University of California Ombuds Update Systemwide Statement of Best Practices

The University of California Ombuds Offices have released a revised Declaration of Best Practices, replacing the prior version adopted in 2017. The updated guidance applies to Ombuds Offices at all UC campuses and the UC Office of the President. While reaffirming the core principles of independence, confidentiality, impartiality, and informality, the revision adds extensive guidance on Ombuds office structure, reporting relationships, staffing, selection of Ombuds, and conflicts of interest. The document also updates terminology to align with current IOA standards, replacing references to “neutrality” with “impartiality” and reflecting the association's current name. 

European Central Bank Adopts Privacy Policy for its Mediator/Ombuds

The European Central Bank has published a privacy statement for its Mediation/Ombuds Function, the independent service that assists staff in resolving workplace concerns. (Spyridon (Spyros) Antonelos was appointed the inaugural ECB Mediator/Ombuds in 2023.) The statement outlines strict limits on the collection, processing, and retention of personal data. Furthermore, the statement identifies how the IOA Standards of Practice are aligned with EU data protection law. 

University of Amsterdam Formalizes Ombuds Framework

In November 2025, Universiteit van Amsterdam adopted new regulations for its Ombuds, which affirm core principles of independence, impartiality, and confidentiality. Under the framework, the Ombuds has a legal right to information, requiring cooperation from university bodies and access to relevant records, and is empowered to investigate allegations of unjust treatment and systemic social safety issues. The framework aligns with broader European higher education practices, emphasizing a more formal, high-authority Ombuds role focused on institutional accountability and administrative fairness. 

Davis Technical College Unveils Ombuds Program

Davis Tech, a public college in Kaysville, Utah, has created an Ombuds Office to serve its faculty, staff, and about 4,000 enrolled students. Celeste Loyning was appointed as the Ombuds and practices to IOA standards according to a charter adopted in 2025. (The charter says the Ombuds role was created in 2022, but there is no public record of significance before January 2026.) Loyning reports to the Office of the President. 

Canada's Organizational Ombuds Council Document Guides Practice for Federal Ombuds

In July 2020, OOC (Conseil des ombuds organisationnels) issued "Standards of Practice for Organizational Ombuds of the Federal Public Service." These standards are designed to be "consistent with those of the International Ombudsman Association (IOA) and the Coalition of the Federal Ombudsman of the United States to guide the organizational ombuds practice within the Federal Public Service." This document is therefore another crucial, foundational document that supports and defines work of Organizational Ombuds. 

Washington State University Enacts Ombuds Charter

WSU, public university in Pullman has adopted a charter for its Office of the Ombuds. The new document states that the Ombuds will practice to IOA standards and was endorsed by WSU's president and provost, and both ombuds, Justin Denney and Lenka Perkins. Perkins joined the Ombuds office in December 2024 and followed Karen Sanguinet.

Lamar University Adopts Ombuds Charter

The public university in Beaumont, Texas, has adopted an administrative policy that is the functional equivalent of an Ombuds Charter. The new policy, which is endoresed by the president and provost, states that the Faculty and Staff Ombuds will practice to IOA standards. The policy also outlines the internal selection process. Jim Mann was named the first Faculty Ombuds in February 2022, but it does not appear that he is still serving in the role. (Lamar MAPP.)

African Union Adopts Charter for Ombuds Office

The African Union Commission has adopted "Operational Guidelines" for its Ombudsperson and Mediation Services Division. The document was finalized earlier this month and endorsed by the AUC Chairperson, HE Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the inaugural Head of Ombudsman and Mediation Division, Fouad Hendel.

Kent State University's Faculty Ombuds Now Serves Staff

Kent State's Faculty Senate, Provost, and VP of People have approved a charter that extends Ombuds services to all university staff. Shannon Driscoll, who became the inaugural Faculty Ombuds in March 2024, is now the Staff and Faculty Ombuds. (Students are now served exclusively by the longtime Student Ombuds, Amy Quillin.) The updated Ombuds charter reiterates the commitment to IOA standards. (KSU Faculty & Staff Ombuds.)

