Louisianna State University Ombuds Publishes Biennial Report

LSU's Ombuds, Kirsten Schwehm, reports that the number of visitors to her office has increased steadily since she opened the office in 2006. The caseload increased 32% in 2007-08 and 11% in 2008-09. There was an increase in groups of people accessing the office, as opposed to individual visitors. Schwehm also noted that the spring academic semester was the busiest time of year for office traffic.

University of Calgary Ombuds Office Goes Online

The Ombuds Office for the 30,000-student public university in Alberta unveiled a new website this week. University of Calgary Ombuds Robert Clegg said, “Offering resources on the web was an obvious way to be more accessible to students, and we’re open to suggestions on how to improve our online presence.”

University of Central Florida Ombuds Announces Retirement

Vicky Brown, who has served as the UCF Ombuds for nearly 17 years, will retire on February 1, 2011. UCF President John C. Hitt said, "Vicky is a national leader in her profession, and she has served UCF with great distinction."

University of Louisville Plans to Integrate Ombuds Into Formal Grievance Policy

Administrative changes at UofL that led to the creation of an Ombuds Office in 2009 have also prompted changes to the faculty grievance process. These changes would require a faculty grievant to attempt an informal resolution with the Ombuds. Moreover, a party that refused to participate in an Ombuds-suggested informal resolution would be reported to the administration.

Call for Participation: Transnational Employment Dispute Systems Conference

Ombuds may be interested in participating in a conference hosted by St. John’s School of Law on July 20-22, 2011, "Worlds of Work: Employment Dispute Resolution Systems Across the Globe." The symposium will bring together prominent scholars and practitioners from the fields of labor law and ADR to examine a wide array of issues surrounding the resolution of international work-related disputes.

Does the Ombuds for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Intend to Follow IOA Standards?

A few weeks ago, the CPB Board of Directors approved a motion to solicit proposals for a new Ombudsman and to develop a new Charter for the CPB Office of the Ombudsman. Although the non-profit has had two Ombuds in the past, the plan is to keep the current arrangement of a single Ombuds. According to a CPB spokesperson, "Having a single ombudsman would help CPB conform with recommended standards of the United States Ombudsman Association and the International Ombudsman Association."

William Ury on TED Talks

Mediator and author, William Ury addressed the Technology Entertainment and Design conference in October. His presentation, "The walk from 'no' to 'yes'," offers an elegant introduction to neutral's ability to create agreement in even the most difficult situations. It's now available online and may be interesting to Ombuds. (TED Talks, via Campus-ADR Weblog.)

USOA to Hold 2011 Annual Conference in Jacksonville, Florida

The United States Ombudsman Association has announced that its thirty-first annual meeting will take place at the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront Hotel on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 through Friday, October 28, 2011. As usual, there will be two days of pre-conference workshops on Monday, October 26 and Tuesday, October 27. Additional details will be forthcoming. (USOA.)

American University of Beirut Receives Funding for New Ombuds Office

The secular, private university in Lebanon has received a grant that will fund, in part, a proposed Ombuds program for the medical campus. An Ombuds program has been under consideration at AUB since at least 2004, when female faculty lobbied for an "an ombudsman office for addressing faculty concerns anonymously." In a November 2009 report to the University's trustees, AUB President Peter F. Dorman backed an Organizational Ombuds program for faculty, staff and students as a supplement for a updated grievance and harassment policy.

OO Blogger Predicts Growing Work for Ombuds in 2011

In his latest post at the Organizational Ombudsman Blog, Clayton Gilman finds reason to be optimistic about the Ombuds field next year. He believes the current economic conditions provide opportunity and a demand for Ombuds working with individuals, groups and small organizations.

Job Posting: Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers

ICANN has opened a search for an experienced professional Ombudsman. The winning candidate will have the responsibility of managing the Ombudsman conflict resolution program, fielding and resolving issues and complaints arising from the Internet community, and acting as a functional partner to augment and enhance the mission and goals of ICANN.

Ombuds at University of Western Ontario Explains Conflict of Interest Policy

A recent article in the UWO newspaper explains the University's conflict of interest policy. Jennifer Meister, Acting UWO Ombudsperson, offered her own example of dealing with a conflict:

Tips for Handling Defensiveness In High Conflict People

Ombuds regularly deal with and coach others to deal with high conflict people (HCPs). Attorney, therapist and mediator, Bill Eddy says HCPs are driven primarily by unconscious defensiveness. Understanding this will avoid frustration and prompting more bad behavior. Eddy says that HCPs' behavior is rooted in a Mistaken Assessment of Danger. The HCP perceives a threat and is trying to protect him or herself.

Cleveland State University Names Permanent Ombuds But Fails to Allocate Resources

Engineering professor Rama Gorla, PhD, has been appointed as Ombudsperson for CSU Ohio. The announcement completes the process of restoring the the Ombuds Office promised earlier this year by CSU President Ronald Berkman. Gorla will be paid a modest stipend to assist faculty, staff and students part time, but has no budget or staff.

Video Interview With Cornell Ombuds

Cornell has posted a lengthy interview with Linda Falkson, who has served as Assistant Ombudsman for 2½ years. The 19 minute video covers a wide range of topics including Falkson's career path and personal interests, the ethical tenets of her practice, the history of Cornell's Ombuds Office, and the types of cases she handled.