According to an email sent by a Vice-Provost, Randy Daron has left the University of California San Francisco and his position as Director of the Office of the Ombuds effective February 22. The email said that Daron, "made the decision to pursue his independent Psychology practice" and that Maureen Brodie, the Mediation Officer and Associate Ombuds, will serve as Interim Director during a search for the Director position.
The Planning Group and Program Committee of the California Caucus of College and University Ombuds
is soliciting proposals for its conference at Pacific Grove on November 13-16, 2016.
Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge in Barcelona has named F. Xavier Bosch as its first Ombudsman. Bosch will serve as a mediator for research conflicts, help to ensure the integrity of research, and act as confidential adviser for workplace and career concerns. The position is independent and is mandated to respect the anonymity and confidentiality of identities and other other information.
Therese Eia Lerøen, President of the National Union of Students in Norway (Norsk studentorganisasjon or NSO) says that there is no reason for the public research university in Trondheim further delay the appointment of its first Student Ombuds. Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) has delayed the creation of a Ombuds for student issues while it completes a merger with the University Colleges of Sør-Trøndelag, Ålesund and Gjøvik.
The International Ombudsman Association has announced the results of its recent Board of Directors election. The following Ombuds were elected or re-elected to the IOA Board with terms beginning at the annual conference in April 2016:
The public university in Braga, Portugal, has named Paula Cristina Martins as its first Student Ombudsman. She works with a student population of nearly 20,000 across two campuses. A website for her office emphasizes that she is independent, neutral, and confidential.
The USF System--which includes three universities: USF Tampa, USF St. Petersburg, and USF Sarasota-Manatee--has appointed Steven Prevaux as its first Ombuds Officer. Prior to taking the position in January, Prevaux had been USF's General Counsel for over a dozen years.
The private liberal arts college in Ohio has re-opened a search for its next Ombuds. The full-time position (with "significant commitments on nights and weekends"!) reports to the Office of the President and serves students, faculty and staff -- a population of almost 5,000.
California State University, Chico, the second-oldest campus in the 23 campus California State University system, has appointed its first two Ombuds. Suzanne Miller and James Morgan will serve faculty, staff, and students -- a combined population of nearly 20,000. According to a website for the new office, the Ombuds will follow IOA Standards with one significant exception. Confidentiality is not provided in "situations that involve imminent risk of serious harm or Discrimination, Harassment or Retaliation based on gender or sexual orientation."
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.
