The Ombuds Blog: MacEwan University Suddenly Closes Ombuds Office

May 01, 2020

MacEwan University Suddenly Closes Ombuds Office

According to multiple Twitter accounts, the public undergraduate university in Edmonton, Alberta, shuttered its Ombuds office on April 30. Cathryn Heslep served as the Student Ombudsperson, serving a population of about 20,000, since establishing the role in May 2016. She had worked at the school in a variety of positions for over three decades. MacEwan has not yet made an official announcement, but has been eliminating positions due to a budget crisis that predated the pandemic. (Twitter @MinnieSherret95, @almcm_; Edmonton Journal.)

Update 5/4/20: Cathryn writes: "Thanks to all of you for you kindness and sharing of expertise. I wish you all well. I do intend to look for ombuds work at some point. Connect with me through Twitter or LinkedIn."

Related posts: ENOHE Publishes Proceedings of Joint Conference with ACCUO; MacEwan University Appoints First Ombuds; Meet MacEwan University's Ombuds.

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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.

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May 01, 2020

MacEwan University Suddenly Closes Ombuds Office

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