Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Closes Ombuds Office
The flagship campus of the California Polytechnic State University System will close its Office of Student Ombuds Services on October 6, 2025. Patricia Ponce established the program in 2010 and has served the study body of 21,000 students singlehandedly since then. An email from Cal Poly SLO's Chief of Staff explained, “The university has introduced a variety of new programs that fulfill similar functions. By consolidating these offerings, we aim to provide clearer pathways for students seeking assistance and ensure a more unified approach to addressing concerns.” Ponce is expected to move to a new position in University Housing. (Mustang News; Reddit.)
The whole "we have other offices that can do that work" mantra, seen elsewhere, points to a fundamental failure of IOA and the profession writ large to clearly spell out what ombuds work is.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious what specific criticism you have that's relevant to this situation.
DeleteI'm sorry to hear for the Cal Poly student community (and for Patricia Ponce) about the closing of the Ombuds Office. Though I'm sure there are "a variety of new programs that fulfill similar functions" as the Ombuds Office, the reality is that students are able to have conversations in Ombuds Offices unlike any other place on campus because of the impartiality & confidentiality of those conversations. Especially during these volatile times where students are afraid of voicing their views, or need help communicating in a more effective and influential way, whether left or right (or neither) students from all walks of life have always had a haven in the Ombuds office to speak freely. I have seen other institutions express similar views about the belief that the Ombuds services are duplicative and so closed the program only to later regret the decision once they understand what is now missing and then need to bring back the Ombuds program. For the sake of the students, and Cal Poly SLO, and the freedom of voice for their community, I hope the university reviews their decision.
ReplyDeleteThe university says it "has introduced a variety of new programs that fulfil similar functions." We have seen similar language elsewhere. This belief is a function of insufficient defining of ombuds work in the minds of administrators. One would never see an administrator say "we are closing the accounting department because we have created other offices to fulfil that function." The only REAL mouthpiece the profession has is IOA. Hence it needs to be better at defining ombuds work and championing ombuds work in such a way it is imposibke for administrators to even conceive of other offices doing that work.
ReplyDeleteI viewed part of my role as Ombuds as Educative. I did a presentation called How not to see me and met with Dean's and did presentations as requested
ReplyDeleteMy MA The role of Ombuds in Higher Ed describes a comprehensive approach
You only have as much value as you create
Exactly! Reese nailed the point made by the first poster.
ReplyDelete@Duncan. I agree with the need to do this work. Still, why is it necessary? Nobody questions the need for HR, accounting, and a host of other offices. What is it about ombuds work that imposes this burden?
ReplyDeleteGreat last question. This may help address this issue. What is it about Ombuds work that imposes a burden on the Ombuds to continually explain the value of their role?
DeleteIt isn’t a compliance function, meaning it is a nice to have.
DeleteI looked at it as an opportunity not a burden to go out and present and connect and put a human face on an important office.
ReplyDeleteMost of us likely share your perspective. That said, there is an institutional burden to prove worth. When the head of HR leaves, nobody says well it was nice to have that function but we'll close the office and let the folks in accounting provide a similar set of services.
DeleteFacts
DeleteIt should also be noted that some Sped Ed Ombuds K-12 departments closed as well.
ReplyDelete