Job Posting: Grambling State University

The public university in Louisiana is hiring its first "Student Ombudsman." (Jazmine Cherry has held the position on an interim basis for a few months. ) The job description is not, unfortunately, consistent with the prevailing professional standards or the predominant practices for Organizational Ombuds in higher education.

Cal Caucus Seeks Proposals for 45th Meeting

The California Caucus of College and University Ombuds is soliciting session proposals for its 2018 conference on November 4-7, 2018 at the Asolimar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove. The theme for the 45th annual gathering is "Honoring Our Past to Engage with Our Future."

Edwin Lewis: Former Ombuds at Iowa State

Edwin Lewis, who served as Staff Ombuds during a pilot program for the office in 2006-08, passed away earlier this week. Lewis was a longtime faculty member and administrator at Iowa State University. He was fellow of the American Psychological Association and certified mediator, and served on the boards of many non-profit organizations. A funeral service will be held this afternoon in Minneapolis. (Inside Iowa State.)

Job Posting: Rochester Institute of Technology

The private university in Upstate New York has opened a search for its next University Ombudsperson--a position held by Lee Twyman for nearly 15 years. The RIT Ombuds practices to IOA standards and serves over 24,000 students, faculty, staff, and administrators. The position also oversees an Associate Ombuds, who has not yet been hired.

Elon University Appoints a Staff Ombuds

The private university in North Carolina has named Stephanie Page as its first Staff Ombudsperson. The university has had a Faculty Ombudsperson since late 2007. Page has been Associate Director of HR at Elon since 2000. Notably, while the Faculty Ombuds explicitly practices to IOA standards, the Staff Ombuds does not. 

American Historical Society to Create Ombuds Program

The largest professional association for historians will be implementing an Ombuds program to serve its members. In an announcement released yesterday, AHA President Mary Beth Norton announced a number of changes to address sexual and gender discrimination in the profession. The appointment of an Ombuds team was one of several steps she identified.

Metropolitan State University Denver Names Ombuds

The public university in Colorado has hired Barbara Beatty as its next Ombuds Officer. She fills a position held by G. Michael Kilpatrick, who opened the office in 2013. “We’re excited about hiring Barbara,” said Myron Anderson, associate to the president for diversity and hiring authority. “She brings substantial experience as a mediator and has an extensive conflict resolution background. She also has a proven experience as a University ombuds.” 

Job Posting: Kungl Konsthögskolan (KKH), Sweden

The Royal Institute of Art (also known as the Royal University College of Fine Arts) in Stockholm is hiring its first Studentombudsman. The part-time position will serve a student body of about 230. In addition to start up activities, the position is expected to serve as an alternate member of the Working Environment Council and the Equal Opportunities Council and work closely with the KKH Student Union. 

Job Posting: African Development Bank Group

The multilateral development finance institution based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire has opened a search for a Second Ombudsman. This new position in the AfDB Office of Ombudsman and Mediator reports to the Ombudsman, Alisand Singogo, and provides impartial, confidential, independent and informal assistance to staff with workplace grievances and complaints. Some travel to country offices is required.

Norfolk State University Names Ombuds

NSU has appointed Erick S. Cage as University Ombudsman, succeeding Clementine Cone  who opened the office in 2017. The scope of the program has been narrowed and Ombuds services are now available only to faculty and staff, and no longer students.  Cage also serves as Executive Advisor to the President and Board of Visitors for Policy and Compliance,  providing senior policy counsel on a wide range of issues impacting higher education administration and governance including compliance. The Ombuds program still ostensibly practices to IOA standards.

February 2018 ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Newsletter Features Ombuds

The Ombuds Committee has sponsored the latest edition of the ABA DRS Just Resolutions newsletter. An introduction by Ombuds Committee Chair provides this introduction, "This issue of Just Resolutions also highlights our Committee’s progress in ensuring that ombuds programs have the ability to operate in accordance with appropriate standards."

IOA Seeks Nominations for 2017 Distinguished Emeriti Ombuds

The International Ombudsman Association is soliciting nominations for the Distinguished Emeritus Award. Each year the IOA Nominations and Governance Committee solicits nominations to recognize outstanding and dedicated service to the organization and Ombuds profession. 

Norwegian Legislature to Consider Mandating Student Ombuds for All Universities

A committee of the Storting (Norway's supreme legislature) has approved a proposal to mandate Studentombud for all universities in the country. At present, ten universities provide Student Ombuds programs, which serve about two-thirds of all university students. 

IOA Announces New Board Members for 2018

The International Ombudsman Association has announced the results of the annual election for its 2018 Board of Directors. Beginning April 24, following the Annual Business Meeting, seven new directors will join the IOA Board. The following individuals were elected to three-year terms:

Job Posting: Transportation Security Administration

The TSA's Ombudsman Division (part of the Civil Liberties, Ombudsman and Traveler Engagement Office) is hiring a full-time Ombudsman Specialist.  The position serves internal and external stakeholders and about 25% travel is required. The position is open to current and former permanent Federal employees and veterans.

Job Posting: Syracuse University

The private university in Upstate New York has opened a search for its first permanent Ombuds. (Samuel Clemence was recently appointed to the position on an interim basis.) The full-time position will report to the university chancellor and be charged with establishing an office for faculty, staff, and graduate students according to IOA standards.

Syracuse University Unveils Ombuds Program

Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud has appointed Samuel Clemence as the university's first Ombuds. Clemence is a professor emeritus of civil and environmental engineering and will serve in an interim capacity until a search committee identifies a permanent Ombuds. Several campus groups have advocated for the creation of an Ombuds program over the past several years. The new Ombuds office already has a charter agreement that adopts and incorporates IOA standards.