Journal of IOA: Why Ombuds Need a Charter

A new article in the Journal of the International Ombuds Association explains "What an Ombuds Charter is and Why it Matters." The authors are Chuck Howard (attorney and Ombuds consultant; former Executive Director of IOA, and Chuck Doran, CO-OP (outsourced Ombuds and Executive Director/Founder of MWI). They urge Ombuds to have a comprehensive written document that defines the role and relationship between Ombuds and the organization is serves. The article covers the benefits to all parties.

Providence College Ratifies Ombuds Charter

The President and Faculty Senate of the private Catholic university in Rhode Island has endorsed and published a Charter for its new Faculty Ombuds office. The document defines and protects the Ombuds program established by Marguerite M. Dorn in June 2024 and adopts IOA standards or practice without exceptions. (Providence Ombuds Charter.)

Bowdoin College Signs Ombuds Charter

Earlier this week, the President of the private liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine endorsed a charter for its Ombuds Office. The document defines and protects the program established by Jacqueline M. Reese since her appointment in 2023. The charter adopts IOA standards of practice with no exceptions.

University of Southern Mississippi Names First Faculty Ombuds

Earlier this summer, Andrew Haley was appointed the inaugural Faculty Ombud for the a public university in Hattiesburg. He will serve about 1,000 academic staff and report to the USM President. A charter ensures that the Ombuds practices to IOA standards. Haley is an Associate Professor in the School of Humanities and has been a member of the USM faculty since 2005. 

Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution Names First Ombuds

Francisco ("Paco") Zapater has been appointed the first Ombudsperson for IPHES (Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social), the transdisciplinary research institution in Catalonia, Spain. In this new role, he will serve as a resource for IPHES staff, including affiliated employees of the Research Centers of Catalonia (CERCA, Centres de Recerca de Catalunya). Regulations adopted in 2022 state that the Ombuds "will act with complete discretion and be guided by the principles of neutrality, independence, and confidentiality, with more auctoritas than power, more justice than right, and more humanism than bureaucracy." 

OCP Group Creates External Ombuds

The state-owned, Morocco-based, global conglomerate phosphate producer (formerly Office Chérifien des Phosphates) has established an Ombuds program to serve its customers, partners, NGO, and suppliers. The OCP Group Ombudsman is defined by a Operating Charter that adopts IOA standards without significant exceptions. The staff of the program, however, are not identified. (OCP Group Ombuds.)

University of Massachusetts Boston Adopts Ombuds Charter

UMass Boston has adopted a charter for its Office of Ombuds Services, which was established by Martha Nelson Patrick, CO-OP , in June 2023. The charter assures that the office will practice entirely to IOA standards, including complete confidentiality and access to outside counsel. (UMB OO Charter.)

Kent State University Appoints Faculty Ombuds, Adopts Charter

After an 11-month search, Shannon Driscoll was selected as the first Faculty Ombuds for the public research university in Ohio. She joins an existing Student Ombuds, Amy Quillin, and will serve the university's 2,700 faculty members. Kent State also adopted a charter for the program. According to the independent campus newspaper, Kent Wired, the Ombuds will be required to report Title IX matters.

Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance Announces Ombuds Program

CSIA, an association of more than twenty thousand professional skiers in Canada, has named its first-ever Ombuds: Julie Boncompain and Brent Epperson. Together, they will provide services for CSIA members with concerns and complaints related to the association's policies, rules, and procedures. A document setting out the "Function and description of the Ombuds Office" ensures that Boncompain and Epperson will practice to IOA standards. 

Wichita State University Seeks Internal Ombuds, Begins Work on Charter

Wichita State created a Faculty Senate Ombudsperson program in 2018 to serve about 520 academic staff at the public university in Kansas. Four faculty serve four-year, staggered terms. The current Ombuds are Carolyn Shaw (Professor of Political Science), Mehmet Barut (Professor of Finance, Real Estate and Decision Sciences), and Bayram Yildirim (Professor of Industrial, Systems and Manufacturing Engineering). Shaw, who also coordinates the Ombuds program has proposed a Charter, that would codify the program and ensure compliance with IOA standards.

COFO Updates Governance Structures

This week, the Coalition of Federal Ombudsman dramatically revised its governing documents, which included an updated name. A redrafted Charter serves as the primary governing document of the organization and, for the first time, creates an Executive Committee Charter to more clearly delineate leadership roles and responsibilities in the coalition. As part of the update, COFO also changed its name to “Coalition of Federal Ombuds.”