The Ombuds Blog: Union Theological Seminary Considering Ombuds Program

November 06, 2012

Union Theological Seminary Considering Ombuds Program

In a letter to the Union community on October 11, 2012, Michael J. Kelly, Chair of the Trustees' Audit Committee, announced the formation of an Ombudsperson Selection Committee. Trustees of the progressive, independent seminary in New York City have retained Xan Raskin of Artixan Consulting Group to make a recommendation regarding the issue.

The Ombudsperson Selection Committee, which comprises faculty, staff, faculty, and students, has raised a number of concerns to Union's Board of Trustees, primarily about certain staff personnel decisions, processes and expenditures. Xan Raskin is a member of IOA and other ADR organizations and regularly consults on employee relations and HR matters. No other details have been announced. (Union Announcement; Artixan Consulting.)

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Organizational Ombuds

Organizational Ombuds serve as a confidential, independent, neutral and informal dispute resolution resource for a specific entity. They are accessible to a defined population and can advocate for fairness. These unique characteristics distinguish Organizational Ombuds from Classical Ombuds, mediators, arbitrators, and other alternative dispute resolution professionals. The term "Ombuds" is shorthand for "Ombudsman," "Ombudsperson" and "Ombuds Officer," which also are used widely.

Some other variants include:

Austria -- Ombudsstelle

Brazil -- Ouvidor

Croatia -- pravobranitelji

France -- médiateur/defénseur

Germany -- Ombudspersonen

Italy -- difensore

Netherlands -- ombudspersoon

Norway -- ombudet

Poland -- Rzecznik

Portugal -- provedor

Russia -- омбудсмен

Spain -- ombudsman organizacional

Sweden -- studentombud

Switzerland -- ombudsmann

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