The Ombuds Blog: Midwestern University Appoints First Ombuds

September 30, 2015

Midwestern University Appoints First Ombuds

The graduate and professional health sciences school has named Karen D. Johnson to be its first University Ombudsperson. According to a brief announcement, she will "respond to inquiries from students and other institutional stakeholders regarding the University's policies and practices." The university has campuses in Downers Grove, IL, and Glendale, AZ, and enrolls about 5,500 students in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, dental medicine, optometry, veterinary medicine, and the health sciences.

Previously, Johnson was Vice President of University Relations. She gradauted from the College of Wooster and earned an MA from Northwestern University and a PhD in Higher Education Administration from Loyola University Chicago. (MU News; MU Profile.)

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Organizational Ombuds

Organizational Ombuds serve as a confidential, independent, neutral and informal dispute resolution resource for a specific entity. They are accessible to a defined population and can advocate for fairness. These unique characteristics distinguish Organizational Ombuds from Classical Ombuds, mediators, arbitrators, and other alternative dispute resolution professionals. The term "Ombuds" is shorthand for "Ombudsman," "Ombudsperson" and "Ombuds Officer," which also are used widely.

Some other variants include:

Austria -- Ombudsstelle

Brazil -- Ouvidor

Croatia -- pravobranitelji

France -- médiateur/defénseur

Germany -- Ombudspersonen

Italy -- difensore

Netherlands -- ombudspersoon

Norway -- ombudet

Poland -- Rzecznik

Portugal -- provedor

Russia -- омбудсмен

Spain -- ombudsman organizacional

Sweden -- studentombud

Switzerland -- ombudsmann

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September 30, 2015

Midwestern University Appoints First Ombuds

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