The Ombuds Blog Top Ten Stories of 2014, Nos. 1-3

The top three stories about Organizational Ombuds last year includes some lows and highs...

Job Posting: Dartmouth College

The private Ivy League college in New Hampshire has opened a search for its next Ombudsperson.  The part-time position (0.6 FTE) reports to the college president and serves staff and faculty.  According to the posting, "The Ombudsperson will also devote a small portion of time to coordinate the efforts of the College to comply with NH law concerning the reporting of child abuse and neglect and to prevent abuse and neglect in programs conducted at the college."

The Ombuds Blog Top Ten Stories of 2014, Nos. 4-6

This is part two of the top ten Ombuds Blog stories of 2014.  The final installment will be published on December 29.

Job Posting: Ole Miss

The University of Mississippi is hiring its first Ombudsperson.  The position, "serves as a designated neutral or impartial dispute resolution practitioner providing confidential and informal assistance to constituents of the University community, to include graduate assistants, staff, and faculty," and reports to the Office of the Chancellor.

Arizona Ombuds to Hold Year End Meeting

The Arizona Ombuds Group will meet for its winter meeting on Friday, January 30, 2015 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The Maricopa Community Colleges (MCC) will host the meeting in Tempe, AZ. The winter agenda includes topics such as “The Virtual Ombuds” and The Impact of Social Media on the Ombuds Profession. 

Journalist Raises Questions About Succession of Olympic Ombuds

Freelance investigative reporter Irv Muchnick says that there are concerns about the retirement of longtime USOC Athlete Ombudsman, John Ruger, and the selection of his relacement, Kacie Wallace.  Writing on his blog, "Concussion Inc." (his current focus is on concussion crisis in sports), Muchnick offers some details about the Olympic Ombuds:

World Health Organization Names New Ombuds

The WHO has appointed José Martínez-Aragón to be its next as Ombudsman, starting January 19, 2015.  Stationed at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Martínez-Aragón reports directly to the Director-General and will replaces Dr. Athanase Hagengimana, whose mandate ends next week.

The Ombuds Blog Top Ten Stories of 2014, Nos. 7-10

This is the fifth annual retrospective of the most important stories about Organizational Ombuds.  The list starts with numbers seven through ten.  The list continues in the next two weeks.


(drumroll please...)

Association of Canadian College and University Ombudspersons to Hold Midyear Conference in London, ON

Fanshawe College and Western University will host ACCUO’s Eastern Midyear Conference on January 28, 29, and 30, 2015.  Highlights of the meeting will include:

ENOHE Calls for 2015 Papers

The European Network of Ombudsmen in Higher Education is inviting submissions for its 2015 annual conference to be held in Innsbruck, Austria on May 28-30, 2015 .  The theme is: "Years of Solitude? University Ombudsmen‘s Pioneering Past, Confident Present, Challenging Future." 

Job Posting: Department of Energy

The department responsible for U.S. energy and nuclear safety policies is hiring two Associate Ombudsmen. The positions are based in the DOE Office of the Ombudsman in Washington, DC, and serve all DOE federal employees, world-wide. The positions are open only to current DOE employees.

"ADR as First Career" Interviews Kaiser Ombuds

Back in September, the video blog about professional who started their careers in the ADR field, featured Annalisa Peterson, a Health Care Ombuds/Mediator with Kaiser Permanente in Northern California.  Peterson talks a about her interest in ADR and how she gained the education and experience that lead to her job. 

Journal Seeks Submissions to Mark IOA's First Decade

The Journal of the International Ombudsman Association has issued a call for articles to mark the tenth anniversary of the International Ombudsman Association, which was created in 2005.  Editors are inviting submissions in the following specific topic areas:

Job Posting: Transportation Security Administration

The Department Of Homeland Security agency is hiring a Supervisory Federal Air Marshal.  The position will serve as the Office of Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service Ombudsman Liaison to Office of Civil Rights and Liberties, Ombudsman, and Travel Engagement, Ombudsman Division in Reston, VA.  The job is open only to TSA employees.

Brock University TV Introduces Ombuds

A YouTube video by the public university in St. Catharines begins by asking students what an Ombuds is.  Failing to find a correct answer, the video explains the service using hand-drawn animations.  Carole Moss, is the Student Ombudsperson but is not featured.  (YouTube.)

Will the Ontario Ombudsman's New Powers Impact University Ombuds?

Earlier this week, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario passed Bill 8, the “Public Sector and MPP Accountability and​ Transparency Act, 2014,” a package of new public-sector accountability measures.  Among other things, Bill 8 expands the Ontario Ombudsman’s powers to municipal entities previously off limits, including universities.  Although there is no current concern, the impact on existing university Ombuds in Ontario remains uncertain. 

