JIOA Article Surveys Ombuds Programs in Professional Associations

Over the past few years, on of the most significant areas of growth in the Ombuds profession has been the creation of programs by professional associations in North America. The latest article in the peer-reviewed Journal of the International Ombudsman Association looks at the range of these programs and finds some patterns in the motivations for and types of Ombuds programs. "Assessing the Establishment of Ombuds Offices in Professional Academic Research Associations," was written by Shannon Lynn Burton and Carol Mershon, who have both served as Ombuds for professional associations. 

Here is the abstract of the article:

This article proposes that professional research associations adopt the office of an ombudsperson. We depict the history and role of the ombuds as it relates to harassment and discrimination concerns. We discuss the impetus for the establishment of ombuds resources in a range of professional research associations and look at the models to date for such ombuds offices. We highlight the benefits of the ombuds resource for professional research associations and suggest how such benefits might be maximized. We close by exploring the broader implications of the trends seen in the creation of ombuds offices in professional research associations.

(JIOA.)

Related posts: Ombuds Year in Review: 2017 (#2, "Special Interest Groups Begin Appointing Ombuds to Protect Members"); American Political Science Association Launches Ombuds Program; Michigan State University Promotes Assistant Ombuds; Ombuds as Part of a Social Justice Framework for Associations; American Educational Research Association Creates Ombuds Program for Annual Conference.