Community Agreements Initiative

The Initiative is a residential hall program designed to engage students with the communication, problem solving and conflict resolution skills to increase their ability to live effectively in community. With the assistance of CRRC student facilitators, members of each floor (students and RA staff) decide on agreements that relate to how they will live together and treat each other. When violations of the agreements or other conflicts occur, students will have the framework of their Agreements as well as the assistance of CRRC staff to directly participate in managing their own conflicts. The agreements may be revised or recreated as members of the community discover additional needs or limitation to prior agreements.

The Community Agreements Initiative is a program taking place in Binford Hall. The Department of Campus Life, in conjunction with the Conflict Resolution Resource Center (CRRC), and Interdisciplinary Leadership for Social Change have commenced the Community Agreements Initiative in order to create a fulfilling residential life experience for traditional age students. The Agreements will be created by Binford residents and reflect their interests and goals for their living environment.

"A major outcome of the process is a healthy community, one characterized by open communication, high levels of involvement, and a sense of personal identification and ownership."

Terry D. Piper
University of Nevada, L.V.

What is the Purpose of Community Agreements?

  • Help students respond constructively to conflicts.
  • Integrate academics and student life through the application of principles taught in the curriculum.
  • Transform social relationships in the residence halls.
  • Separate the person from the problem.
  • Gain understanding of each other's perspective by restating the other person's point of view.
  • Focus on underlying interests and concerns rather than positions.
  • Explore together alternative solutions to the problem.
  • Look for mutually satisfying agreements.

"When students leave here, they will go with a sense of what it takes to create a collective sense of purpose whether at work or at home. Students will know that the building of a healthy community means differences can be discussed and resolved."

Guilford College Resident Advisor

For the Guilford College residence halls, apartments and houses, "community" means two things:

  1. A group of students brought together, some by choice and some by chance, who share the same living , studying and hanging out space.
  2. A process whereby that group of students moves from being independent and separated with no sense of belonging or connection to those living around them, to some form of interdependence, connection and belonging.

What are some tips for successful conflict resolution?

  • Separate the person from the problem.
  • Gain understanding of each other's perspective by restating the other person's point of view.
  • Focus on underlying interests and concerns rather than positions.
  • Explore together alternative solutions to the problem.

"Community is "where you learn to live with the person you would least like to live with."

Parker Palmer

Contact Information:

Laura Wigand, Student Coordinator
336-316-2446 lwigand@guilford.edu

Blaine Lukkar, Staff Coordinator
336-316-2277 blukker@guilford.edu

Sandy Bowles, Campus Life Liaison
336-316-2297 sbowles@guilford.edu