As part of the Academic Programs for the Future initiative, the Justice Studies Program is seeking to develop a Certificate in Mediation Studies. In spring 2019, two new, entirely online courses will be offered, JUS 389 Mediation and JUS 489 Custody, Support, and Property Division, as part of the process.
When these courses are combined with the current paralegal certificate offerings and a mediation practicum, students will be eligible to receive a Certificate in Mediation, once approved, and ultimately begin careers as mediators.
Mediation is a growing profession across the country, and there is an immediate need for qualified court mediators across the state of Maine. Businesses engage mediators to resolve employee issues and contracts disputes. Family lawyers use mediators to help their divorce clients resolve conflicts, while communities find mediators helpful in resolving neighborhood differences. Additionally, hospitals and health care facilities utilize mediators to assist family discussions when making difficult elder health care decisions. The need for individuals with these skills will only increase as our population ages.
Academic Programs of the Future
The Academic Programs of the Future initiative arose from a re-visioning process led by UMA President Wyke over the 2017-2018 academic year. This initiative identified three academic programs that would pilot the development of an integrated and assessable curriculum focused on increasing student engagement and improving academic success. The pilot academic programs are Education Pathways, Information and Library Sciences and Justice Studies.
The Academic Programs of the Future initiative intends to align and enrich the learning experience for distance and on-site students through pedagogical design, technological platform, structured interventions, and assessment of learning outcomes; and to provide faculty with incentives and support for pilot participation.
Proposals for Second Round of Applications for Academic Programs
A request for proposals for a second round of Academic Programs of the Future will announced at the beginning of the spring semester. Additional details regarding the criteria and timeline will be provided at that time.