SCCS Philosophy

Student Conduct and Community Standards strives to empower students to address conflict and concerns in a restorative manner. Our goal is to teach conflict navigation skills that allow students to feel supported, heard, and respected in difficult conversations or disagreements with other community members and to extend that same grace to each other.

SCCS uses restorative philosophy to guide conflict navigation and mediation.  Restorative philosophy is the overarching set of values that influence restorative practices and restorative justice.  It is a community-focused framework that considers how our thoughts and actions impact ourselves and others.   

Within the restorative framework are three tiers of intervening in a restorative manner.  

- Tier 1 is focused on community standards and creating a Beloved Community
- Tier 2 is focused on restorative justice 
- Tier 3 is focused on reintegration when a change has occurred in a community 
 

At KU, SCCS helps students and leaders build a Beloved Community by identifying behavioral standards that align with both university and local community values. While conflict exists within a Beloved Community, every member is valued, feels a sense of belonging, repairs harm when it occurs, and works to bring out the best in themselves and others for the collective good.

Restorative Justice is a high-accountability approach to addressing harm through inclusive decision-making. It centers the needs of the harmed party while requiring everyone involved to contribute to the recovery and moving forward. This practice is deeply rooted in Indigenous traditions like circle-keeping and philosophies such as Ubuntu.

Campus communities are constantly changing as new individuals arrive, depart, or graduate. This natural shift in membership impacts group dynamics. Managing those transitions as you welcome new members or say goodbye to friends or great leaders can be difficult. SCCS wants to empower community members and leaders to navigate those transitions1.  Furthermore, SCCS wants to work with communities to reinforce the message that graduation does not need to be the end of their connection; all Jayhawk community members have the opportunity to members of their Jayhawk Community and Beloved Community.

Key assumptions2 that guide this work at KU are:

  1. Humans are good, wise, powerful, and have inherent dignity. 
  2. We are interconnected.
  3. Nobody is expendable. 
  4. Each individual has talents and gifts that they bring to the community.
  5. The community must cultivate the unique gifts and talents of each individual.

Attributions: Léna Crain1 || Nicole Garcia Diaz2

Conflict Resolution Services 

Conflict is inevitable and normal. KU believes in empowering students to navigate conflict through a holistic and comprehensive approach to conflict resolution and conflict mediation support.

SCCS can help advise students who are navigating the following conflicts:

Roommate conflicts are normal; these conflicts need not create irreparable harm in a relationship. Living with other individuals can be both supportive and stressful on any given day. SCCS is here to help.  We can assist students in creating or updating roommate agreements, offer coaching to navigate difficult conversations, or facilitate restorative dialogues.  

For students living off-campus, learn more about conflict mediation resources provided through our Good Neighbor Program. 

Whether you are a member of a SFL community, athletic team, or any other group, SCCS can help. 

For individuals: 

  • Individuals may seek 1-on-1 coaching to gain new strategies for navigating various group dynamics.  If an individual is in conflict with group leaders, SCCS is happy to facilitate a discussion if all parties are willing to participate. 

For groups

  • We are happy to work with groups to address collective concerns.  Group leaders are free to request training to empower members to communicate their grievances in a productive manner, circle facilitation to encourage deep listening amongst members, or a 1-on-1 meeting to identify the best option. Please note, circle facilitation may not be mandated; all member of a circle must freely agree to participate. 

Roommate conflicts are normal; these conflicts need not create irreparable harm in a relationship. Living with other individuals can be both supportive and stressful on any given day. SCCS is here to help.  We can assist students in creating or updating roommate agreements, offer coaching to navigate difficult conversations, or facilitate restorative dialogues.  

For students living off-campus, learn more about conflict mediation resources provided through our Good Neighbor Program. 

Whether you are a member of a SFL community, athletic team, or any other group, SCCS can help. 

For individuals: 

  • Individuals may seek 1-on-1 coaching to gain new strategies for navigating various group dynamics.  If an individual is in conflict with group leaders, SCCS is happy to facilitate a discussion if all parties are willing to participate. 

For groups

  • We are happy to work with groups to address collective concerns.  Group leaders are free to request training to empower members to communicate their grievances in a productive manner, circle facilitation to encourage deep listening amongst members, or a 1-on-1 meeting to identify the best option. Please note, circle facilitation may not be mandated; all member of a circle must freely agree to participate. 

Requesting Restorative Justice Intervention

SCCS is charged with upholding the student code of conduct.  When a harm has occurred, but it is not a violation of code, SCCS is able to support partners and individuals through restorative justice interventions, prevention education, or other measures. 

  1. Submit your incident.
  2. SCCS will review the incident for code violation.
  3. If there is no code violation, SCCS will reach out to discuss strategies and support moving forward.  

Please note, in order to move forward with a restorative justice intervention, all parties must voluntarily agree to participate. Furthermore, in keeping with restorative principles and the inherent requirement in RJ for personal responsibility, those who caused the harm must agree to take accountability for their actions and work collaboratively to make amends/correct their behaviors. If the restorative process is agreed upon, both parties agree to abide by the restorative plan that they co-created and the matter will be considered settled and adjudicated upon successful completion of the plan.