Restorative Resolution

• Affected Party - others who consider themselves or their community to have been harmed by the actions of the Responsible Party
• Facilitator - trained administrator who facilitates the process
• Impacted Party - the individual or group directly harmed by the Responsible Party’s actions
• Responsible Party - the individual or group whose actions have harmed others and/or the community
• Supporting Party - an individual chosen by a Responsible Party or Impacted Party to provide support or guidance through the process

• Participation is voluntary and both the Responsible Party and the Impacted Party must consent in writing to participate in a Restorative Resolution via the Restorative Resolution Opt-In Form.
• The Restorative Resolution process is used for incidents which allege behavior that violates a specific University policy.
• The Restorative Resolution process will not be used for incidents that allege violence against a member of a vulnerable population, the use of a dangerous weapon, or significant physical injury.
• The Responsible Party must take responsibility for having violated the alleged policy to participate in a Restorative Resolution.
• The University will not pressure or compel any party to participate in any form of Restorative Resolution.
• The Restorative Resolution process is not a disciplinary proceeding and therefore, a Supporting Party may not speak on behalf of the Responsible Party, Impacted Party, or Affected Party. A Supporting Party may accompany an involved party during any meeting in the process.
• Any party may withdraw from the Restorative Resolution process until the signing of the Restorative Resolution Agreement.
• In the event that any party withdraws from the Restorative Resolution or if parties are not able to reach an agreement through the Restorative Resolution Agreement, the incident will be referred back to the Student Conduct Authority, Office of Title IX, or other relevant University department based on the nature of the allegation, for further action.
• Information obtained through the Restorative Resolution process may not be utilized in any other form of investigation or resolution. Additionally, information obtained through the Restorative Resolution will be kept confidential except when otherwise required by the University.
• Separate meetings in the Restorative Resolution process may be merged by the Facilitator based on their discretion and the needs of the students or University.

Information Meeting

Both the Responsible Party and Impacted Party must participate in individual Information Meetings with an appropriate staff member to learn about the Restorative Resolution process, requirements, and timeline.

The goal of the Information Meeting is to equip the Responsible Party and Impacted Party with the information needed to determine whether the parties would like to resolve the case through a Restorative Resolution. Following the individual Information Meeting, the party will be sent a copy of the Restorative Resolution Opt-In form.

The University will strive to complete the Restorative Resolution within 60 days from the date that both parties agree to participate in the process through the signing of the Restorative Resolution Opt-In Form.

Planning Meeting

In most cases, both the Responsible Party and Impacted Party will participate in individual Planning Meetings to prepare for the Restorative Resolution Meeting. During the Planning Meeting, the Facilitator will gather information about the incident as well as explore the harms, needs, and obligations as a result of the behavior. During this Planning Meeting, other community members may be identified as valuable participants due to their relationship with involved parties or involvement in the case.

Restorative Resolution Meeting

At a mutually agreed upon time, the Restorative Resolution Meeting will take place with all involved parties. During the meeting, all parties have the opportunity to share their perspectives on the incident, its impact on themselves and others, and what they would like to see happen as a result. Involved parties will then identify actions to repair or address the harm that has been done.

The typical resolution format for a Restorative Resolution is a synchronous, in-person or virtual meeting. The Facilitator may explore other meeting formats based on the nature of the case as well as the requests of the involved parties.

At the conclusion of the Restorative Resolution Meeting, the Facilitator will guide the process of drafting a Restorative Resolution Agreement detailing the agreed upon outcomes for the Responsible Party.

Restorative Resolution Agreements must be signed by both the Responsible Party and the Impacted Party as well as the Facilitator. Restorative Resolution Agreements signed by all necessary parties are considered final and are not subject to any further review or appeal. Upon signing, the outcomes agreed upon in the Agreement constitute a University Directive. Cases resolved by a signed Restorative Resolution Agreement through the Restorative Resolution process are not categorized as a student conduct record at the University but may be referred to as an aggravating factor in assigning outcomes if a future violation occurs. Further, parties agreeing to a final resolution waive the ability to utilize a formal investigation and disciplinary proceeding through the University to resolve the same matter.

A Restorative Resolution Agreement may include any outcomes that all necessary parties mutually and voluntarily agree to. Examples of common outcomes are:

• Agreement for the Responsible Party to participate in an educational program;
• Agreement for the Responsible Party to participate in regular meetings with an appropriate University individual, office, or resource;
• Agreement by both the Responsible Party and the Impacted Party to a No Contact Order;
• Agreement by the Responsible Party to not participate in a University program or activity;
• Agreement by the Responsible Party to refrain from attending specific events;
• Agreement by the Responsible Party to participate in counseling sessions or treatment.

The Responsible Party may be charged with a violation of the Code or have a hold placed on their account for failure to adhere to the requirements agreed upon in the signed Restorative Resolution Agreement.