First Report From Standard & Poor's Ombuds Raises Questions About Usage

S&P's Ombudsman, Ray J. Groves has published the first annual report summarizing the activities of his office. The report does not provide the total number of cases handled in 2009, but says that 85% were from external sources; 85% were from the U.S.; 50% concerned S&P's ratings; and only 12.5% requested anonymity.

Job Posting: Federal Bureau of Investigation

The FBI is hiring a Supervisory Ombudsman to work in Washington, DC. The GS-15 position serves as the Chief Ombudsman and consultant to the Director and FBI Executives, and as an expert advisor to managerial, supervisory, Special Agent and professional staff personnel throughout the Bureau.

Indian Software Lobby Urges Companies to Create Ombuds Programs

The National Association of Software and Services Companies, the Indian trade group for software and outsourcing industries, has just released a report on corporate governance practices that includes an endorsement of Ombuds.

Werner Institute Opens Portal for ADR Community

The Werner Institute for Negotiation & Dispute Resolution at Creighton University has created a site for ADR-related news, events, and information: ADRhub.com. Jeff Thompson, who blogs at Enjoy Mediation, is force behind the portal, which is open to academics, practitioners, students, and others interested in dispute resolution. The site is emerging as a great resource for the field. (ADRhub.)

OO Blogger Reviews Online Dispute Resolution Technology

Clayton Gilman's latest post at the Organizational Ombudsman Blog explains that all of his clients to date have used ODR. After trying several applications, he now endorses Juripax "because of its emphasis on proper preparation at the time of intake and focus on ethical and transparent procedures." (Organizational Ombudsman Blog.)

Summer Institute on Conflict Management in Higher Ed Will Feature Ombuds

Dorothy Graham, the Ombuds for Kennesaw State University, will lead a workshop at the retreat sponsored by the Consortium on Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. The tenth annual institute takes place July 26-30, 2010 at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel in Georgia and includes a range of programs for college and university administrators.

Congress Must Resolve Ombuds Issue Before Passing Financial Reform Bill

As the U.S. Senate grapples with legislation that would overhaul financial regulation, two proposed Ombuds programs could become an issue. The recently approved House bill would create Ombuds programs for the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. As currently drafted, the Senate bill does not.

Expert Calls for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to Create Internal Ombuds Program

Mary Giovagnoli, Director of the Immigration Policy Center, says that ICE could substantially improve its performance by appointing an ombudsman "to serve as an internal conscience, taking in reports on individual cases, making sure that policy is followed and serving as an internal watchdog." 

Hood College Implements Discrimination Policy That Requires Ombuds to Report

The private liberal arts college in Frederick, Maryland has instituted a new policy for the prevention and resolution of discrimination and harassment. Policy 55 designates the College Ombuds as one of several resources for complainants and outlines the type of advice the Ombuds must dispense.  However, Hood's policy also requires the Ombuds to "inform the Executive Director of Human Resources or her designee of the complaint." (Hood College HR.)

Google Map Shows California Ombuds Offices

A Google map created several weeks ago shows the locations of 26 colleges and university Ombuds offices across California.  The map was apparently created to supplement an article about the new program at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.  (Google Maps; Mustang Daily.)

André Marin’s IOA Keynote Inspires Columnist

The keynote address by the Ontario Ombudsman at the IOA conference on April 8, prompted Toronto Star columnist Jim Coyle to urge that Marin be reappointed to another five-year term. 

IOA Training Returns to Southern California, June 2010

The International Ombudsman Association will offer its primary training courses at Pepperdine University in Malibu on June 10-12, 2010.

Eight Rules for Framing

Mediator and trainer of mediators, Zena D. Zumeta, has released a beautiful and succinct presentation on framing that Ombuds will find relevant. She posits eight rules for framing an issue. 

Los Alamos National Lab Opens Search for Ombuds

The Department of Energy laboratory in New Mexico will be hiring an internal candidate for its Ombuds Office. In addition to handling Ombuds cases, the position will be responsible for managing the lab's volunteer mediation program.

African Ombuds and Mediators Association Selects Leader

At the AOMA general assembly in Angola last week, members elected Thuli Madonsela as the Executive Secretary. Madonsela has served as South Africa’s Public Protector since October 2009.