This is a 40%-time position. Applicants must have a bachelors degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training and at least eight years of Ombuds experience working in an academic environment. No salary or closing date indicated. (UC Jobs, Req. No. 20140558; via LinkedIn.)
I was completely blindsided by this. I'm trying to figure out the significance of that.
Related posts: UC Santa Cruz Closes Ombuds Office; University of California Report on Protest Policies Reaffirms Role of Ombuds; University of California Merced Enacts Ombuds Charter; UC Davis Appoints First Ombuds ; UC Davis Appoints First Ombuds; University of California President Endorses Ombuds Offices.
No surprise. Napolitano needs an ombuds.
ReplyDeleteDo we want to discuss the "blindsided" comment here?
ReplyDeleteOr offline?
John W. Zinsser
Co-founder and Principal, Pacifica Human Communications, LLC.
Lecturer, Columbia University, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution - Ombuds Specialty
Well...one might think UCOP would consult one or more of its existing Ombuds Offices before opening a search.
DeleteWow!
ReplyDeleteOnly if they knew what the functionary and program were achieving and if they had a positive recommendation from the leadership of the particular University.
ReplyDeleteI recall Linda W. this April in Denver saying she was surprised that Harvard did not turn to her when they went looking to build a program for the undergard area.
Because ombudsing has developed allowed a DIY or volunteer support is all the is needed approach to program building, leaders feel little compulsion to reach out to even related functions. Programs with limited Alignment Embedment and Integration have no chance of being seen as helpful in building other programs.
Until the skills of building a top tier ombuds program, which are different that staffing a program, are recognized, and the programs themselves are seen as valuable enough to pay for, there will be little turning to ombuds for help building new programs. Thus we get, one-offs, hybrids, collateral duty, and part-time positions which are what is proliferating and leading to challenges - many of which you have documented here.
Multiple university systems are now considering or searching for ombuds to staff underdeveloped programs because the staff are familiar with the function from the universities and the stakes/costs of formal disputing in higher education are taxing declining public budgets.
John W. Zinsser
Co-founder and Principal, Pacifica Human Communications, LLC.
Lecturer, Columbia University, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution - Ombuds Specialty
Have you read the job description? The only thing missing is "bend steel rails with their mind"... a partial recount of the desired actions for the ombuds includes: serve as the ombuds for 3000 employees and all that entails, outreach, provide conflict training, conflict resolution, report on trends, advise senior leaders about discrepancies between policy and practice and more. In SIXTEEN hours a week? What are they thinking, do they only sorta kinda want an ombuds?
ReplyDeleteGiven the available performance metrics the 16 hours for 3000 is pretty defensible.
ReplyDeleteThe number of collateral duty (especially faculty focused) ombuds is huge and growing in academia.
The pattern of DIY organizational builds has lead to more hybrid/collateral programs than high quality, to-code programs in the last several years.
Best move would be for someone to get in and show that there is more to do and expand the role.
John W. Zinsser