The Program in Conflict Management Alternatives (PCMA), established in 1985, was an interdisciplinary program at the University of Michigan dedicated to developing the theory of dispute resolution and studying conflict at the interpersonal, organizational and societal levels. In pursuit of these goals, PCMA facilitated communication among core faculty members from different departments and schools at the university, such as sociology, social work, women's studies, and natural resources. Their interest in conflict resolution often coincided with an interest in social justice and social change. The Hewlett Foundation, which supported a string of conflict management centers at American universities (the "Hewlett Consortium"), funded the PCMA from its beginning. The program ended in 1996.
The major venue for communication among core faculty was the seminar, a regular meeting at which an issue or set of readings was discussed. Often, guest speakers were invited to these seminars, brown bags, and colloquia. PCMA also sponsored several conferences at which researchers and practitioners from outside PCMA were invited to attend and contribute. The program also supported courses related to conflict resolution (in cooperation with other departments), publications reflecting research in the field, and a series of working papers which stemmed from the seminars and other activities. Mini-grants and pilot projects allowed the PCMA to allocate funds to faculty members and graduate students conducting research. Occasionally, the PCMA faculty members consulted with organizations, usually non-profits, to help them resolve conflicts and facilitate communication. PCMA faculty also communicated with other researchers and practitioners in the field through the Hewlett Center Consortium. They began to build a practitioner's network to promote communication and continuing education among conflict mediators. Finally, at the University of Michigan, PCMA compiled a manual describing dispute resolution services, and another describing the research interests of faculty members with interests related to conflict theory.
In 1989 and 1990, PCMA, the Institute for Development Research in Massachusetts, and the Highlander Center in Tennessee received a pilot grant from the MacArthur Foundation to sponsor discussions between grassroots activists from America and the Third World. PCMA members also attended several "STP Schools" (the acronym STP is undefined), workshops hosted by the Highlander Center which brought together environmental activists from different parts of the country to share experiences and information.
From the guide to the Program in Conflict Management Alternatives (University of Michigan) records, 1983-1996, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)
