Job Posting: United Nations, New York

The Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services is seeking two expert consultants. The part-time positions will "support the induction and training of new staff in the Office, with a focus on the main principles and tools of workplace conflict resolution and its application in the UN System under the relevant terms of reference." The work is expected to begin February 1 and last through June 30, 2022.

University of Wisconsin–Madison Opens Internal Search for Ombuds

The provost at UW–Madison has announced the search for an Ombudsperson to begin service in mid-2022. The Ombuds Office serves all employees at the public university and is comprised of retired faculty and staff. The current team includes Bruno Browning, Jane Dymond, Gery Essenmacher, Erik (Rick) Nordheim, and Lezli Redmond. (UW-M Ombuds.)

Call for Papers: ENOHE 2022 Conference in Greece

The European Network of Ombuds in Higher Education is requesting presentation proposals (including papers, workshops, and roundtables) for its annual conference set for June 8-10, 2022 in Athens. The conference theme is "Students’ Rights and Ombuds’ Values: Ensuring Inclusion in Higher Education."

New Ombuds Institute to Offer Professional Training

Teresa Ralicki, an experienced Ombuds and currently the Campus Ombuds at CU Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus, has created the Ombuds Institute, LLC. Her new company aims to provide needed services to Ombuds and Ombuds offices. The company’s initial focus will be online, asynchronous courses, aimed to provide skills and content that is otherwise missing from other sources. Her hope is “to host a bank of robust and accessible online trainings created by other expert ombuds and ADR professionals aimed to elevate the confidence and skills of all aspiring, new, and experienced ombuds.” 

Job Posting: U.S. Green Building Council

The non-profit that promotes sustainable buildings (best known for its LEED rating scheme) is seeking its next Ombuds. The part-time, hourly position is endorsed by USGBC's board and serves 250 employees worldwide. (Scott Deyo established role in May 2021.) The organization is based in Washington, DC, but the position may work remotely.

Law Journal Article Outlines Path to Ombuds Privilege

A forthcoming paper by Diana Simon, a law professor at the University of Arizona, examines the legal issues surrounding Ombuds' confidentiality and privilege. Despite the pessimistic title, "The Ombudsman Privilege is a House of Cards," Simon lays out the arguments that could lead a federal court to find a privilege for an Organizational Ombuds. The article is currently available as an Arizona Legal Studies Discussion Paper and will be published later in the University of Texas School of Law Review of Litigation.

IOA Seeks Nominations for 2022 Distinguished Emeriti

The International Ombuds Association is asking its members to submit names for its annual Distinguished Emeritus Award. Most years, the IOA Nominations & Governance Committee recognizes retired Ombuds for their outstanding and dedicated service to the association and Ombuds profession more broadly. Completed nomination forms are due February 11, 2022.

Original Research Highlights Issues for Higher Ed Ombuds

The latest article in the Journal of the International Ombuds Association presents original research by Diane Van Hoose, an Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Hawaiʻi Hilo. As part of a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution at UH Manoa, she surveyed 76 working Ombuds (and IOA members) on their best practices for their services in higher education settings. 

Job Posting: Denver Public Schools

DPS, the second largest public school system in Colorado, is hiring its next Ombudsperson. The program was established in June 2021 by Sharon R. Bailey and who passed away unexpectedly last month. The position serves only employees, currently about 15,000, who work at more than 200 school sites.

Job Re-Posting: University of Northern Colorado

The public university in Greeley has re-opened the search for its first University Ombudsperson. The full-time position will report to UNC's President and serve only faculty and staff. (The university's division of student affairs is considering a separate Ombuds for the 12,000 students.) The University Ombuds is expected to practice to IOA standards. Criteria for the position have not changed since the initial search in November 2021.

Job Posting: Claremont Graduate University

The private, all-graduate research university and member of the Claremont Colleges in Southern California is hiring a University Ombudsperson. The position serves faculty, staff, students, and other members of the campus community with complaints and concerns relating to conflict within the institution and practices to IOA standards. The part-time (1 day/week, 0.2 FTE) position is telecommuting eligible. 

Harvard Adds Two Experienced Ombuds

Adam Barak Kleinberger, CO-OP, and Colette Carmouche have joined the newly unified Harvard University Ombuds Office which brings all Ombuds services under one office, with sites in Boston and Cambridge. (The change was precipitated by the retirement of Lydia Cummings in December 2020.) Kleinberger and Carmouche join Ombuds colleagues at Harvard's medical campus, Melissa Brodrick and Justin Neiman.

Ombuds Offers Insights on "The Great Resignation"

Ombuds have seen firsthand the change in communities, personal lives, and organizations brought on by the Covid pandemic. While the mandates to work from home are slowly lifting, and the transition to a hybrid work place is gradually taking place, employees have recognized that working is simply an option. Government assistance and working for companies that offer decent wages by the hour have created new jobs for individuals seeking flexibility. All of which has resulted in an economic phenomenon called "The Great Resignation." In an interview with Authority Magazine at Medium.com, Ombuds Bina Patel, shares strategies on how employers and employees can work together to mitigate the impact of The Great Resignation. Among the top five strategies, Patel suggests is to put 'people first' by establishing an Organizational Ombuds program. (Medium.)

Hamline University Students and Faculty Urge Restoration of Ombuds Program

From 2011 to 2016, the private liberal arts college in Saint Paul, Minnesota had a thriving Ombuds Office headed by Molly McAvoy. Now, concerns about sexual assault and harassment prevention and reporting are leading some stakeholdes to ask about reviving the Ombuds office. Hamline's campus newspaper, The Oracle, reports "Junior Kayla Tester is currently drafting a resolution to propose to HUSC regarding Hamline hiring some form of an Ombuds office." The paper says that faculty have also voiced interest and support for an Ombuds office. The administration has responded that an Ombuds program is not financial viable. (The Oracle.)

2021 Year in Review: Setting the Stage for Positive Change

Many of the most important events in the Ombuds field in 2021 were relatively quiet, but will gain significance in time. Then there was obviously important work of the IOA leadership, which was immediately notable and which will also set the stage for continued growth in the profession.