SWCHRS WEBINAR SERIES

Build the skills. Earn the credential. Lead with confidence.

Welcome to Southwest Center for Human Relations Studies

Learn with us – The Southwest Center for Human Relations Studies (SWCHRS) was established to bridge the gap between higher education and communities and address issues of human conflict and resolution through dialogue, knowledge sharing, and civic engagement. For over 70 years, SWCHRS has been devoted to promoting and understanding cross-cultural, intercultural, and intracultural communication and cooperation. Through evidence-based approaches, we help organizations, institutions, and communities develop strategies for growth, including workforce pipelines, leadership cultivation, community engagement, and civic participation.

As a leader in higher education professional development, SWCHRS organizes dynamic learning communities that strengthen leadership, enhance workforce efficiency, and build sustainable models for success.

Our Mission

SWCHRS Webinars provide professionals in education and related fields with practical, skills-based learning opportunities designed to enhance communication, leadership, and workforce effectiveness. Through evidence-based strategies and expert-led discussions, our webinars support skill development in areas such as conflict resolution, institutional effectiveness, and community engagement, fostering environments where collaboration and professional growth thrive.

FOCUS AREAS

Collaborative and Effective Work Environments

Providing insights and strategies for fostering environments that promote engagement, mutual understanding, and meaningful connections.

Workforce and Leadership Development

Offering tools and frameworks to cultivate effective leadership, enhance workforce pipelines, and create pathways for professional growth.

Community Engagement and Civic Participation

Strengthening ties between institutions and the communities they serve by encouraging civic participation and fostering partnerships that drive positive change.

Events

Webinar Series

The SWCHRS Webinar Series offers a range of webinars that address critical topics in professional development, institutional effectiveness, and community engagement. These webinars feature expert speakers and provide practical strategies and insights for educational professionals. Each series consists of five parts and is offered each quarter, with the summer session soon opening for enrollment. Each session is available on demand for a year. A virtual micro-credential for CEU credits is available upon completion of the series.

Special Topic Webinars for 2025

For the 2024-2025 events, SWCHRS will be offering a credentialed five-part training on Managing Difficult Conversations (MDC). This structured, evidence-based series equips professionals in higher education with the skills necessary to navigate challenging discussions effectively. The training focuses on selecting the right conflict resolution model based on situational needs and applying proven techniques to maintain productive dialogue in professional and academic settings.

Interactive Sessions

SWCHRS webinars include interactive sessions that encourage participant engagement and dialogue. These sessions provide opportunities for attendees to ask questions, share experiences, and connect with peers and experts in the field.

Managing Difficult Conversations – A Five-Part Training Series

Crucial Conversations Model – Handling High-Stakes Discussions

This session introduces the Crucial Conversations Model, designed for managing high-stakes conversations where emotions run high. Participants will learn how to establish psychological safety, focus on mutual purpose, and use de-escalation techniques to keep discussions constructive. Applications include faculty hiring and tenure decisions, student protests, policy debates, budget allocations, and crisis response discussions.

Nonviolent Communication (NVC) – Managing Emotionally Charged Conflicts

This session explores the Nonviolent Communication (NVC) Model, which is effective for addressing conflicts with strong emotional components. Participants will learn the four NVC components—Observation, Feeling, Need, Request—and apply them to faculty-student conflicts, discrimination complaints, restorative justice conversations, and addressing microaggressions in educational settings.

4Rs Method – Resolving Institutional and Governance Conflicts

The 4Rs Method (Recognize, Reflect, Reframe, Resolve) is introduced as a structured approach to addressing conflicts between faculty and administration, governance disputes, and policy enforcement challenges. This session focuses on recognizing the root causes of conflicts, fostering institutional reflection, reframing issues as opportunities for improvement, and collaboratively resolving disputes.

Interest-Based Relational (IBR) Model – Negotiating Workplace and Institutional Agreements

This session focuses on the Interest-Based Relational (IBR) Model, which is widely used in negotiations, workplace conflict resolution, and institutional decision-making. Participants will learn strategies for balancing stakeholder priorities and achieving mutually beneficial outcomes in areas such as faculty workload distribution, research funding, donor agreements, and collective bargaining.

DESC Script – Providing Direct Feedback and Advocating for Change

The DESC Script (Describe, Express, Specify, Consequence) model is introduced as a structured method for giving direct feedback and advocating for institutional change. Participants will learn how to apply this model in faculty performance evaluations, policy recommendations, communication breakdowns, and student conduct discussions. This session emphasizes clarity, accountability, and effective advocacy techniques.

Each session is interactive, research-backed, and designed for immediate application. All sessions will be available on demand for a year, allowing participants to revisit and reinforce their learning as needed. This series is offered each quarter, and enrollment for the summer session will be opening soon. Participants who complete the full series will be eligible to receive a virtual micro-credential for CEU credits.

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Contact Us

Have questions or need more information? Reach out to us at swchrs@ou.edu.