Florida Polytechnic University: New School, New Ombuds

Florida Poly is the newest member institution of the State University System of Florida and it opened for classes on August 16, 2014. Among the services offered by the new university, is an Ombuds Office for students. Velmarie L. Albertini is the Ombuds and she also serves as the Academic Program Coordinator. 

New Boston University Ombuds to Offer Colloquium at UMass Boston

Adam Barak Kleinberger, who was hired as an Associate Ombudsman at BU earlier this summer, will give a colloquium entitled, “Organizational Ombuds: An Improvised Journey” on September 18, 2014 at the University of Massachusetts Boston. 

ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Seeks Submissions for 2015 Conference

The American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution is accepting proposals for its annual conference to be held April 15-18, 2015 at the Westin Seattle. Many Ombuds have presented over the past few years and it’s a great opportunity to reach a different audience. The deadline for proposals is September 5, 2014.

Northern Illinois University Ombuds Office Marks 45 Years

An open house on September 9, 2014, will celebrate the 45th anniversary of NIU's Office of the Ombudsperson.  Hosted by NIU Ombuds Sarah Klaper, the event will include remarks from NIU President Doug Baker.  The campus student center will offer a special display of the history of the Office of the Ombudsperson.  (NIU Today.)

Job Posting (RFP): North Carolina State University

The public research university in Raleigh has issued a request for proposals for an Ombudsman Service. According to the RFP, "NC State seeks to provide its faculty members with a confidential and independent resource for discussion of workplace questions, issues, concerns, conflicts, or disputes." 

ABA Business Law Section: "The Ombuds Are Coming!"

The ABA Business Law Section proclaims the arrival of Organizational Ombuds.  (Exclamation point in original headline.)  Ombuds Subcommittee Chair Bennett Feigenbaum says that although "major corporate financial scandals have heightened interest in ombuds," growth in the number of Ombuds in the private sector has occurred "mostly under the radar of business lawyers."  

South African HR Conference Spotlights Ombuds

Earlier this week, Flourish!, the inaugural annual conference of the South African Organisational Development Network included a session about Organizational Ombuds. Mervyn Malamed, a business consultant with Positive Conflict Management gave a plenary session: "The Organisational Ombud - not the Classic Ombud!"

Job Posting: Federal Emergency Management Agency

The Department Of Homeland Security agency has posted a vacancy announcement for Reservist ADR Advisor positions in its Alternative Dispute Resolution cadre. Reservists are on-call Federal Government employees who are deployed on short notice for 30-60 days to large presidentially declared disasters. Using a variety of ADR techniques, they work to resolve workplace conflicts and inform senior disaster management about trends and areas of concern.

University of Kentucky Names Ombuds

The public university in Lexington has appointed law professor Michael P. Healy, to the role of Academic Ombud for 2014-2015. The Office of Academic Ombud Services at UK assisting 40,000 students and instructional staff with academic problems and conflicts. Healy's term began August 1, 2014. 

Save the Date for Northwest Ombuds Group Autumn 2014 Meeting

Valerie Craigwell White will host the informal group of Ombuds from U.S. northwest and Canada's western provinces at Lewis & Clark College in Portland on Friday, October 24, 2014.  Save the date and stay tuned for additional details (NWOG News.)

Texas Tech University to Appoint First Faculty Ombuds

Texas Tech is conducting an internal search for its first University Faculty Ombudsperson. The position will work with about 2,600 academic staff and report to the Faculty Senate and Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. 

'Workplace Advisors' Serve as Staff Ombuds for Bucknell University

Earlier this year, the large, private, liberal arts university unveiled its Workplace Advisor Program for staff with issues of concern.  The eight current Workplace Advisors are full-time Bucknell employees who provide a neutral or objective assistance. University employees self-select an Advisor and contact them directly.  An administrator for the program is not identified.

Recap of Arizona Ombuds Summer 2014 Meeting

On Friday, August 8th, Ombudsman throughout the State of Arizona met for their bi-annual meeting. Dr. Eugene Moan, Faculty Ombuds for Northern Arizona University hosted the group’s summer meeting in beautiful Flagstaff. 

Job Posting: Binghamton University

The State University of New York in Vestal is seeking its next Ombuds. "Reporting directly to the President of Binghamton University, the University Ombudsman serves as the University's designated neutral and independent conflict management resource for all constituents of the University community, including students, staff and faculty."

OIC Ombudsmen Association Will Serve Ombuds in Islamic States

A conference session at the 39th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Djibouti in November 2012 was the beginning of the OIC Ombudsmen Association. The new association seeks "to develop capacity of Ombudsmen personnel in all OIC Member States by devising training programs [and to promote them] in the countries where Ombudsman Institution does not exist so far." 

Cal Caucus Announces 2014 Agenda

The California Caucus of College and University Ombuds has posted the details for its 41st annual meeting at Asilomar in Pacific Grove.  Taking place on  November 16–19, the event draws Ombuds from beyond California and the higher education sector with its casual and intimate tradition.  

Job Posting: U.S. Olympic Committee

The USOC in Colorado Springs  is seeking applications for its Athlete Ombudsman position.  The position heads a two-person office that provides independent and confidential advice to elite athletes regarding their rights under various domestic and international laws and regulatory schemes, and mediates conflicts between athletes and their respective national governing bodies.

Job Posting: U.S. Army Forces Command

FORSCOM is hiring a Lead Human Resources Specialist in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  The position will serve as the Command Ombudsman for Employment Disputes.  The position is open only to civilian employees of the Army and other qualified individuals.  

Job Posting: Gallaudet University

The private university for the education of the Deaf and hard of hearing in Washington, D.C. has re-opened its year-long search for a University Ombuds. After seeking applicants externally last summer, the university reopened the process in January and limited it to internal applicants.  The posting is again open to all qualified individuals.  

Purdue Appoints First Faculty Ombuds

The public university in Indiana announced that Ralph Webb will become the first Faculty Ombudsperson on August 18. Purdue President Mitch Daniels said, "As a faculty member with nearly 50 years of service to Purdue, Dr. Webb is exceptionally qualified to provide these services with the utmost conscientiousness and care." (Unfortunately, Daniels also said that the Ombuds would provide "faculty members with objective, third-party arbitration when they might need it most.")  Webb, a Professor of Communication, will serve a two-year term, which may be renewed.

Update: Kennesaw Says Ombuds Office Not Being Phased Out

In response to a post earlier this week, Kennesaw State University's Faculty Executive Assistant to the President, Maureen McCarthy says that the Ombuds Office will not be closed:

Job Posting: International Committee of the Red Cross

The international humanitarian organization has opened a search for its next Chief Ombudsperson.  Based in Geneva, the position administers the three-person program (which will soon be expanded by staff "ombuds relays"), represents the program internally and externally, and serves as the Ombuds for ICRC personnel in Europe, Central Asia and the Americas.

Kennesaw State University to Close Ombuds Office

Bernard Anderson, the University Ombuds at KSU, says that his office will be closed on September 30, 2014.  Anderson has been the Ombuds for nearly nine years and was one of the first Ombuds to become certified in 2010. No details regarding the decision to shutter the 18 year old office have been made public.

University of Oregon Ombuds Intern Blogs Insights

Kouang Chan started an internship with Bruce MacAllister at the UO Ombuds Office in June and has been offering periodic updates on his activities.  In six posts, Chan has talked about learning the Ombuds role, making contacts with stakeholders, the importance of confidentiality, the Ombuds Charter, and office location.