Ombuds at University of Pennsylvania Now a Confidential Resource for Title IX

According to a report from a faculty senate committee at UPenn, "the Office of the Ombudsman will be a confidential resource for the reporting of sexual violence and harassment by faculty." Ombudsman Lynn Lees and Associate Ombudsman Marcia Martínez-Helfman join nine other campus resources (including student counseling, EAP, chaplains, and student health), specifically exempted from the mandatory reporting requirements of Title IX and the Clery Act. 

The policy change apparently revealed the true nature of the Ombuds role and an misunderstanding among some members of the faculty senate, who had mistakenly believed that the Ombuds was a stronger advocate for faculty issues. The faculty senate, therefore, is continuing its conversations with the Ombuds Office and considering a proposal for a Faculty Advocate. (UPenn Faculty Senate 2015-16 Report; Proposed Sexual Violence Policy; IOA Independent Voice.)

Related posts: University of Pennsylvania Ombuds Issues Annual Report; University of Pennsylvania Ombuds Recommends Program Update; University of Pennsylvania Ombuds Posts Annual Report, Reiterates Need for Changes to Program;  UPenn Ombuds Publishes 2013 Annual Report; UPenn Announces New Ombuds; Ombuds at University of Pennsylvania Publishes 2015 Report; Profile of University of Pennsylvania Ombuds.

Related: Other Ombuds Blog posts related to Title IX, especially IOA Compiles Title IX Resources.