IOA Announces First Cohort of Certified Programs

The International Ombuds Association has announced that five Ombuds offices have been certified under its new Program Certification initiative. According to IOA, the offices completed a rigorous review and evaluation process demonstrating alignment with IOA Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics, organizational integrity, and professional competency.

The newly certified offices are:

IOA Rolls Out Office Certification Program

The International Ombuds Association has announced a new Certification Program for Ombuds Programs and Offices, expanding its professionalization scheme beyond individual practitioners. The initiative will allow Ombuds offices to demonstrate alignment with IOA Standards of Practice, Code of Ethics, and recognized best practices through a formal review and assessment process.

ENOHE Announces Agenda for 20th Annual Conference

The European Network of Ombuds in Higher Education has announced details for its 20th annual conference at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam on June 4-6, 2025. The theme is "Building Bridges: Equity, Responsibility, and the Ombuds’ Vision for the Future, Inspired by 750 Years of Amsterdam." Three dozen speakers from 13 different countries will offer insights based on professional experiences building and running Ombuds programs for universities and countries.

IOA Commits to Certification Changes in 2025

The International Ombuds Association will make significant changes to its certification process, introducing a new program accreditation while retooling individual certification. These updates aim to make certification more accessible, inclusive, and reflective of the Ombuds profession's evolving needs. Applications for Program Certification will open in June 2025, focusing on environmental compliance with IOA Standards of Practice. 

Job Posting: Texas Southern University

The public HBCU in Houston has opened a search for a full-time Ombuds Officer. The position will report to the Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and serve faculty, staff, and students, a total population of over 10,000. Previously, TSU had only a Student Ombudsman (and it is not clear who served in the role). The position will practice to IOA standards. 

IOA Announces New CO-OP Board Members and Progress on Program Certification

Last week, the International Ombuds Association shared news about its certification program. First off, the Board of Certification for Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioners has new members. The volunteer Board is the certifying body authorized to award the CO-OP credential. Board members serve three year terms. The current CO-OP directors and officers are:

Ombuds at University of Tennessee Posts Annual Report

UTK Campus Ombudsperson, Lisa Yamagata-Lynch, and Associate Ombudsperson, Brooke Wichmann, have released their annual report for the 2022 fiscal year. In total, the UTK Office of the Ombuds handled 505 visitors, an increase of 26% over the prior year. The detailed, 26-page report also highlighted: day-to-day operations; operational growth; efforts in meeting the Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practitioner Requirements; strategies for addressing prior year recommendations; and operational success indicators. (UTK Ombuds 2022 Report.)

Coalition of Federal Ombudsman Posts Agenda and Registration for 2022 Conference

COFO has opened registration for is 2022 annual conference, “Practice in the Modern World,” which will be held (now only virtually) from 9 am – 5 pm EDT on Friday, October 14, 2022. As usual, the conference is free and open to all. The agenda is primarily aimed at federal Ombuds practitioners of all models, but includes information and sessions which may be of interest to Ombuds and ADR practitioners anywhere, as well as those interested in other fields.

The CO-OP Recertification Committee has preapproved the conference for a total of 4.5 Professional Development Hours (PDH). David Schwartz’s presentation accounts for 0.5 PDH, with the other four presentations accounting for 1.0 PDH each.

Job Posting: Southern Methodist University

The private university in Dallas, Texas is seeking its first University Ombudsperson. The new position will serve faculty, staff, and more than 12,000 students practicing to IOA standards. The Ombuds will report to the Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Advisor to the University President for Cultural Intelligence Initiatives, Maria Dixon Hall, who championed the idea of an Ombuds when she was promoted to the position in August 2020. 

Job Posting: University of Northern Colorado

The public university in Greeley has opened a search for its first University Ombudsperson. The full-time position will report to UNC's President and serve only faculty and staff. (The university's division of student affairs is considering a separate Ombuds for the 12,000 students.) The University Ombuds is expected to practice to IOA standards. 

Job Posting: Duke University

The private university in Durham, North Carolina is hiring a Student Ombudsperson. Last fall, a Hate and Bias Working Group recommended that Duke hire two full-time Student Ombuds, practicing to IOA standards. However, it is not clear whether the search will supplement or replace any of the four current part-time Ombuds.

Job Posting: Salk Institute for Biological Studies

The scientific research institute located north of San Diego, California, is hiring its first Ombudsperson. The part-time position will work with all faculty, staff, postdoctoral trainees and students with academic and/or administrative issues and disputes. The Ombuds will report to Office of the Chief Science Officer and practice to IOA standards. 

2020 Year in Review: Courage and Crises

In 2020, Ombuds were challenged by the health care crises triggered by the coronavirus pandemic and the growing awareness of systemic racism and inequities. While these two problems were most profound in the U.S., they were certainly felt in other countries as well. On top of these issues, three Ombuds programs were dragged into the spotlight during conflicts within their organizations. 

Job Posting: HHMI Janelia Research Campus

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute research campus in Loudoun County, Virginia, is hiring its first Ombudsperson. The new full-time position will serve about 500 employees at the lab and practice to IOA standards.

Job Posting: Carnegie Mellon University

The private research university in Pittsburgh, PA is hiring a Staff Ombudsperson which will be part of HR. The position "will serve as a designated neutral or impartial dispute resolution practitioner whose major function is to provide confidential and informal assistance to CMU staff members and staff supervisors." This appears to be a new role at Carnegie Mellon (graduate students in some science departments are served by faculty, senior staff, or students volunteering as Ombuds, and there are multiple references in CMU policy to a "University Ombudsperson," but there is no dedicated person and any active links redirect to a external ethics reporting hotline.) The new Ombuds will be expected to create and manage an Ombuds Community of Practice to develop IOA-based standards for other Ombuds at the university.

IOA Names Board Officers for 2020

The International Ombudsman Association Board of Directors has announced its officers for 2020-21. All but one, were officers last year. Steve Prevaux, Ombuds Officer for the University of South Florida System, is new to the executive group. Also notable is the fact that three of five officers are Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practitioners.

Job Posting: Montgomery College

The public community college in Rockville, Maryland has opened a search for its next Ombuds for Employees. The office has been on hiatus for the past couple months since the departure of Julie Schwartz Weber, who had served as the MC Ombuds since July 2016. The position provides confidential and informal assistance to the College’s 3,000 administrators, faculty, and staff. 

IOA Announces New Certification Categories

The Board of Certification of Organizational Ombudsman Practitioners has announced broader credentialing categories designed to make the program more accessible to Ombuds and aspiring Ombuds. After input from IOA's members, the CO-OP Board created two new levels: 

University of California Berkeley Promotes Staff Ombuds

The UC Berkeley Staff Ombuds Office has confirmed Júlia Horváth, CO-OP, as Associate Ombudsperson. She was promoted to the position after serving as Assistant Ombudsperson from 2016 - 2017 and as Interim Associate Ombudsperson in 2018.  

Job Posting: Frederick County Public Schools

The public school system in Maryland has opened a search for its first Ombuds. The position will be, "an independent, neutral entity to facilitate processes by which the Board of Education’s policies and FCPS regulations are implemented with fidelity, equity and consistency across the school system." It is expected to comply with IOA standards.