The United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services has named two new Ombudsmen for UN Funds and Programmes, the global development network. Giuseppe de Palo and Alayne Frankson-Wallace were both appointed recently. Based in New York, they will complement the work of UNOMS and handle issues raised by staff and related personnel of the Funds and Programmes.
The public university (and the state's largest employer) is hiring its first Faculty Ombudsperson. The part-time position will report the the University Provost and serve a faculty population of almost 2,500. The position has been under consideration by the UAB Faculty Senate for at least a year.
The DOE Office of the Ombudsman has appointed Patrick Holman as an Associate Ombudsman. Holman was an internal hire and had previously been the Chief Business Operations Officer and Undersecretary for Science and Energy. Holman joins Associate Ombudsman Felicia Bunns and reports to Director Rita R. Franklin. The DOE Office of the Ombudsman is an independent, neutral, confidential and informal resource available to all Department employees.
The United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services is hiring a full-time, fixed-term Regional Ombudsman for its office in Entebbe. The position will manage the office, which provides conflict resolution services to resolve workplace concerns for staff in the area.
As a prelude to its eleventh annual conference, the International Ombudsman Association will offer several training programs in Seattle, April 8-10. The trainings are open to anyone and are not limited to Ombuds or conference attendees.
The State University of New York near the Canadian border has yielded to some of the demands made by a student group seeking to improve treatment of ethnic minorities. In addition to firing Dean of Students William G. “Chip” Morris, SUNY Potsdam President Kristin G. Esterberg appointed Anthropology Professor Alan L. Hersker, as the first Ombuds for the campus.
The International Ombudsman Association is asking for donations to its annual FUNdraiser raffle. Participants can win some great prizes and lasting memories. Last year, donations included gift cards, themed baskets, books, university gear, photography and handmade crafts that helped offset costs for onsite activities during the conference.
ALL raffle prize contributions are welcome!
WSU has published an introduction to their two current Ombudsmen: Tena Old and Max Kirk. Old has served in the role since April 2011 and Kirk began in July 2015. Old’s background is on the staff/administrative professional side. Kirk, who started in the ombudsman office in 2015, is an associate professor in the School of Design and Construction.
The public land grant research university in Morgantown, has opened a search for its first Faculty Ombuds. The part-time (approximately 10 hours per week or 25% FTE) position will report to the Provost and provide assistance to all faculty members of the university community, "with preference given to those faculty members not holding administrative positions."
Lucie Allaire, the U of O’s first Ombudsperson, said that most of the recommendations she has made over the past five years have been implemented by the university. In addition to the specific issues that have been addressed and remain an issue, Allaire also said that her office had responded to over 1,800 matters between January 2010 and the end of May 2015.
Colorado's flagship public research university in Boulder is hiring an Associate Ombuds. The position reports to the newly hired director, Kirsi Aulin, and will work with students, staff, faculty, and administrators. The posting says, "We are looking for an expert mediator with a deep understanding of conflict resolution, who is excited about the opportunity to set strategic direction and precedent for our campus."
Rowe, the retired MIT Ombuds and adjunct professor at MIT Sloan, was interviewed by the on-campus newsletter about systems for mitigating discrimination and conflict in organizations. In the conversation, she explains how Ombuds are a critical part of a broad approach to microinequities:
Nora Farrell, the Ryerson Ombudsperson, reports that her office received 520 concerns in the last academic year, a rebound of nearly 8% from 2013-14. The focus of Farrell's annual report is not on the numbers, but on the recommendations for system-wide improvements, including updates from stakeholders on past recommendations.
Nicole Picconi has been appointed as the first Ombuds for students, faculty and staff at SDSU. (Previously, the university had a dean of students who also served as a part-time Ombuds for students.) “This hire is the result of years of research and advocacy on the part of members of the Academic Senate who looked in particular at the ombuds personnel and processes in place at Iowa State University,” said long-time professor, Ruth Harper.
The International Ombudsman Association's Title IX Committee has pulled together materials for Ombuds at U.S. colleges and universities seeking guidance on the evolving legal issues around sexual misconduct. The materials are generally not produced or written by IOA, but permission has been granted to share them with members.
