Job Posting: University of California Davis

The newest UC Ombuds office is expanding.  UC Davis has opened a search for two full-time Associate Ombuds.  The positions will be responsible for providing "impartial, informal, independent and confidential conflict resolution services to the UC Davis community on both the Davis campus and UC Davis Medical Center." 

Job Posting: Rochester University

The private, nonsectarian, research university in New York is hiring a "University Intercessor and ADA/504 Coordinator." The first position is essentially that of an Ombuds. "The University Intercessor is responsible for neutral and impartial dispute resolution, providing confidential and informal assistance to all constituents of the University community...with respect to issues of perceived unfair or improper treatment or bias." The Intercessor has been a Rochester resource for four decades. 

Job Posting: University of Arizona College of Medicine

The only MD granting medical school in the state of Arizona is has opened a search for its first Ombuds. Two, part-time positions will establish a program for medical students at the Phoenix campus. 

SCI and Pacifica Announce Alliance for Collegiate Athletic Ombuds

The Sports Conflict Institute and Pacifica Human Communications have unveiled a new collaboration to implement cutting-edge, informal conflict management systems with college athletic departments to better manage risk and optimize performance. In essence, the partnership will seek to promote the establishment of Ombuds programs in intercollegiate athletic programs and the NCAA.

FCO and Osgoode Law Offer Second Ombuds Certificate Program

For the second year, the Forum of Canadian Ombudsman and Osgoode Hall Law School at York University will offer Essentials for Ombuds. The five-day program will be offered September 22–26, 2014 at in downtown Toronto.

Coalition of Federal Ombuds Seeks Data on Ombuds Value

CoFO has unveiled the "Ombuds VALUE Project" and is seeking stories that describe Ombuds work and its impact. The project began at CoFO's 2013 annual meeting, where members expressed interest in sharing the positive value in their work.  

Ombuds Departs from Binghamton University

The public research university in Vestal, New York reports that Dawn Osborne-Adams will step down from her position to relocate to Charleston, S.C., with her family on July 11. Osborne-Adams, who became the Ombuds in 2010, said, “I feel privileged to have served Binghamton’s faculty, staff and students in this role. As I move into this next chapter, I will look back fondly on my time at Binghamton as both immensely challenging and deeply rewarding.”

Job Posting: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

The FDIC is hiring another Internal Ombudsman Specialist, the second this year.  The position serves as a "neutral source for internal agency employees to raise concerns, identify options, and request assistance to informally resolve conflict and problems." The position is not part of the FDIC's external Ombuds program that serves local customers of banks taken over by the agency.

Ombuds for Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Publishes First Annual Report

A report from FINRA’s Office of the Ombudsman describes its role within the non-governmental organization which regulates U.S. brokerage firms and exchange markets, and summarizes the cases and issues received during 2013. 

Job Posting: Algonquin College

The public college of applied arts and technology in Ottawa, Ontario, is hiring an Ombudsperson for temporary contract, September 1 through December 31, 2014.  The position reports to the Ombudsperson Review Committee and serves the student body of 18,000 full-time undergraduates and 35,180 continuing education students. 

University of Michigan Ombuds Shares Lessons Learned

In two recent blog posts, Tom Lehker shares some of the lessons that he has learned through his work as has UM's Ombudsman for Students.  Most of these observations are relevant for mediators and Ombuds in other settings.  Here are the highlights:

Ombuds at University of Missouri–Kansas City Publishes Fourth Annual Report

In her fourth annual report, UMKC's part-time Faculty Ombudsperson Nancy E. Day said that her caseload in the 2013-14 academic year had decreased to 14 from 24 in the prior period.  In addition to visitor matters, Day also worked on training programs for a healthy,
respectful workplace that will be offered in the fall. 

Cleveland State University to Hire Ombuds From Within

CSU has opened an internal search for its next University Ombudsperson.  The position--which serves about 19,000 faculty, staff, and students--is open only to tenured faculty members with at least five years of experience.  Valerie Hinton-Hannah, CSU's Assistant Dean for Judicial Affairs is the current Interim Ombuds. (SimplyHired.)

Job Posting: George Mason University

The public university in Virginia has opened a search for a full-time Ombudsman to serve its 37,000 students, staff and faculty. The position was previously held by Dolores Gómez-Morán .

Maine Association of Mediators Creates Ombuds Program

The non-profit that provides ADR services to Maine individuals, businesses and the court system has established an Ombuds Program for issues and concerns arising out of their services. The program is outlined in a document titled, "Ombuds Process," which closely resembles a charter or terms of reference. 

