Interpersonal Communication/Mediation Program Development Internship
Dispute Resolution Services
1104 South Westnedge Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Phone: (269) 552-3434
E-mail: drsmediate@hotmail.com

Internship objective: Implementing peer mediation programs for students in elementary, middle, and high school in Kalamazoo County and Battle Creek school districts.

About the interning organization: Dispute Resolution Services is one of four programs operated by Gryphon Place, a not for profit service agency in Kalamazoo whose mission is to respond to human crisis and problems by helping people increase their capacity to manage and cope with life challenges. DRS accomplishes this by offering alternative dispute resolution as an option to other means of dealing with conflict whether it is legal action or violence.

Interning organizations mission: Our mission is to provide a variety of dispute resolution services designed to resolve and reduce conflicts in the community. We provide mediation and conciliation services, advocate the use of mediation and other collaborative dispute resolution processes, train volunteer mediators, educate community members about conflict and conflict resolution strategies, and serve as a clearinghouse for information and provide linkages to a broad range of resolution related resources.

Semester’s interns are needed: Fall and spring semesters, annually. It is recommended that interns plan to complete their requirements over 2 semesters.

Number of interns needed: 1-2

Start date: On or near the first day of fall and spring semester, negotiable

End date: On or near the end of the fall and spring semester, negotiable

Hours per week: 10-15 hours per week/depending upon the number of weeks scheduled to intern.

Academic qualifications: Declared major in Interpersonal Communication or a declared Secondary Com Ed. minor. Consideration will be given to Communication Studies and Organizational Communication majors if they have completed Com 3320 and Com 3700.

Desired skills and qualifications: Student interns should have the desire and demeanor to work with students from a variety of age levels and cultural backgrounds as well as the personal maturity to interact with educators, administrators, and other professionals in a school setting.

Description of intern responsibilities: Involvement in the program includes training students to be peer mediators, monitoring mediations, helping to collect and analyze data for reporting purposes and conducting regular in-service sessions. Interns must have their own transportation and be willing to commute to schools served. The agency reimburses mileage.

Location: Kalamazoo County and Battle Creek City School Districts

Intern sponsor:
Barry Burnside, Program Coordinator
Dispute Resolution Services

Credit: College credit toward communication major, minor or general electives. One hour of college credit is earned for 40 hours of work. Student interns must be registered for academic credit.

Interested students should contact:
Barry Lee Burnside
Program Coordinator
Dispute Resolution Services
110 4 S. Westnedge Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269) 552-3434 (ph)
(269) 381-0935 (fax)
E-mail: drsmediate@hotmail.com

Evaluation: The evaluation will be completed by the Wester n Michigan University School of Communication Coordinator of Undergraduate Internships, and will be based upon the following:
The student’s journal/log of all intern activities
The student’s copy of all work produced, including progress made toward learning objectives
A final paper evaluating the internship based on what the student has learned in their academic courses.
The internship sponsor’s mid-internship evaluation
The internship sponsor’s end of the internship evaluation

Method of Evaluation:
Student’s journal/log: 20%
Student’s work: 20%
Paper: 20%
Internship sponsor’s mid-internship evaluation: 20%
Internship sponsor’s end of the internship evaluation: 20%

Calendar:
E-mail updates to the Coordinator of Undergraduate Internships every month.
Additional communication via email, phone or in person as needed
All materials are to be submitted to the School of Communication’s Coordinator of Undergraduate Internships the Wednesday of finals week of the semester/session registered.



Student’s signature


Intern sponsor’s (at internship site) signature


Coordinator of Undergraduate Internship’s (Marilyn S. Kritzman) signature