Co-Mediator Responsibilities

If you are a Kansas State University student and you have completed both CNRES 531 Core Conflict Resolution (Undergraduate) or CNRES 751 Conflict Resolution:  Core Skills & Strategies (Graduate), and CNRES 535 Divorce and Child Custody Mediation (Undergraduate) or CNRES 755 Family Mediation (Graduate) courses, you can expand your experience and knowledge by participating as a co-mediator in the Riley Geary Domestic Mediation Services Program.

What is the Riley·Geary Domestic Mediation Services Program? 

This program has two overarching goals:

1. To provide children the opportunity to develop and maintain positive relationships with each of their parents through the development of mutually acceptable plans for parenting.
2. To provide students with real-life experiences and mentorship from seasoned mediators.

This program has begun to develop local, as well as state-wide, well-trained, state-approved mediators while filling a void for quality and affordable mediation services for the 8^th and 21^st judicial districts.

What would my responsibilities be?

If you are interested in participating in this program, please fill out the co-mediator application (pdf). If you are selected to participate in the program, you will have the following responsibilities:

1. You will provide your phone number and email address to be shared with the lead mediator and program coordinator for contact.
2. When contacted to participate in a mediation, you must respond within 24 hours of the request indicating your availability via phone or email. Three non-responses for requests to mediate will result in your name being removed from the co-mediator list.
3. If you will be out of town for over a one-week period of time, you will inform the RG Mediation program coordinator so requests to mediate will not be sent to you.
4. If you are requested multiple times to co-mediate, and display a pattern that you are consistently not available, you will be contacted to discuss your ability to participate in the program, which may result in removal from the program.
5. Not showing up for a scheduled mediation without prior contact with the lead mediator will result in a phone or in-person meeting with the program coordinator. Further absences without notification will result in removal from the program. Consistent absences, even if notifying the program coordinator or lead mediator, may also result in removal from the program.
6. You are expected to participate in a minimum of six (6) co-mediations and are expected to take on greater responsibilities with each mediation to fully enhance their learning experience.
7. Student co-mediators may be asked to participate in research designed to further enhance the learning experience for future mediation/conflict resolution students. This research is voluntary and you will be provided information about the study at the time you are asked to participate.
8. Students are expected to enter this learning experience fully engaged in the process. Please ask questions of the program coordinator, lead mediators, and faculty that may better assist you in your learning.
9. You will be asked to complete an agreement to mediate, lead a client interview, as well as review the necessary mediation documents. You will be provided an opportunity to watch your lead mediators perform these tasks. It is the student’s responsibility to ask lead mediators questions about what they may or may not be clear about in the mediation process.
10. Students are encouraged to attend the mediator/c0-mediator quarterly meetings at least once during a calendar year. In addition, other informational/educational meetings are scheduled on a monthly basis and also encouraged for professional development.
11. Student co-mediators are expected to evaluate their lead mediators after each case. You will also be given feedback after each case by your lead mediators.
12. You will follow all ethical guidelines of confidentiality, including, but not excluded to all names and data provided to the student co-mediators while working on a case.

This program is designed to provide a service to our community. It is also designed to provide you, the student, an opportunity to master the mediation/conflict resolution skills you have learned. We only become better as professionals by practice and openness to knowledge and new experiences. This program provides a safe atmosphere for students to learn, as well as individuals to come together and develop new conflict resolution skills as parents. Please always be respectful of our clients, as well as other students in the program, since we are all at different points in our education and skill development.

Questions about participating? Please contact rgmediation@ksu.edu or call 785-370-5162

Co-Mediator Application Form (pdf)