The Consortium on Abrasive Conduct in Higher Education (CACHE) will hold its the Second Annual Colloquium on Abrasive Conduct in Higher Education at DU on June 23-24, 2014. Last year, Ombuds and other representatives from nearly 20 institutions convened at UC Santa Barbara to explore best practices in addressing the problem of workplace bullying in the academy. The goal this year is to explore and recommend best practices in solving this problem.
The group of Ombuds in the U.S. northwest and Canada's western provinces has established a website to coordinate its activities. NWOG is a regional cross-sector group of Ombuds, Ombuds staff, and others interested in supporting the work of Ombuds, that has been meeting two to three times a year since 2001. The next meeting is set for
March 27, 2014 at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.
Thomas Griffin is joining Lisa Neale as co-editor of of the Journal of the
California Caucus of College and University Ombuds. Griffin is an Ombuds at UCLA and succeeds Helen Hasenfeld as the Journal of CCCUO Co-Editor. Neale is the Ombuds at the University of Colorado Denver.
Canadian Business Franchise is publishing a five-part series of articles about independent Ombuds for disputes between franchisors and their franchisees. Written by Frank Zaid, a corporate attorney and franchise mediator, the articles explain the benefits and features of a Franchise Ombuds.
A new survey by The Workplace Bullying Institute found that on the job bullying affects 48% of employees in the U.S. Bullies are predominantly bosses and male, while women are the targets 60% of the time.
The private, historically black university in Alabama has opened a search for its first Ombudsman. The position will report to the Office of the President and serve only faculty and staff. The TU Ombuds will be independent, neutral, informal, and confidential, but also will "serve as the manager of the University centralized complaints record system."
The UN agency that focuses on international public health is hiring an Ombudsman for a one-year appointment. Stationed at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, the Ombuds reports directly to the Director-General and has administrative
responsibility for the Ombuds Office.
The Ombuds Committee of the Dispute Resolution Section of the American Bar Association is now officially up and running again. One of its goals is to inform and educate lawyers and the public about Ombuds programs, functions and the benefits they provide to organizations and society.
The international, non-profit organization that provides leadership in Internet related standards, education, and policy has adopted a policy that calls for the establishment of an on Ombudsperson.
The Orange County campus of the University of California, has opened a search for an Associate Ombudsman. The full-time position will join a well-established office that serves nearly 40,000 faculty, staff, undergraduate, graduate, and medical school students.
The
community college northwest of Los Angeles has re-opened its search for an Ombudsperson. The full-time position will manage an office to
serve all constituents of the District community, including faculty,
staff, 27,000 students, and the public. The PCC Ombuds will report
directly to the Superintendent-President. Applicants should have a
master’s degree and five years of relevant counseling or Ombuds
experience.
The public, distance-learning university has established an Ombuds Office to serve nearly 100,000 staff, students, and faculty. Blair H. Hayes was appointed in June 2013 and a website for the new office debuted last week. According to a charter for the office, Hayes will practice to IOA Standards.
The
Board of Certification for Certified Organizational Ombudsman
Practitioners will administer its exam April 3-13, 2014. Passing the exam is a necessary step in obtaining certification as a Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practitioner® (CO-OP®). The registration window for candidates wishing to take the exam will be from February 10 - March 20, 2014.
On January 21, 2014, UCF President John C. Hitt signed a Charter for the Ombuds Office that was established in 1994. The document asserts that the office (which is "a confidential, neutral, informal, and independent resource to the university community") complies with the Florida statute that requires each university to establish and maintain a student ombudsman (Fla. Stat. § 1006.51.).
The top-tier public research university in Kingston, Ontario is proposing to redefine its Office of Dispute Resolution as the Office of the Ombudsperson. The proposed change aims to clarify the role of the office and give it increased independence from administrative structures.
EMU has appointed Chiara Hensley to serve as its new Ombuds. “I love helping students find their way and grow through the often complex and difficult challenges of college life,” Hensley said. “Having been an EMU student, I know the campus and can relate to the student experience firsthand, which brings a helpful lens to the work I do as ombuds.”
The
International Ombudsman Association's Annual Conference in Denver is quickly approaching and organizers are soliciting donations for what has become an annual fundraiser raffle.
The Red Cross Office of the Corporate Ombudsman in Washington, DC is
accepting applications for a full-time, summer internship. The
opportunity is open to graduate students working towards a degree in
Conflict Resolution or related field, and (for the first time) undergraduate seniors.
The school district that enrolls all of the city of Detroit has named former school board member Carol Banks as its first-ever Ombudsperson. The position will work to resolve parental concerns as part of a new "new Customer Service System," and will maintain confidentiality whenever possible. Few other details about the DPS Ombuds office have been made public.
John Zinsser thinks that the high profile political and cultural commentator would. In his latest blog post, Zinsser says, "David’s columns, always thought provoking and well crafted, almost
weekly argue for the creation of more organizational ombuds programs
(even though he never says it directly)."
UO has hired Bruce MacAllister to be its first University Ombudsperson. A campus email from President Michael Gottfredson said that MacAlister would start in March. The announcement provided some details about MacAllister's background:
Stanford has opened a search for its next School of Medicine Ombudsperson. The position works with all members of the community, including faculty, staff, students, post-doctoral
scholars, clinical fellows and residents, in any work-related or academic
dispute or concern.
The Ombuds of Texas will hold its next quarterly meeting on February 12, 2014 in Austin. The agenda is not available, but registration is free. (Eventbrite.)
The private, for-profit, Protestant university has ended its contract for Ombuds services. In late 2012, BJU had retained an independent non-profit, Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment ("GRACE"), to serve as an Ombudsman for allegations of sexual abuse.
A new, two-minute video created as a marketing tool provides an overview of the Apollo Education Group Ombuds Office and Ombudsman, Susan Casino. Included is an introduction by CEO, Greg Cappelli. The video supports and encourages use of the Ombuds Office by Apollo Group staff and faculty, including those with the University of Phoenix. It is fast moving and educational, and unveils a new logo for the office. (Vimio.)
According to one news report, the military academy near Colorado Springs has created an Ombuds program for its faculty. This was revealed in a public comments about the faculty climate earlier this week by USAFA's new dean of faculty, Brig. Gen. Andy Armacost.
UNG has hired Tom Walter has been selected as the ombudsman for faculty and staff
Walter has worked at the university since 1989 (when it was known as Gainesville State College) and is currently Vice President of Student Affairs. He will transition into the Ombuds position as soon as a successor can be hired.
Sudeshna Datta-Cockerill, who was appointed to be the Ombuds for the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is has published her first article for the CERN employee newsletter. In the first piece, Datta-Cockerill addresses the change that comes with the end of research projects.
The ABA Business Law Section has established a new Subcommittee on Ombuds. The relationship of the new group with the existing Section of Dispute Resolution Ombuds Task Force is unclear. However, the new Subcommittee has a different mission statement and goals.
UW is hiring an Associate Ombud from the ranks of its current staff. "As one of the first points of contact for individuals seeking assistance
through the Office of the University Ombud, the Associate Ombud helps
set the tone for the institutional and public presence of the Office."
The biennial
joint conference of the Forum of Canadian Ombudsman
and the Association of Canadian College and University Ombudspersons will take place May 9-13, 2015
at the Wosk Centre
in Vancouver, BC. (FCO Conf Info.)
The UN agency that focuses on international public health is hiring an Ombudsman for a one-year appointment. Stationed at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, the Ombuds reports directly to the Director-General and has administrative
responsibility for the Ombuds Office. 
