The Board of Education for the public school system in Maryland has approved funding for an Ombuds position, starting in 2019. According to a local new report, the FCPS Ombuds "will be a neutral and impartial party working to address the concerns of students, families, parents, employees and county residents," but will not participate in formal investigations. The board approved an annual budget of $115,000, which will cover start up costs (about $3,000), salary, and fringe benefits.
This week, Seth Frotman, the Student Loan Ombudsman for the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau resigned his post. In a letter copied to two cabinet members and several members of Congress, Frotman scorched the Acting Director, Mick Mulvaney, saying that “the Bureau has abandoned the very consumers it is tasked by Congress with protecting” and instead now serve the wishes of powerful financial companies.
Wesley D. Smith, emeritus classical studies professor at Penn, died in June at the age of 88. He joined the faculty in 1961 and retired in 1996. In 1986, he was appointed University Ombudsman in 1986. (UPenn Almanac.)
The public land-grant university in Ft. Collins is hiring an Assistant Director of Conflict Resolution. The position has many Ombuds functions and seems to replace the Ombuds program that had headed by Lanai Greenhalgh earlier this year. Job duties include: conflict management for student issues (40% time); facilitation and education for all campus stakeholders (20%); restorative justice for student issues (20%); collaboration with other campus entities (10%); and administrative functions (10%).
The public school system in North Carolina has appointed Earnest Winston as its first Ombudsman. The move comes after the local teachers' union demanded an Ombuds as an option for teachers feeling bullied at work. Winston will serve parents, community members and employees with concerns coming out of 159 schools.
The International Ombudsman Association is soliciting bids from PR consultants to develop communications strategy. The move comes in the wake of the unexpected loss of IOA's management company, which has provided PR services as part of its overall agreement. According to the RFP, IOA seeks to have the new PR plan in place by the end of the year.
The Professional Development Committee of the International Ombudsman Association is currently seeking an individual(s) to develop a replicable core course for Ombuds professionals. The selected course will then be presented as part of the pre-conference training in March 2019.
The American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section Ombuds Committee has designated the second Thursday of October as Ombuds Day to coincide with Conflict Resolution Month and Mediation Week.
The California Caucus of College and University Ombuds has posted the lineup for its the 45th annual gathering, which has the theme: "Honoring Our Past to Engage with Our Future." The event will be held at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, California, November 4-7, 2018. The caucus attracts Ombuds from beyond California and the higher education sector with its inclusive, casual, and intimate tradition.
IOA Conference Committee presentation proposals, speaker, and topic suggestions for its 14th annual conference on the theme of “Ombuds: Providing Calm in a Conflicted World.” The conference is set for April 1-3, 2019 at the Sheraton Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The Department of Health and Human Services agency that oversees and supports health services is hiring an Independent Facilitator -- its first Organizational Ombuds. Based in Melbourne, the position is an "independent, neutral and confidential resource for employees of designated Victorian health services, providing informal assistance and support to employees regarding workplace issues, concerns or complaints." The job practices to IOA standards.
Earlier this year, Chris LaHatte launched a blog to offer his insights on alternative dispute resolution. LaHatte is currently the ICANN Ombudsman and lives in New Zealand. His latest post delves into the #metoo movement. He observes that the current discussion lacks consideration of: 1. an independent resource for complainants; and 2. restorative justice as an important remedy. He asserts that Organizational Ombuds programs would fill these needs.
KP Northern California is hiring a full-time Health Care Ombuds/Mediator for its medical facilities in San Francisco. The Kaiser HCOM, "functions as a trained alternative dispute professional offering patients, family members, staff & providers a conflict management program to resolve patient/provider healthcare disputes early thereby improving patient safety & reducing the costs of health care dispute resolution."
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Office of the UN Ombudsman and Mediation Services is accepting applications for an unpaid internship in its New York headquarters. The temporary position is full-time and will last six months. Duties will depend on the intern's experience and needs of the program, but may include: outreach and advocacy; support preparing data and reports; and conducting research.
The monthly law magazine published a commentary by Gwen Mellor, "Law Firms Need Informal Reporting Programs to Quash Sexual Harassment." The piece outlines steps firm leaders can take to improve reporting and resolving misconduct. Mellor urged firms to create an Ombuds that complies with IOA standards.
