The private chiropractic school in Hayward, California is hiring its first Ombuds (unfortunately and unsearchably listed as "Omsbuds"). The part-time position (six to ten hours weekly) reports to the president and serves only employees of the college. The work generally conforms to best practices, with two significant exceptions:
The private, for-profit nursing college in Salt Lake City, Utah is hiring its first Ombudsman. The new position is a mix of Organizational Ombuds duties (confidentiality, aggregate data reporting, mediating, impartial review, and independent judgment) and compliance/complaint management (reviewing grievances, detailed record keeping, and investigating). It is a full-time remote position that starts March 14, 2022.
Following its name change to the gender-neutral "International Ombuds Association," IOA has released a new branding scheme, including a new logo and color palette. In its announcement, IOA explained, "This logo leverages a stylized aperture that speaks to the constructive problem-solving nature of the profession. It represents an IOA that creates and sustains collaborative, empowering relationships by means of examination and focus on the things seen and unseen. The inward spiral elements hint at collaboration and a culture of engagement that drives progress from the core of the organization."
Faculty at Filmová a televizní fakulta Akademie múzických umění v Praze have elected Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková as the school's first Ombudsperson. FAMU is one of three branches of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague and is the fifth oldest film school in the world. Laurenčíková established the Ombuds position last year and was serving in an interim basis before her confirmation by the faculty. The FAMU Ombuds serves all members of the school community and practices according to a charter with explicit standards for independence, neutrality & impartiality, confidentiality, and informality.
The federal agency that issues patents and registers trademarks has opened an internal search for an Senior Associate Ombudsman in Alexandria, Virginia. Reporting to Paul Sotoudeh, the USPTO Chief Ombudsman, the position is currently 100% remote and is eligible for telework in the future. Only current USPTO employees may apply.
Kathryn Bender has been named the interim Staff Ombudsperson for the private liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. She takes over the role from Kristin Bierly Magendantz and Carrie Robinson, who served as collateral Ombuds and continue at Trinity, and joins the Faculty Ombud, Shane Ewegen. Bender also serves as the Ombudsperson at Wellesley College and previously provided training for Trinity’s Ombuds .
Marilia Seelaender has been named the Ouvidoria for the Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil's largest university. As the Ombuds, Seelander practices to IOA standards and serves "members of the USP community and citizens in general who do not consider themselves satisfactorily served by the usual channels [with] suggestions, complaints and denouncements regarding the activities and University functions." USP has had an Ombuds office since 2018 and Seelander follows Maria das Graças Bomfim de Carvalho.
Keyanna Hawkins has been appointed the first Student Ombudsperson for the community college in Virginia. GCC has 10,000 students and five campuses between Richmond, VA and Washington, DC. Despite Hawkins title, a webpage for her office explains that she "responds to concerns and complaints from faculty, staff, and students." The GCC Ombuds is located within the Equity Advancement Office.
The professional association for the archaeology of the Americas has selected David Rasch, CO-OP, and Kathleen Canul, as its Annual Meeting Ombuds. Together, they will provide services to participants at SAA's 87th annual meeting on March 30 - April 3, 2022 in Chicago. Rasch, who is also the Associate Ombuds at UC Santa Barbara, was an Ombuds for SAA last year. Canul is the Campus Ombuds for UCLA and has served in the role for several other professional associations. (SAA Ombuds.)
David G. Schwartz became the Employee Ombuds for UNLV in June 2021 and set about restoring a program that had been closed for two years. This week, he posted an update on is progress. In addition to creating a physical office, hiring support staff, writing a charter, and conducting outreach, he also had 219 contacts with faculty, staff, and student employees. (UNLV Ombuds Blog.)
An article posted to the Society for Human Resource Management website this week explains that, "Alternative complaint systems can be an effective way for organizations to address and resolve harassment and discrimination disputes without resorting to formal legal channels." The article includes quotes from Elizabeth Schwartz Hill, Associate Director of the Ombuds Office at the University of Colorado Boulder, and Donna Douglass Williams, the new Ombudsperson at Pinterest. (SHRM Employee Relations.)
CGIAR, the international partnership that coordinates organizations engaged in research about food security, is hiring its first Ombudsperson. The external consultant will be hired for a six-month trial, which may be extended.
The United Nations' global development network (which comprises UNDP / UNFPA / UNICEF/ UNOPS / UN Women) has opened a search for an Ombudsman in Dakar. The position reports to the Deputy Ombudsman for UN Funds and Programmes, Kentaro Kanyomozi. Frequent travel to UNDP field offices throughout Africa is required.
The state transportation research agency and member of the Texas A&M University System has appointed its first two Ombuds: Becky Carranza and Chris Slape. Together they will serve about 700 TTI employees and students following IOA standards. They take on Ombuds duties in addition to their on-going work at the agency. Carranza is the Director of Risk and Compliance and Slape is an Ethics and Compliance Officer. (YouTube.)
The international foundation that coordinates the fight against drugs in sports is hiring its first Athletes’ Anti-Doping Ombuds. The part-time, contract position will be based in Europe, report to WADA's Executive and Athlete Committees, and serve athletes world-wide. The new Ombuds "will be a neutral, impartial dispute resolution practice whose major function will be to provide confidential and informal assistance to Athletes bound by anti-doping rules under the World Anti-Doping Code." The position was created as part of a range of governance reforms implemented last year.
