Update: Iowa State University Grad Student Senate Objects to Ombuds Office Changes

The ISU Graduate and Professional Student Senate voted unanimously in favor a a censure in response to announced changes in amid the changes to the Ombuds Office. Last week, ISU announced that the University Ombuds Officer was retiring and Ombuds services would be provided on an interim basis remotely by Boston-based dispute resolution firm MWI. 

The Graduate and Professional Student Senate said that it was not notified or consulted on the restructuring of the Ombuds Office and learned of the changes only “through edits quietly and surreptitiously made to the Ombuds Office website.” (The ISU Ombuds provides services to graduate students, professional students, postdocs, professional and scientific staff, merit staff, and faculty.) The Senate also objected to reporting line change of the Ombuds from the University President to the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost. (Iowa State Daily.)

Related posts: Regional ACR Program Features MIT and Berklee Music Ombuds; Iowa State University Names Next Ombuds; Iowa State University Ombuds Profiled; Think Piece on How Ombuds Refer to Parties in Sexual Misconduct Cases; Iowa State University Ombuds to Retire, MWI to Provide Interim Services.