PMA Offices Closed After Hurricane Irene

The New Jersey offices of Professional Management Associates, LLC, are closed today due a power outage. The staff that support the International Ombudsman Association cannot receive calls or emails. Serious emergency can be directed to IOA Communications Committee Co-Chair Samantha Levine-Finley. PMA hopes to be back online tomorrow and will provide updates as conditions change. (IOA News.)

Job Posting: University of California San Francisco

The new Office of the Ombuds at UCSF is hiring an Associate Mediation & Facilitation Officer. The position will provide group facilitation, training and mediation services for faculty, staff and students to address workplace conflict and communication problems.

Certification Board Appoints Three New Directors

Three new directors have been appointed to the Board of Certification for Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practitioners:

Job Posting: University of Alberta

The public research university in Edmonton is hiring an Undergraduate Ombudsperson (Student Advisor). The U of A Student OmbudService serves a student body of 38,000, staff and other campus members by providing advice and assistance relating to academic and non-academic grievances. The Ombudsperson is primarily involved in undergraduate student casework.

James Madison University Will Establish Ombuds for Faculty

The public university in Harrisonburg, VA has announced that it will appoint its first Faculty Ombudsperson. According to Interim Provost & Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Jerry Benson, the initiative began in the Faculty Senate several years ago. The new position will complement the existing Ombuds for student and staff issues by serving as a resource for faculty members.

Columbia University Updates Gender-Based Misconduct Policy; Ombuds Exempt from Reporting

The Ivy League university in New York has revised its student policy for gender misconduct. Columbia's Gender-Based Misconduct Policies for Students, published earlier this month, more clearly defines who must report alleged violations and specifically exempts the university's Ombuds Officers:

Washington State University Names Next Faculty Ombuds

WSU has named Cathryn (Cathy) Claussen to the post of Faculty Ombudsman, filling the vacancy left by Ray Jussaume. In accepting the appointment, Claussen withdrew as the newly elected chair of the WSU Faculty Senate for 2011-12. "The decision was a hard one, but I took the ombudsman position because it is a more long term opportunity to help faculty, staff and students,” Claussen said.

University of Lethbridge Appoints First Ombuds

The Faculty Association for the publicly research university in Alberta, Canada, has appointed Scott Allen as its first Ombuds Officer. Allen was elected at the University of Lethbridge Faculty Association's annual meeting on April 18, 2011 for a two year term. He will serve approximately 620 academic staff, including faculty, professional librarians, academic assistants, and lecturers. The Ombuds role is defined by Terms of Reference that require confidentiality, independence and informality.

University of Texas Medical Branch Names New Student Ombuds

The medical center in Galveston has appointed Gary Kesling, PhD, as its new University Student Services Ombudsperson. Kesling is a Clinical Associate Professor in the UTMB Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and has served as Director of the university's Student Counseling and Psychological Services. He succeeds Vince Loffredo in the position and will serve a student population of more than 2,500.

Job Posting: Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic Health System, one of the largest private medical centers in the world, is seeking applications for an Ombuds position in its Office of the Ombudsman. The position is similar to that of an Organizational Ombuds to the extent that it: identifies, evaluates and resolves patient complaints; Aggregates and analyzes complaint and satisfaction data; and Determines proactive recommendations and provides feedback of resolution to appropriate parties. However, the Ombuds also, "Conducts investigations for Law Department, negotiates settlements as instructed."

Conflict Resolution Symposium 2011 at Georgia State University

The annual event hosted by GSU's Office of the Ombudsperson is set for Thursday October 27, 2011. Emerging, seasoned and advanced conflict resolution practitioners and students will discuss significant trends, and meet and mentor emerging leaders. Registration is now open. (Conflict Resolution Symposium Info.)

Registration Opens for Fall 2011 Ombuds Certification Exam

The Board of Certification for Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practitioners will offer its next qualifying exam during October 17-22, 2011 computer testing centers across North America and at locations around the world. There are now 74 Ombuds with the CO-OP designation. The deadline to register is October 7, 2011. (IOA News.)

University of Arkansas Ombuds Posts 2010-11 Annual Report

Sue Theiss, the Director and Ombuds for UARK, reports that her office assisted with the resolution of 80 new cases in the last academic year. In addition, the University Ombuds Office offered 30 workshops and educational presentations to hundreds of students and employees regarding conflict management theory and practice. Theiss also made presentations on bullying to the wider community in Fayetteville. (UARK Ombuds Office Annual Report.)

Organization of News Ombudsmen Website Hacked

Jeffrey Dvorkin, executive director of ONO, reports that the website for the non-profit organization was vandalized over the weekend. Dvorkin tweeted twice on August 21 at 9:00 EDT:

Job Posting: Army Materiel Command

The primary provider of equipment and supplies to the U.S. Army is hiring a Command Ombudsman for its headquarters in Huntsville, AL. The position responds to issues from industry, the private sector, or internal government sources and informally facilitate resolutions through advocacy, persuasion, and mediation.

Stanley Sporkin Answers Questions About Ombuds

British Petroleum America apparently has not shut down its Ombuds office as threatened last summer. BP's Ombudsman Stanley Sporkin sat down recently for an interview with Corporate Secretary Magazine and talked about his work as an Ombuds and General Counsel for the CIA. Two of the five questions he answered were about Ombuds.

Profile of Jackson Community College's New Ombuds

The community college in southern Michigan has published a profile of Leigh Ann Swihart, who became its first Student Ombudsman earlier this year. “I’m here to help students have a better experience at JCC,” she said. Swihart said her office has already been a help to both students and the institution. Swihart has worked at the college since 2007 in a variety of roles, most recently in the registrar’s office, and she also coaches women’s volleyball.

Michigan State University Opens Search for Ombuds

MSU administrators will open a search to hire an Ombuds to replace Stan Soffin who ended his appointment this week. Soffin has been the University Ombudsman since 1998. Until the replacement is named, Assistant Ombudsman Sandra Harley will serve in the interim position. The university hopes to fill the position permanently by the start of next semester.

Universiti Sains Malaysia to Open Ombuds Office

Malaysia's leading university, which has its main campus in Penang, announced plans to establish an Ombudsman Office. According to news reports, the office would provide a platform for its academic staff and undergraduates to voice dissatisfaction on various issues with the public university. 

Kennesaw State University to Host Southeast Regional Facilitation Conference

The event will explore basic and advanced facilitation skills including on October 28-30, 2011. Kelly Alexander, the Ombudsperson at Georgia State University, is a featured speaker on the topic of "Facilitating Group Conflicts: Restoring Workplace Relations Using a Contemplative Process."