Within a year, it will become the only campus-based center in the nation serving non-profit mediation needs for its surrounding community. USC Spartanburg's center eventually will relocate to the campus' Rampey Center.

The mediation movement has grown on college campuses in recent years to include about 250 centers. Similar centers exist at the University of North Carolina-Asheville, Duke University, N.C. State University, and Guilford College (N.C.).

The core function of USC Spartanburgs center is to advocate non-violent resolution of interpersonal conflict in homes, schools, non-profit organizations, and communities. The center will begin by executing mediation and ombudsman duties within the Spartanburg campus, including incidents such as noise complaints, roommate disputes, and conflicts between employees or between students.

The center eventually will provide training and education on conflict resolution as well as mediation services for external constituencies, especially in family conflicts. The state Supreme Court has designated Spartanburg County for mandatory mediation in cases before family court.

Rachelle Priouleau, assistant professor of speech communications and a certified family mediator, will be the center's director. The educational functions of the center will include the encouragement of active participation in problem-solving negotiation and of collaborative partnerships among Upstate agencies.