Baker Hughes Shutters Ombuds Office

Reliable sources are reporting that the oilfield services company in Houston has closed its Organizational Ombuds Office (known as "o3"). The closure came about six months after Baker Hughes was acquired by General Electric Co., which has an "Ombudsman Process" that functions like an audit department. The Baker Hughes o3 office opened in 2012 and its Ombuds--Melanie (Lewis) Jagneaux and Bonnie Bonnivier--quickly became engaged in professional activities as speakers and leaders.

Michigan State University Posts History of Ombuds Office

MSU has published materials from its archives to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its Office of the University Ombudsperson.  The primary source materials document the appointment of every university Ombuds from 1968 to the present and explain their evolving role on the campus. 

Here's an excerpt from the history:

CU Boulder Hosts Colorado Ombuds

The Colorado Ombuds Group gathered for its Winter 2018 meeting on Friday, January 26, 2018 at the University of Colorado Boulder. Here's a summary provided by Liz Hill, one of the organizers:

Job Posting: Office of Attorney General of Texas

The Texas OAG is hiring its first an Employee Ombudsman. The full-time position is based in Austin and "performs highly advanced (senior-level) conflict management and dispute resolution work" for 4,000 employees throughout the state. 

Cornell University Ombuds Post 2017 Annual Report

Cornell University Ombudsman Charles Walcott and Ombuds Office Director Linda Falkson said that their office assisted 306 visitors in the 2016-17 academic year. They reported an increase in the number of non-academic employees visiting the office and a decrease in the number of academic employees and undergraduate students. The total number of visitors was down slightly from the prior year and below the ten-year average.  (Cornell Ombuds 2017 Report.)

Job Posting: United Nations, New York

The United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services is hiring a Conflict Resolution Officer for a temporary position. The appointment will be for six months and may be extended. The position will provide Ombuds and other conflict resolution services to UN headquarters staff in New York, but some travel may be required. 

Call for Proposals: ACCUO-ENOHE Joint 2018 Conference

The Conference Planning Committee of the ENOHE-ACCUO Joint Conference 2018 is now calling for proposals for presentations (including papers, workshops and roundtables). The conference is set for June 6-8, 2018 at the University of Edinburgh and is titled "Resolving Conflicts on Campus: Strategies for Enhanced Policies and Effective Operations." Workshops are sought on the general conference themes or sub-themes in English, French, or Spanish.

San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Names Experienced Ombuds

After a protracted national search, the American Indian tribe in California's Inland Empire has hired Jen G. Sims as its Ombuds. In the role, which has been vacant for about three years, Sims will serve all employees of the Tribe from an off-site office in Redlands. “While conflicts do occur from time to time, these conflicts can provide opportunities for positive change, learning, and professional development,” she said. I look forward to being of service to the employees of San Manuel, and I am happy to be back in Southern California.” 

Internship: UNICEF, New York

The United Nations Office of the Ombudsman and Mediation Services is seeking an intern for UNICEF (as well as UNDP, UNFPA, UNOPS, and UN Women) in New York City.  The full-time, paid internship will last six months and offers the opportunity to support the office's mediation training, outreach, and advocacy.

IOA Pre-Conference Training in Richmond Appeals to Range of ADR Professionals

The pre-conference training programs offered by the International Ombudsman Association in April 2018 is designed to be relevant for a variety of professionals working in alternative dispute resolution. Eight of the nine courses are open to the public and are not limited to Ombuds or conference attendees. (A new core course is open only to people who have completed IOA's Foundations.) The programs include:

World Health Organization Ombuds Says Dysfunctional Management is Impacting Mission

Last week, the Ombudsman for the international public health agency told leadership that managers lack the interpersonal skills required for effective team communications, constructive conversations about performance, and conflict resolution. The report was published by Devex, a media platform for the global development community. According to the report, the Ombuds told WHO's executive board about a number of cases of “dysfunctional” relationships between managers and staff across the three country, regional, and headquarters levels of the organization. 

University of North Carolina School of the Arts Names First Ombuds

Joshua Canzona has been appointed the first University Ombuds for the UNC campus and public arts conservatory in Winston-Salem.  Canzona practices to IOA standards and serves nearly 2,000 faculty, staff, and administrators. He started in July 2017.

2018 ABA Dispute Resolution Conference Includes Just One Ombuds Panel

The American Bar Association's Section of Dispute Resolution Annual Spring Conference will feature just one session about Organizational Ombuds. In years past, there often have been four sessions featuring Ombuds. In addition to the single panel, there will be a networking meeting for Ombuds. The conference takes place in Washington, DC, April 4-7.

Job Posting: World Bank Group

The international financial institution is hiring a Program Analyst to work for its Ombuds Services and the Respectful Workplace Advisors Program. The full-time position reports directly to the WBG Ombudsman in Washington, DC, Axel Peuker. The primary role is to provide technical expertise related to workplace conflict resolution and the Ombuds practice, including conducting research, analysis, and developing approaches for effective conflict resolution.

Job Posting: United Nations, Uganda

The United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services is hiring a Conflict Resolution Officer to be based in Entebbe.  The position will provide Ombuds and conflict resolution services to UN staff "in the UN peacekeeping missions in Sudan, South Sudan, the border between these two countries and some other missions in the region."

Updated Job Posting: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

UNC's search for its next University Ombuds has been updated. Applications are now due by February 22, 2018 (previously it was February 8) and the expected start date is June 4, 2018 (previously it was March 1). These changes should dispel any implication that the search is perfunctory and that an internal candidate has been pre-selected.

California Legislature Hears Testimony on Role of Ombuds in Sexual Misconduct Matters

Last week, as part of its on-going effort to respond to allegations of sexual misconduct in the state capital, a joint subcommittee of the California legislature heard about how the Ombuds programs work at the University of California.