Managing Conflict & Crisis
Graduates should have the ability to deal effectively with interpersonal conflict and campus crises. Specifically, students should be able to:
a. provide leadership and positive solutions to resolving interpersonal conflicts;
b. demonstrate knowledge of basic principles and practices to prepare for and respond to campus crises;
c. provide support to individuals, both students and employees, who have been adversely affected by interpersonal conflict or a campus crisis.
a. provide leadership and positive solutions to resolving interpersonal conflicts;
b. demonstrate knowledge of basic principles and practices to prepare for and respond to campus crises;
c. provide support to individuals, both students and employees, who have been adversely affected by interpersonal conflict or a campus crisis.
Learning Professional Habits
During one of my assistantships, I was approached by my supervisor to have a private conversation. The person informed me that they were frustrated with my tardiness on some work assignments as well as instances of a lack of communication. We sat down and talked things out. They explained their viewpoint and I explained mine. After the meeting, I made a strategic effort to make the appropriate changes my supervisor suggested. I started to turn in department assignments early and I made a conscious effort to have more communication with the office. This experience allowed me to develop professional skills as well as allowed an opportunity for my supervisor and me to understand each other better. |
Problem Solving on the Spot
In my service-learning position I have come across numerous instances where I had to resolve conflicts and crises in the program I oversee. For instance, every time a school visits APU there seems to be something that does not go according to plan. Schools will show up late, schedules will get thrown off, kids get bloody noses, the kids bring lunch when it is not planned for, offices are not ready for the visit, my office is not available to help as much, etc. There have been many moments where I have had to intervene and make executive decisions. |
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Campus Crisis Response Team
An assignment for the Counseling Issues and Practice (CSA 583) course was to write a paper about one college’s crisis response team, particularly for student related issues such as a suicide (I chose Central Michigan University). During this assignment, I learned what the basic principles are for preparing for and responding to a campus crisis (Epstein, 2004). I learned the titles of the individuals usually involved in a crisis response team. While some of this knowledge had its foundation in my experience sitting in on the student life care team at APU, my knowledge grew through engaging with another school’s crisis response plan. I had the opportunity to compare and contrast the two, to see the strengths and weaknesses of both and assess which strategies I want to make sure are implemented at future institutions I work at. |
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