IOA Board Elects 2025 Leadership

The Board of Directors for the International Ombuds Association has announced the election of its officers for the 2025 term. All are long-time volunteers and professional Ombuds. The IOA Board meets at least monthly, with more meetings for the executive leadership.

IOA Bestows 2025 President's Awards

Last week, the International Ombuds Association Board President, Sarah Klaper, announced the 2025 President’s Award. The recipients were:

Midwest Political Science Association Adds an Ombuds

Sarah Klaper will join Tyler Smith as the Conference Ombuds for political science association's annual conference in Chicago, April 2-6, 2025. Klaper is the University Ombuds for Northwestern University and the current IOA Board President. (MPSA Conf Info.)

IOA Posts Agenda for 2025 Annual Conference in Florida

The International Ombuds Association has opened registration for its 20th annual conference. The event is set for April 7-9, 2025 in Miami, Florida at the Hilton Miami Downtown. The conference is preceded by three days of training session. Registration is now open and IO has published the tentative conference agenda:

SAP to Host European Ombuds Conference

The European Group of Ombuds and Mediation Representatives will gather at SAP's headquarter in Walldorf, Germany, next week for their annual conference. The annual, three-day event for professionals from large European and international organizations offers an opportunity to come together, share best practices, and collaborate on the evolving role of Ombuds in today’s world.

US News & World Report: "What Students Should Know About College Ombuds"

The media company known for its influential ranking of colleges and graduate schools, has published an article explaining the role of campus Ombuds. The piece includes sections on: History of Ombuds Offices; What an Ombuds Does; How an Ombuds Helps; When To Use Ombuds; When Not to Use Ombuds; Issues Brought to Ombuds; and Resolution That Can Be Expected.

Chevron Ombuds to Speak at International Ombud Expo 2024 in Botswana

Sana Manjeshwar, the Global Ombuds Manager for Chevron, will be a featured speaker at the International Ombud Expo 2024 this week in Botswana. She present virtually with Ombuds from other sectors on “Advancing the Role and Impact of the Organizational Ombuds in Africa.” Also, the International Ombuds Association has stepped up as a sponsor for the conference. (LinkedIn; International Ombud Expo.)

Northwestern University Adds an Associate Ombuds

Kamaria B. Porter has been hired as the first Associate Ombudsperson for the private research university north of Chicago. She will expand Northwestern's Office of the Ombudsperson and report directly to the University Ombuds, Sarah Klaper. Porter is expected to provide Ombuds services to faculty, staff, and students following IOA standards.

Cal Caucus Releases Agenda for 2024 Conclave

Registration is now open for the 51st California Caucus of College and University Ombuds. Set for November 10-13 at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, the theme will be “Piloting Stormy Seas to Safe Waters.” Unlike most professional conferences, attendees eat meals and participate in all sessions together. The event has sold out quickly in recent years.

NACUA Hosts Ombuds Session at 2024 Conference

Shannon Burton will speak at the 2024 conference of the National Association of College and University Attorneys, the influential professional association of attorneys working in higher education. This is just the third time that NACUA has heard from a University Ombuds and the first conference session. (In May 2023, Jessica Kuchta-Miller, Ellen Miller, and Steve Prevaux gave a webinar, and in June 2023, Sarah Klaper and Chinyere Ukabiala represented IOA at NACUA's annual meeting.) Burton, the University Ombudsperson at Michigan State University, will speak at the conference in Columbus, Ohio later this month.

IOA Announces 2024 Honorees

At its annual conference last month, the International Ombuds Association announced its 2024 Trailblazer and President’s Award recipients. “There are so many talented ombuds serving their communities in so many vital ways,” said Alicia Booker, 2023 IOA President. “We are thrilled to honor them for all that they contribute to our profession, and for their extraordinary leadership,” added Sarah Klaper 2024 IOA President.

IOA Board Selects Officers for 2024 Term

The Board of Directors for the International Ombuds Association has announced the election of its officers for the 2024 term. All are long-time volunteers and professional Ombuds. The IOA Board meets at least monthly, with more meetings for the executive leadership.

Job Posting: Northwestern University

The private research university north of Chicago seeks an Associate Ombudsperson. The new position expand Northwestern's Office of the Ombudsperson and report to the University Ombuds, Sarah Klaper. The hybrid, full-time position will assist in providing Ombuds services to faculty, staff, and students following IOA standards.

IOA Posts Agenda for 2024 Annual Conference in Indianapolis

The International Ombuds Association has opened registration for its 19th annual conference. Traditionally, the event takes place in April. This year, the event is set for March 18-20, 2024 at the Marriott Indy Place in Downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. 

IOA has also published details for the conference:

Campus Newspaper Reveals Ombuds Casework at Northwestern

A report in the Daily Northwestern this week exposed the involvement of the University Ombuds in a new campus controversy. Northwestern University has been rocked this year by multiple allegations of hazing and other misconduct in multiple sports programs. Most recently, Northwestern's cheerleaders have complained about safety concerns and a culture of body shaming. The campus newspaper revealed that the University Ombuds, Sarah Klaper, worked on the issue last year:

IOA White Paper Summarizes U.S. Legal Context for Ombuds Confidentiality

The International Ombuds Association published a a new resource to assist program designers to better understand U.S. case law, statutory, and other established guidance relating to Ombuds confidentiality. "An Overview of Ombuds Confidentiality" summarizes the legal bases for confidentiality with ample references and examples. The paper outlines why a properly structured office is an essential component to creating an implied contract between Ombuds and visitors to further support the voluntary nature of the work. This paper resource will be shared at a session IOA has planned for the National Association of College of University Attorneys (NACUA)'s annual meeting later this month.

IOA Board Selects 2023 Officers

The Board of Directors for the International Ombuds Association has announced the election of its officers for the 2023 term. All are long-time volunteers and professional Ombuds. The IOA Board meets at least monthly, with more meetings for the executive leadership. 

Northwestern University Ombuds Provides First Report

Sarah Klaper, Northwestern's first University Ombudsperson, recently gave her first report to the university's Faculty Senate. Klaper said that her office had seen 361 visitors since it opened in August 2021. She told the faculty that her office should be significantly larger. “The faculty advocacy for this position has been extraordinarily strong,” Klaper said. “You’ve been very consistent and forceful, and yes, if you happen to be in a position to advocate for additional funding for my office for staff, that would be fantastic.” (Daily Northwestern.)

IOA Announces 2023 Board of Directors Election Result

The International Ombuds Association has announced the results of its latest Board of Directors election. Ten nominees were on the ballot, the largest group in several years. Five newly elected directors will take office at the Annual Meeting on April 11, 2023, for a three-year term. IOA Directors will convene shortly thereafter to elect new officers.

IOA Opens Election for 2023 Board of Directors

Members are now voting for the next slate of IOA's Board of Directors. Ten candidates are running for five open seats with three-year terms starting in April 2023. The nomination process was revamped last year when IOA members approved a package of bylaws revisions. Among other changes, IOA members are no longer allowed to nominate colleagues. Now, only self nominations are accepted.