Last fall, over two days in November, 45 SUNY Oswego faculty, staff and students participated in the first ever restorative practices retreat titled, “Inclusive Community: Reimagining Campus with Restorative Practices.” The diverse group of participants represented every division on campus and a multitude of positions/classifications. Robust positive assessment by the first group of participants, and continued interest convinced Officer in Charge Dr. Mary C. Toale to fund a second retreat this semester with the same facilitators from the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP).
The two-day event will occur April 4-5, 2023 in the Sheldon Hall Ballroom, from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., with lunch provided on both days. At this professional development event, participants will learn ways to foster and facilitate engagement and guild positive relationships, whatever their sphere of influence on campus. This event is applicable to all members of the higher education community, from Academic Affairs to Student Affairs, including faculty, staff, and students. Space is limited to 45 participants and is not available to those who were in attendance at the November 2022 retreat.
If interested, you must register by 9 a.m. on Monday, March 6, 2023 by completing the short spring 2023 "Inclusive Community: Reimagining Campus with Restorative Practices" retreat Registration Form.
Participants will be notified of their selection the week of March 20, but all registrants should hold April 4-5 on the calendar until notified. If you have any questions, please email Dr. Kathleen G. Kerr, Vice President for Student Affairs, at kathleen.kerr@oswego.edu.
More Information about Restorative Practices
The fundamental unifying hypothesis of restorative practice is that human beings are happier, healthier, more productive, and more likely to make positive changes in their own behavior and in their communities when we do things WITH them, rather than TO them or FOR them. The implementation of restorative practices is a collaborative endeavor that utilizes community engagement to generate a shared understanding of the problems, identify priorities, explore possibilities, and decide on a plan for implementation. The guiding philosophy of restorative practices and its supporting procedures can serve as an impetus for systemic changes to policies and practices related to community justice on campus.
Learning Outcomes
- Describe restorative practices concepts and principles.
- Describe how restorative practices can improve leadership and interpersonal influence.
- Reflect on your relational culture, professional practice, and interpersonal influence.
- Identify areas for improvement in professional practice and interpersonal influence.
- Demonstrate the restorative practices continuum.