The Ombuds Blog: MIT Marks Half Century of Mary Rowe's Service

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is celebrating fifty years of service by adjunct professor and former Ombuds, Mary Rowe. In 1973, she became the institute's first "Special Assistant to the President" (a role that evolved into the Ombuds) and coined the term "micro-inequities." She continues to study and write about the profession. (MIT Sloan Newsletter.)

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.

Some other variants include:

Austria -- Ombudsstelle

Brazil -- Ouvidor

Croatia -- pravobranitelji

France -- médiateur/defénseur

Germany -- Ombudspersonen

Italy -- difensore

Netherlands -- ombudspersoon

Norway -- ombudet

Poland -- Rzecznik

Portugal -- provedor

Russia -- омбудсмен

Spain -- ombudsman organizacional

Sweden -- studentombud

Switzerland -- ombudsmann

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December 04, 2023

MIT Marks Half Century of Mary Rowe's Service

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