JMU Human Resources Receives Top Honors for Mediation Program

From: Public Affairs

November 26, 2007

HARRISONBURG — James Madison University's Human Resources department received national honors recently for the implementation of an innovative employee mediation program.

The College and University Professional Association for Human Resources awarded its 2007 Successful Practices Award to JMU in recognition of a new program to assist employees in resolving conflict. The Employee Mediation Services Center includes 16 peer mediators from the faculty and classified staff, eight of whom will become certified by the Virginia Supreme Court as Virginia State Supreme Court Mediators.

"We are so fortunate to have the interest and support to create the Employee Mediation Services Center," said Yohna Cone, director of JMU's Human Resources department. "We are grateful for our volunteer mediators and for their commitment to serving the university community as mediators and making this program a success."

Since its inception in 2006, Employee Mediation Services has mediated two group and numerous two-party mediations. Common mediation topics are communication issues between employees or between a supervisor and an employee.

For more information about Employee Mediation Services, visit JMU's Human Resources Service Center on the Web at www.jmu.edu/humanresources/hrsc.

JMU Public Affairs contact: Bill Wyatt, 540-568-3621 or wyattwj@jmu.edu.