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Restorative Practice

As part of Dartmouth's Toward Equity and Commitment to Care strategic plans to strengthen our community of care, students, faculty, and staff are invited to participate in facilitated circles to address a wide range of community needs, from proactive community-building to coordinated situational response.

 
  • RP training facilitators

    Restorative practice facilitator training, January 2025.

Programs

Summer 2025 Term

  • Restorative Practice Facilitator Refresher, August 28th, 12 p.m., TBD. Open to all trained facilitators. 

Spring 2025 Term

  • Restorative Practice Facilitator Refresher, April 18, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m., Haldeman 031. Open to all trained facilitators. 

Winter 2025 Term

  • Community of Care, Restorative Practice Facilitator Training: Jan. 13-15, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Courtyard/Marriott Hanover Lebanon. Open to all students, faculty, and staff.

Fall 2024 Term

  • Democratic Listening Circle: Nov. 13, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Collis 221. In the wake of our recent election, our Post-Election Listening Circle will provide a safe, structured space where progressive voices can be heard and respected. Open to faculty, staff, and students.
  • Republican Listening Circle: Nov. 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m., South Fairbanks 104 (Tucker Center). In the wake of our recent election, our Post-Election Listening Circle will provide a safe, structured space where conservative voices can be heard and respected. Open to faculty, staff, and students.
  • Bipartisan Listening Circle: Nov. 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Collis 212. In the wake of our recent election, our Post-Election Listening Circle will offer a structured, respectful space where people across the political spectrum can share their hopes, concerns, and experiences. Open to faculty, staff, and students. 

What is Restorative Practice

Restorative practice is a tool that is used for building and strengthening relationships, as well as addressing harm in a community. Through facilitated listening circles and other specific approaches, individuals engage in a structured framework that creates space for all participants to share their perspectives and hear others' experiences.

In proactive community-building sessions, participants find ways to build positive connections and avenues for interaction. When restorative practice is used to respond to a situation where harm has been caused, community members have the equal opportunity to address the harm and express their feelings.

Rooted in native and indigenous community traditions, restorative practice is a social science field that focuses on relationships and community, and the methods have been widely implemented in education (from elementary to higher education), community health, organizational leadership, criminal justice, counseling, social work, and other areas.