The Ombuds Blog: Oberlin College Honors its Retiring Ombuds

November 09, 2015

Oberlin College Honors its Retiring Ombuds

After 35 years of service to the private liberal arts college, Yeworkwha Belachew ("YB") retired from her position as Ombudsperson in October. Among her celebrated achievement, was establishing, nurturing, and guiding the Oberlin College Dialogue Center, which taught and provided dispute resolution services.

At her retirement celebration, the College renamed the Center as the Yeworkwha Belachew Center for Dialogue at Oberlin College. In addition, a new award was created in her name that will be given annually to an exemplary employee. YB will be the first recipient and will receive the award at the annual staff awards dinner in April 2016. A search is underway for the next Oberlin Ombuds.(Oberlin OnCampus.)

Related posts: "Multipartiality" a Key Principle for Oberlin Ombuds; Outside Reviewers Recommend Ombuds for Grinnell College; Interview of Oberlin Ombuds; Job Posting.

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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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