The Ombuds Blog: Dalhousie University Announces Restoration of Ombuds Program

April 04, 2016

Dalhousie University Announces Restoration of Ombuds Program

The public university in Halifax announced that it will appoint a full-time Ombudsperson this fall. The move comes in response several recommendations made by a task force investigating the university's handling of a sexual harassment scandal at the dentistry school. According to the announcement, the full-time Ombuds will be independent from student organizations and the university administration and will be overseen by a joint Ombuds Advisory Council.

Dalhousie hopes to hire an individual with a background in conflict resolution/management and experience in university administration and/or procedure. Previously, the Ombuds Office was staffed by students on a part-time basis. That program closed in 2013. (Dal News; CBC.)

Related posts: Dalhousie University Ombuds Hopes to Reverse Declining Caseload; Association of Canadian College and University Ombudspersons Publishes Standards of Practice; ACCUO Chronicles Three Decades of Ombuds in Higher Education; Dental School Scandal Highlights Loss of Ombuds Program at Dalhousie; Task Force Recommends Reinstatement of Ombuds Program at Dalhousie University.

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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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