Ithaca College Looking at a Different Kind of Ombuds

Members of the Faculty Counsel at the private liberal arts college in central New York have reached some decisions about the role of a new Ombuds position. The plan would create an Ombuds significantly different from the model adopted by the vast majority of U.S. colleges and universities, which have chosen to follow IOA standards. Most significantly, the Ithaca Ombuds would not be a neutral resource and would have oversight over some faculty programs. The current proposal would have the Ombuds be a tenured faulty member, serving on a part-time basis, appointed to a three-year term, and reporting to HR.

According to The Ithican,

The Faculty Council Executive Committee has come to an agreement with La Jerne Cornish, provost and vice president for academic affairs, regarding the faculty mediator position’s intended role in the college community as an advocate for faculty and an intermediary in the tenure and promotion process. The council also received a briefing from William Guerrero, vice president for finance and administration, and approved language changes to the Faculty Handbook.

The faculty ombudsperson must be a tenured faculty member and will serve a three-year term. They must also maintain faculty status, teach a 1/1 load and will report directly to the Division of Human and Legal Resources. There would be a call for nominations and self-nominations, and then there would be a vetting process and a recommendation made to President Shirley M. Collado by the Faculty Council. Collado would make the final decision to select the individual.

The ombudsperson’s responsibilities include addressing faculty concerns about bias; providing reports of bias to the president and provost; offering guidance regarding faculty concerns to different offices; providing counsel to faculty and evaluative bodies in the tenure and promotion process; and providing feedback and mediation for faculty employment–related concerns. The ombudsperson will also oversee faculty mentoring and retention programs and regularly attend Faculty Council meetings. [Emphasis added.]

(The Ithican.)