Meet the Ombuds at Principia College

The private liberal arts college in Elsah, Illinois has had a Student Ombudsman for three and a half years. Kristin Halsey, who also serves as the New Student Advising Coordinator/Academic and Career Advisor, works with a student body of about 480. According to an article in the campus newsletter, the Ombuds program was started in the 1990s. 

Halsey reports that she has handled fewer than 20 cases during her tenure. Halsey explained her role: “[The process is] completely confidential, so they can feel free to talk about anything, and it doesn’t go anywhere outside this office unless that person says, ‘Okay, let's go to the next step,’ which is typically having a meeting with the person with whom they have a grievance and me, to hear both sides and hopefully work to a resolution.” Halsey graduated from Principia and earned a teaching credential and MS in education from Dominican University of California. (Principia Pilot; Principia Ombuds; LinkedIn.)