to three hours.