Update: California Senate to Appoint Ombuds

The California State Senate has passed a bill (SR-43) that will create an Ombuds “to facilitate the receipt of information about potential ethical violations.”  Senate President pro-tem Darrell Steinberg, said the Ombuds is “somebody whose job it is to prevent a problem before it becomes embarrassing to the individual, and most importantly, before it becomes embarrassing to the institution itself.”

International Ombudsman Association Slowly Embracing Social Media

With its new management company, IOA has ramped up its online presence.  The organization joined Facebook in March 2013 and Twitter in May 2013.  However, the pages were merely placeholders as IOA tried to develop a social media strategy.  

Job Posting: Federal Bureau of Prisons

The subdivision of the U.S. Department of Justice that runs the federal prison system is hiring a Program Officer (Ombudsman). The position will implement and manage an Ombudsman Program for approximately 37,000 BOP employees nationwide. Some travel is required and the position may also be eligible for telework. 

Job Posting: Oberlin College

The private liberal arts college in Ohio is hiring an Ombuds Fellow.  The full-time, one-year position will report to the Interim Director of the Office of the Ombudsperson, Rashé Limki.  The position will provide the range of Ombuds services and help run the Oberlin College Dialogue Center.

CERN Ombuds on Rebuilding Trust

In her latest newsletter article for staff at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, Sudeshna Datta-Cockerill examines the breakdown and restoration of trust.  She observes that trust is built on reliability, integrity, expertise and good will. Of these bases, good will is the most critical for restoring trust. The Ombuds is an important resource for disputants to restore trust.

Mary Rowe, MIT Ombuds, to Retire

After four decades of conflict resolution at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and leadership within the Ombuds profession, Mary Rowe has announced her retirement.  Rowe came to MIT in 1973 as one of two Special Assistants the the President, a role that evolved into that of an Organizational Ombuds.

Journal of IOA Seeks Associate Editors

The incoming Editorial Board of the Journal of the International Ombudsman Associationis seeking up to two additional Associate Editors.  Working with two Co-Editors, members of the Editorial Board collaborate to produce a twice-annual, peer-reviewed journal about the Ombuds profession.

Coalition of Federal Ombuds Eyes Strategic Initiatives

At its May 2014 meeting, CoFO discussed several topics that could take the group into new areas. Agenda items included:

UC Merced Posts Video Introducing Ombuds Office

The newest University of California's newest Ombuds, De Acker, is featured in a new video posted to YouTube.  Acker introduces the UC Merced Office of Ombuds Services and explains how it follow IOA standards. 

Registration Opens for 2014 Summer Meeting of Academic Ombuds

The agenda and registration information for the 12th summer meeting of college and university Ombuds at Marquette University on July 20-21 are now available.  The annual event (formerly known as the 'Midwest Meeting of College and University Ombuds) provides an opportunity for academic Ombuds to network, share stories and strategies, and offer.

Ombuds Training in New Orleans

The International Ombudsman Association returns to the Big Easy with several training sessions for new and experienced Ombuds, July 21-25, 2014. The programs include introductory, intermediate and advanced topics.

Meet University of Oslo’s First Student Ombuds

In February 2013, Marianne Høva Rustberggard became the first Ombudsperson for 27,700 students at the country’s oldest and largest university, Universitetet i Oslo. The Ombuds is confidential and reports administratively to UiO’s Internal Auditing Unit. According to her website, Rustberggard is also the first Student Ombudsperson in Norway.

Job Posting: University of Texas Medical Branch

The medical center in Galveston has opened a search for a Student Ombudsman. The 20%-time position will provide confidential and informal assistance to more than 2,500 UTMB students.

Columbia Law School Students Start Ombuds Program

In response to criticisms surfaced in a survey last spring, the Columbia Law School Student Senate is piloting a Student Ombuds Program.  Zila Acosta and Paul Chander have been appointed serve as the program’s first Ombuds. 

Job Posting: United Nations

The UN has opened a search for a Chief of Service, Office of Ombudsman and Mediation Service. The position will report to the UN Ombudsman and oversees the work of UNOMS, including seven regional branch offices. 

Ombuds to Address American Chamber of Commerce in Japan

Two Ombuds from the Eaton Corporation will speak to the ACCJ at the Tokyo American Club on June 18, 2014. "Organizational Ombuds Programs - Their Role, Value and Impact" will be the topic presented by Ilene Butensky, Vice President of Eaton's Office of Ombuds, and Sophia Qiao, Eaton's Ombuds for Asia and the Pacific.