Job Posting: Seattle University
The private, Jesuit university in Washington state is hiring its next University Ombudsperson. The role has been significantly restructured since initially established as a part-time position serving faculty in 2013 by C. McKenna Lang. In October 2021, the Ombuds work was subsumed by the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, Natasha Martin. Newly redefined, the Ombuds now will serve faculty and staff as a full-time employee reporting to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
Applicants must have at least a Master’s degree in conflict/dispute resolution, counseling, education, psychology, pre-law, or a related field and relevant work experience. Preferred qualifications include: experience in dispute resolution; experience as an Ombuds in higher ed; experience with establishing a new office; and CO-OP or equivalent. No salary or application deadline indicated. (SU Posting.)
This push towards subsuming ombuds within DEI--an advocacy role--is troubling. Once IOA comes up with office accreditation standards, such reporting relationships should automatically disqualify ombuds programs from accreditation.
ReplyDeleteIsn't a university president also an advocacy role? And should a nascent accreditation program take a stronger stance on supervision than the SOP currently require? Seems like the determination should be function based (i.e., does the position description require advocacy) and not automatic
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