New Guide Offers Tools for Managing Conflict in Higher Ed

A new publication from the Constructive Dialogue Institute and the Aspen Institute's Citizenship and American Identity Program attempts to address the societal division and social conflict that being felt acutely on college campuses. The authors of "Transforming Conflict on College Campuses" identify six factors that contribute to conflict and provide guiding principles and strategies for more effective conflict management. 

Among the "Nine Strategies that Work," the guide identifies Ombuds as an important resource: 

• Strategy 8
  Invest in and engage expertise.
  
  You will need different types of expertise at the table depending on the situation. This expertise can be formal or informal, external or internal. One of the unique strengths of a college or university is the wide variety of expertise on any given campus. Some of the specialized resources that our research participants tapped into included ombuds, social psychologists, experts in restorative practices, and experts in crisis communication. Local expertise can be especially helpful because of their familiarity with campus culture and the time required to manage conflict in a hyperlocal context. 

Dawn Osborne-Adams, the Ombuds at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, served as a subject matter expert. The full report is free and available as a download. (Transforming Conflict on College Campuses.)