April 30, 2026

Update: Details Emerge About Closure of Cal Poly Pomona Ombuds Office

New reporting by the student newspaper at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona provides additional detail about the termination of Mark Patterson and the closure of the Office of Conflict Resolution Services and Ombuds, which the university had not previously disclosed. Patterson, who had been appointed in 2025 as the inaugural Director of Conflict Resolution Services and Ombuds, said he was terminated in February during a meeting with senior administrators and was not given a reason for his dismissal as an at-will employee. 

According to the report in the Poly Post, the termination occurred approximately two months before the university’s April announcement that the office had “paused operations.” Patterson told the newspaper there had been no prior indication that the office would be eliminated, and the institution has not publicly clarified the rationale for the decision or whether Ombuds services will be restored. (Poly Post.)
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7 comments:

  1. Anonymous5/01/2026 5:32 AM

    Losing two ombuds jobs in one week has got to sting. Good luck Mark.

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    1. Mark P.5/01/2026 9:00 AM

      Thanks-- makes me feel a little vulnerable with reporting to the highest authority. When that leader changes, you have no protection.

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  2. Anonymous5/01/2026 3:48 PM

    Ombuds should report to legislative bodies, like boards--thus insulating them from the caprice of administrators.

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    1. Anonymous5/02/2026 9:32 AM

      I'm not sure this is the answer. Besides, the CEO needs to be able to trust their ombudsman. College presidents are relentlessly attacked from all sides today.

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    2. Anonymous5/03/2026 11:27 AM

      I wish "need to trust" didn't feel so much like wishing upon a star. I would be glad to talk to anyone about what I did to build a solid program and charter and to be responsive within the boundaries of our SOP, if there is a feeling that I brought this on. When you are building a program within a large compliance-minded institution, "should" may not be enough.

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    3. Mark P.5/03/2026 11:47 AM

      I'm not sure how insulating an ombuds from capricious leadership actions will make a president's job easier. We certainly have an obligation to be part of an organization while still impartial and informal, and to be sensitive as to how we interact with leaders, but I proudly stand behind the work I did to establish this office and how I strove to be responsive to her shifting priorities while still practicing ethically.

      "Needs to trust" feels a lot like wishful thinking. If you believe "relentlessly attacked" the president, you are l mistaken.

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  3. Anonymous5/03/2026 2:01 PM

    I commend Mark for upholding the standards and principles of the office. At the same time, I’m not sure this is the right answer. A CEO or college president needs to be able to trust and rely on their ombudsman as a confidential, impartial advisor.

    While college presidents today may face relentless pressure and criticism from every direction — from students, faculty, alumni, trustees, the public, and the media. In that environment, having an ombudsman who can provide candid guidance, help surface concerns early, and support constructive resolution is essential. Weakening that relationship could ultimately make it harder, not easier, for institutions to navigate conflict effectively while maintaining trust and accountability.

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