University of Maryland, Baltimore Names First Research Ombuds

Bruce K. Krueger has been appointed to the newly established position of Research Ombuds in the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s Office of the Provost. Kreuger will provide Ombuds services to the UMB research community — including faculty, postdoctoral scholars, students, and staff — who may have concerns or questions regarding research misconduct and other research-related issues. His work will supplement that of Brian Godette, the long-time UMB Ombuds for faculty and staff.

Amsterdam UMC Selects Next Ombuds

Carolijn Winnubst was appointed the Ombudsman for Amsterdam Universitair Medische Centra in August 2024. She follows Henny Krijnen, who served in the role for nearly five years. As the Ombuds, Winnubst heads a program that includes the Confidential Affairs office and provides services to UMC employees.

CIDR's 2025 Symposium is Loaded With Ombuds Sessions

The Centre for Informal Dispute Resolution at Saint Paul University in Ottawa has released the agenda for its second annual symposium and there are many sessions for and about Ombuds. Organized by two professors at USP: Brent Epperson and Jean-François Rioux, this year's theme is, "Building Better Workplaces: Toward Comprehensive Conflict Resolution Systems." 

Here is a list of the sessions relevant to Ombuds:

Call for Presenters: USOA 2025 Conference in Colorado

The United States Ombudsman Association is seeking speakers for its 44th annual conference set for October 22-24, in Vail, Colorado. Speakers should be interested in sharing their knowledge and experience relevant to the Public Sector Ombudsman profession and USOA membership is not required.

Hanyang University Creates Ombuds Program

HYU (한양대학교), the private research university in South Korea, has appointed its first Ombudspersons. The team of Ombuds will serve faculty, staff, and students at ERICA, the Education Research Industry Cluster in Ansan, located in Gyeonggi Province. According to an announcement, "Hanyang University ERICA explained that it established the Ombudsperson Office to enhance communication among its members and improve institutional practices, campus culture, and the overall environment, thereby creating a healthier campus." 

University of Groningen Names Interim Ombuds

Marianne Dijkhuizen has been appointed the interim Ombuds for Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, the public research university in the Netherlands. She follows the inaugural Ombuds, Carolijn Winnubst, who created the position in September 2021. Dijkhuizen continues as the Ombuds for NHL Hofeschool and previously worked as a contract Ombuds with De Vertrouwenspersoon B.V. for eight years. (UG Ombuds; LinkedIn.)

Insights From UN Ombuds on Sources of Conflict

Vassilena Gashparova, the Senior Conflict Resolution Officer and Ombudsman for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, is the author of an article in yesterday's UN Today. She offers her view on the anatomy of conflict, its hidden causes and complex realities. Gashparova considers five key forces as identified by Bernard Mayer which are central to conflict dynamics:

Job Posting: University of Washington

The University of Washington has opened a search for an Associate Ombud. (This office consistently uses "Ombud" rather than "Ombuds" following a recommendation from the university’s Scandinavian Language Department.) While the office supports the entire university community, including students, this position is focused on serving faculty, staff and leadership, and expected to work on 200-250 cases per year. The Associate Ombud will report to the University Ombud, Chuck Sloane, and is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement.

Job Posting: University of Massachusetts Amherst

The flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system is hiring an Associate Ombudsperson. The full-time position will report to Colette Carmouche, who was named the University Ombuds in December 2024. The Associate Ombuds will assist in providing services to over 38,000 faculty, staff, and students, practicing to IOA standards.

Career Workshop for Ombuds in Transition

Vik Kapoor, an Ombuds Consultant for UNICEF, UNDP, UNWOMEN, UNFPA and UNOPS, and ICF-certified coach, is hosting a two-hour public workshop on Thursday, April 10, 2025. The workshop, "Finding Your North Star," is intended for professionals who are unemployed, underemployed, or otherwise facing a lack of clarity as they explore their career path. Kapoor will draw on a range of tools to help people craft their own personal mission statements and a loose action plan to get going. 

Midwest Political Science Association Adds an Ombuds

Sarah Klaper will join Tyler Smith as the Conference Ombuds for political science association's annual conference in Chicago, April 2-6, 2025. Klaper is the University Ombuds for Northwestern University and the current IOA Board President. (MPSA Conf Info.)

McGill University Sets Committee to Find Next Ombuds

The leading public university in Montreal has created an "Advisory Committee to the Provost and Executive Vide President (Academic) ... for the selection of an Ombudsperson for Students." The committee includes representatives from the administration, governing board, faculty, and students, and will oversee the recruitment and selection of McGill's next Ombuds. The University Ombuds is a part-time position that, along with the Assistant to the Ombuds, Carmela Parzanese, serves over 40,000 students. (McGill Advisory.)

Ombuds as a Solution for Academia’s Postdoc Bullying

An editorial in yesterday's Chronicle of Higher Education asserts that "a lack of oversight and accountability allows abusive faculty mentors to operate unchecked in research labs." This is a situation that many University Ombuds know well. The author, Azmi A. Ahmad, is a postdoctoral researcher at Yale, a notable R1 university without an Ombuds program. He offers steps universities should take to mitigate harassing behavior in their research labs, including the creation of an Ombuds program: 

• Overhaul grievance procedures to ensure that reporting mechanisms are clear, accessible, and effective. An ombuds office that meets international standards would provide a confidential, independent, and neutral one-stop shop for postdocs. 
• Offer robust protections against retaliation — including intimidation — and provide timely, decisive responses to complaints. Create pathways for postdocs to access letters of recommendation or even legal assistance in cases in which litigation is possible or their immigration status is threatened. 
• Improve the mentoring and supervisory skills of faculty members. Offer training on “bystander intervention” and on “how to be an ally.” 
• Commit to applying grievance procedures consistently and fairly — and then do so. 
• Evaluate academic departments to assess the effectiveness and compliance with institutional grievance procedures. The outcomes of complaints and evaluations should be reported to funding agencies and oversight committees. 

(Chronicle of Higher Ed.) 

Related posts: Letter to a Workplace Harasser; University Ombuds Remains a Goal for Faculty and Students at Yale; Podcast: Virginia Tech Ombuds on Academic Bullying; SHRM White Paper Promotes Ombuds as Tool for Workplace Bullying.

Department of Homeland Security Eliminates Classical Ombuds for Immigrants

An Executive Order one week ago slashed the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman and the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman. These two offices provided oversight of the for people with immigration-related issues related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Job Posting: University of Maryland, Baltimore County

The University of Maryland campus in Cantonsville (not to be confused with UM Baltimore in downtown Baltimore) is hiring its first Faculty Ombuds Officer. This will be the newest Ombuds within the University System of Maryland. The full-time position will report to the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and serve nearly 1,000 academic staff, practicing to IOA standards. A hybrid telework schedule may be available.