Office of Climate and Culture
WELCOME TO THE OFFICE OF CLIMATE AND CULTURE
We support and equip the campus community of students, staff, faculty, and administrators to create an environment where everyone feels heard, respected, and empowered to address conflicts or other conduct of concern (OCC) constructively through peacemaking approaches and restorative principles.
Our Mission
To foster a positive campus climate and culture of respect and belonging by equipping our community with tools to strengthen relationships and build resilience across campus.
What We Do
The Office of Climate and Culture, part of the Human Resources Service Center, serves all members of the campus community—students, staff, and faculty—by providing:
- Conflict resolution and transformation training
- Facilitated dialogue for individuals and groups
The Office of Climate and Culture also supports the Title IX Office in their efforts to provide informal resolution.
Our Process
Overview
The Adaptive Dispute Resolution process, guided by Peacemaking and Restorative Principles, is a voluntary and collaborative approach to addressing discomfort, confusion, conflict, or harm. It centers on open and respectful dialogue, shared understanding, and the co-creation of meaningful agreements, with the goal of fostering healing, repairing harm, strengthening relationships, and enhancing the overall culture and well-being of the Chico State community.
Core Principles of the Adaptive Dispute Resolution Process
- Centering Human Dignity: Every person has worth and is capable of growth, repair, and contribution to community well-being.
- Voluntary Participation: Participation is always by choice and can be withdrawn at any time before resolution is finalized.
- Relational Accountability: The process encourages self-awareness and responsibility for the impact of one’s actions, guided by empathy not blame.
- Community Healing: Dialogue helps restore trust, rebuild relationships, and reinforce a caring and respectful culture.
- Support and Voice: All participants are supported in telling their stories, identifying needs, and shaping the outcome.
- Clarity and Understanding: The process provides space for participants to reflect on the conflict, understand its impact, and gain clarity about their own perspectives and those of others.
- Measured by Outcomes: Success is determined by meaningful engagement, fulfillment of commitments, and improved climate not merely intentions.
Our goal is to foster understanding, accountability, and community restoration through dialogue and shared growth.
Three Options under the Adaptive Dispute Resolution
- Restorative Dialogue: Offers a structured, safe environment for both parties involved in the conflict to come together. The goal is for the parties to listen to each other, share experiences, and explore ways forward. This process emphasizes mutual respect, accountability, and shared responsibility for repairing relationships and fostering community understanding.
- Peacemaking Circle: Is a community-oriented dialogue process that creates a supportive space to address difficult or painful issues. It centers relationship-building, shared reflection, and collective wisdom. All participants are equal and are encouraged to offer perspectives and ideas for healing and resolution.
- Shuttle Dialogue: Involves separate, facilitated conversations with each party involved in the conflict. This option is helpful when emotions are high or direct communication is not possible. The facilitator serves as a bridge, supporting the exchange of ideas and perspectives until participants are comfortable forming a shared path forward.
See the full Adaptive Dispute Resolution visual flowchart with detailed explanations for each step.
What is the Impact?
Staff Impact
“This training has helped me reexamine my own conflict strategies. I hope to see many more take this training because it’s deeply helpful. The small cohort allows for more honest conversations and vulnerability.”
Student Impact
“Conflict is a normal and necessary part of life, but it’s important to communicate your feelings early.”
Faculty Impact
“You helped us break down conflict and process it into clear steps. We now have a path forward.”
Conflict Resolution & Transformation Learning Series
- Basic Conflict Resolution Training for Teams
Focuses on preventing conflict escalation and improving team relationships and productivity.
This session provides useful tools, techniques, and skills to prevent conflicts from escalating within your team. Participants will learn to identify early warning signs of tension, understand team dynamics around power and influence, and establish shared norms for respectful interaction. Teams will leave with a tangible “Respect Agreement” they co-create, helping to anchor a positive climate and increase overall productivity. - Conflict Competence: Resolution and Transformation
Builds conflict resilience and teaches constructive dispute resolution across the campus community.
This interactive course is designed for all members of the campus community, from students to faculty to staff, and develops resilience in times of conflict. Participants will explore how conflict, when handled well, can lead to greater clarity, closer relationships, and continuous learning. The course offers strategies to shift from power struggles to cooperative problem solving, turning challenging interactions into teaching and learning opportunities for the whole university ecosystem. - Advanced Conflict Competence Training for Practitioners
A three-day, practice-based course for aspiring facilitators and mediators using restorative-justice principles.
This deep dive is for those who already bring the foundational skills and are ready to apply advanced methods in real-world settings. Through role plays, case studies, and supervised practice (including observing, co-leading, and leading mediation sessions), participants will explore restorative-justice theory, power dynamics, and the nuanced role of a mediator. Graduates receive certification as a restorative-justice mediator or facilitator practitioner, equipping them to serve the campus community in more formal conflict-resolution roles.
Community Agreements
Promoting Respect, Empathy, and Integrity
At Chico State, we are committed to fostering a culture of belonging, excellence, and personal responsibility by prioritizing equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of campus life.
To achieve this, we encourage every member of the Chico State community to cultivate positive relationships consciously and voluntarily with themselves and others. Such efforts require a lifestyle of accountability that starts with self-reflection, self-awareness, and self-control, and extends to personal and communal responsibility.
As a community, we are committed to engaging in actions that promote kindness and consideration while striving to avoid behaviors that intentionally cause harm or distress to those around us. We are committed to continuous improvement and innovation in all our work endeavors because we understand the impact they have on our community. These values are reflected in the Community Agreements, which were finalized on October 9, 2024.
Leadership
The Office is led by Seya Lumeya. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Seya brings extensive experience in peacemaking and restorative practices. His work spans courtrooms, high schools, correctional facilities, and communities, where he applies restorative principles to transform conflict and foster stronger, more connected communities.
“Conflict is normal and necessary. When we understand that, we don’t get stuck. There’s always a way forward.”
— Seya Lumeya
