IOA Lobbies U.S. Department of Education for Recognition of Ombuds

Ellen Miller, the Executive Director of the International Ombuds Association, reports on a meeting with federal regulators that could have significant effects on the work of Ombuds in public schools, colleges, and universities. This week, Miller and IOA's Advocacy Committee met with administrators from the Office of Management and Budget and Department of Education to explain why Ombuds should be exempt from mandatory reporting duties under Title IX. Along with Miller, IOA was represented by committee co-chairs, Mark Patterson (CSU Channel Islands) and Sarah Klaper (Northwestern). A response could come as early as this summer.

Miller provided this summary for the IOA Independent Voice:

IOA secured a Listening Meeting on 17 May 2022 with representatives of the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB)/Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), and the US Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (ED/OCR). The meeting, known as an EO 12866 meeting, provides an opportunity for stakeholders to meet with US federal agencies prior to the release of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR). This meeting was held in anticipation of a NOPR for US Title IX changes. Ellen Miller, IOA Executive Director along with Sarah Klaper and Mark Patterson, IOA Board Members and Co-Chairs of the Advocacy Committee, covered the following with a group of six officials:

Explained the role of organizational ombuds in the US campus safety landscape and illuminated what a typical visit looks like for someone who has experienced or been accused of a Title IX issue.

Provided insight as to why organizational ombuds should not be classified as officials with authority to institute corrective measures for compliance with Title IX.

Emphasized the importance of allowing campus leaders to designate organizational ombuds who practice to industry standards to be confidential resources, supportive of the purposes of Title IX and the needs of their respective constituencies.

We expect the NOPR to be issued sometime this summer. IOA has already convened the Government and Policy Committee (GPC)—now called the IOA Advocacy Committee—to assist.

If you are interested in the work of the committee or would like to learn more, please reach out to Ellen Miller via email at emiller@ombudsassociation.org.

(Independent Voice [internal links omitted].)

Related posts: IOA Posts Recommendations on Updated Title IX Regulations; IOA Selects New Executive Director.