American Arbitration Association Acquires Ombuds.org in Bid to Expand Online Services

This week, AAA, the nonprofit organization that claims to be the world's largest provider of arbitration, mediation and other ADR services, acquired Resourceful Internet Solutions Inc. RIS builds online dispute resolution systems and owns Mediate.com, Arbitrate.com, and Ombuds.org. RIS's CEO Colin Rule explained, “Demand for ODR [online dispute resolution] is growing rapidly worldwide, and working with the AAA will keep us on the cutting edge.” 

Register Now for Summer Small Caucus 2024

The California Caucus of College and University Ombuds has opened registration for its third annual summer meeting. The online only event on June 27, 2024, offers an opportunity to preview the topic for the traditional fall caucus in Pacific Grove. 

 Here's the full announcement:

Webinar Offers Guidance on Becoming an Ombuds

The Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution (formerly known as the School for Conflict Analysis) at George Mason University has been hosting a series of webinars on professional fields in ADR. The latest program attempts to answer the question: "So, You Want to be an Ombuds?" The 76 minute recording was posted to YouTube and is free to view.

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.)

The Hollywood Commission Unveils Ombuds Service for Motion Picture Industry

Yesterday, the nonprofit headed by Anita Hill launched MyConnext, a program that will assist employees at five major entertainment organizations with concerns about workplace misconduct. The program is a direct response to the MeToo movement. In addition to an anonymous, online reporting tool, MyConnext is offering Ombuds services. Lillian Rivera is the initial Ombuds for MyConnext and long-time Ombuds Wokie Nwabueze is on the management committee. In the initial phase, MyConnext services will be available for members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) West, the International Alliance of Theatrical State Employees (IATSE), and the Directors Guild of American (DGA); and U.S.-based employees of Netflix, Amazon, and the Kennedy/Marshall Company. MyConnext services will supplement and not replace existing programs within these organizations. Details about the MyConnext Ombuds program are vague, but insiders report that the Ombuds will likely practice to IOA standards. (MyConnext; Variety; IndieWire; Deadline.)

Lakehead University Names Next Ombuds

Elizabeth Garofalo has been appointed the Ombudsperson for the public university in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The position is jointly funded by the university and the student union. She follows Gary Walbourne, who served in the role for the past three years. Garofalo will serve faculty, staff, and students at Lakehead.

FCO and ACCUO Announce 2024 Biennial Conference

The Forum of Canadian Ombudsman and the Association of Canadian College and University Ombudspersons have released details for their biennial conference on October 22-24, 2024, at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC. The conference theme is "Ombuds on Edge: Tackling Challenges, Evolving Practices, Enduring Principles" and registration is now open.

Job Posting: University of Kansas

The public research university in Lawrence is hiring an Associate Ombuds. The new, full-time, hybrid position will serve students, staff, and faculty, and reports to the University Ombuds, Ada Emmett. KU’s Ombuds Office practices to IOA standards and reports to the University Executive Vice Chancellor/Provost. The job is expected to start in September 2024.

International Association for Conflict Management has its First Ombuds

Last fall, Natalie (Landau) Gibson was appointed the first Ombudsperson for IACM, the international organization for ADR professionals. As the Ombuds, Gibson serves all IACM stakeholders (which seems to include anyone participating in an IACM event, including members, staff, conference attendees, volunteers, contractors, exhibitors, and sponsors). In 2022, the Ombuds role was written into the IACM's policy and notes "the principles of confidentiality, impartiality, informality, and independence." 

IOA Creates Directory of Ombuds Graduate Programs

The International Ombuds Association has launched a new directory of graduate programs that offer conflict and dispute resolution degrees. The new webpage is the latest guide offered by IOA, which also manages a directory of outsourced Ombuds and consultants, and a job board. So far, Nova Southeastern University is the only program listed. 

Job Posting: Rutgers University

The State University of New Jersey has opened a search for its next Ombudsperson. (Rutgers conducted a search in 2022, but did not make an appointment.) The full-time position will restore a program that has been dormant since 2021, when the long-time Ombuds, Sybil James, became the Dean of Students. The Rutgers Ombuds single-handedly serves a student body of nearly 70,000. (A separate Ombuds Office serves students and house staff at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences.) The position reports to the university provost.

Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois Names First Ombuds

Christopher A. Taylor has been appointed the first Ombudsperson for multidisciplinary research institute in Champaign. He will serve only staff, following IOA standards. Taylor was a Senior Scientist with the Illinois Natural History Survey and retired in November 2023. Throughout his 30-year career as a carcinologist and ichthyologist, he conducted research, published journal articles, managed grants, and advised graduate students. He earned his BS and MS at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and his PhD at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. (PRI Ombuds.) 

Job Posting: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

The federal agency that issues patents and registers trademarks is hiring a Senior Associate Ombudsman in Alexandria, Virginia. Reporting to Paul Sotoudeh (the Chief Ombudsman and current chair of COFO), the position serves, "USPTO employees, including bargaining unit and non-bargaining unit employees, supervisors of all experience levels, and senior executives, and works to prevent, address, and facilitate resolution of workplace conflict."

IOA Offers In-Person Foundations Training in San Francisco

The International Ombuds Association's signature, training course is primarily offered online. This year, only two of the Foundations classes will be offered live. The first in-person training will be offered at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco on July 22-24, 2024. (A second Foundations will be offered in October in Rhode Island.) The course is limited to "currently practicing or newly appointed ombuds" and registration is capped at 36.

Job Posting: World Health Organization, Philippines

WHO is hiring a Regional Ombudsperson to be based in Manilla. The full-time position will serve WHO personnel in the country and region, and reports directly to WHO's Regional Director. This is a fixed-term appointment for two years.