Binghamton University Announces Next Ombuds

The State University of New York announced the appointment of Bathabile Mthombeni as Ombudsman, effective January 15, 2015.  Binghamton President said,“Bathabile’s background in law and extensive experience in conflict management and dispute resolution is what we had hoped to find for our campus and will serve her well in this key position.”

Volunteer Opportunity: Canadian Paralympic Committee

The Canadian Paralympic Committee is seeking volunteer Ombudspersons for the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games and/or the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. The Ombuds will provide guidance and counsel for Canadian Paralympic Team Members to quickly and effectively resolve disputes and issues.

Job Re-Posting: University of Arizona

The public university in Tucson has reopened its search for an Ombuds Program Director. The position provides direction, coordination, and development of campus volunteers in the UA Ombuds Program. In addition, the Director also is expected to work closely with senior administrator about systemic issues.  The position will report to Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration.

Job Posting: University of South Florida

USF plans to reopen its Office of the Ombudsman which closed nearly two years ago.  The university in Tampa has opened a search for an Ombuds to work with a student population of about 48,000.  Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree and at least four years of experience.  An advanced degree, counseling, and USF experience are preferred.

University of the Pacific Appoints First Ombuds

The private university in Stockton, California as named Hector Escalante as its first Ombudsperson, starting January 5, 2015.  UOP Vice President Mary Lou Lackey said, "Hector's background in conflict management, together with his exceptional interpersonal and communications skills, strong ethical framework and deep understanding of Pacific's culture and structure will serve him well in this important role."

Ombuds Case Numbers Grow at Northern Illinois University

In a report presented last week, NIU Ombuds Sarah Klaper said that 604 individuals who visited her office from May 2013 to May 2014, a 32% increase from the prior year.  In fact, Klaper said that the actual number of cases should be much higher.  “In my day-to-day work life, I talk with people as I go across campus,” Klaper said in the report. 

IOA Opens Election for 2015 Board of Directors

The International Ombudsman Association has announced the slate of candidates for Board of Directors terms starting in April 2015. With the early departures of three directors, the election will fill six empty seats from a slate of eight nominees.  As it has in the past, the Ombuds Blog provides links to public information about the candidates to supplement the official ballot statements.

University of Wisconsin Anti-Bullying Policy Invokes Ombuds

Last month, the Faculty Senate at the University of Wisconsin at Madison approved an anti-bullying policy that will be “implemented” either informally, through the intervention of an Ombuds or vice provost with no written record of complaint.

Job Re-Posting: Syracuse City School District

The public school district in New York has re-opened its search for its first Ombuds.  The Executive Ombuds Officer for Student Discipline will report directly to the District Superintendent. "In carrying out the functions of this position, the EOO is guided by the principles of independence, impartiality, confidentiality, and informality."  It is not clear whether or how the posting has been revised since the search opened in July.

Texas Tech Names First Faculty Ombuds

Texas Tech University has announced the appointment of Jean Pearson Scott as its first Faculty Ombudsperson, effective January 1, 2015.  Scott will report to both the TTU  Provost and the Faculty Senate President, as serve as an impartial facilitator between faculty and their supervisors and sometimes between faculty and students or staff.

Concordia Ombuds Office Celebrates 35 Years

The Ombuds Office at Concordia University was celebrated at a reception last week marking 35 years of service.  The Ombuds Office at Concordia was established in 1978 when the programs at predecessor institutions merged.  

Loyola University New Orleans Appoints Ombuds for Staff

Earlier this year, the private, Jesuit university in Louisiana appointed Robert Reed, to serve as its Staff Ombudsman. Reed works with about 300 employees and continues in his role as Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs.  The university named its first Faculty Ombuds in 2013.  A website for the office went online in July 2014

Staff Ombuds at KU Leuven Defends Role

Joseph Corveleyn, the Staff Ombudsman at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Flanders, Belgium, was interviewed last week by the campus's independent student newspaper. According to the article, witnesses say the KU Ombuds does not actually help staff with work problems. However, instead of presenting any evidence to support this assertion, the piece mostly provides Corvelyn an opportunity to explain his role and dispel misinformation. His best quote provides the article's headline: "The ombudsman is not the sheriff of the university." 

ABA Ombuds Committee Outlines its Goals

The American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution Section Ombuds Committee  has posted a statement to its website that outlines its vision, mission, and goals.  The Committee was reestablished in December 2013 and this is the first clear explanation of its purpose.