Job Posting: ICRC Kuwait

The International Committee of the Red Cross is seeking an Ombuds to be based in Kuwait.  The position would support the global work of the ICRC Ombuds (John W. Zinsser is the Chief Ombudsman for the international humanitarian organization) and especially North Africa and the Middle East.  Travel up to 50% is expected.  The job will start "asap."

Internship: United Nations Chile

The Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services is seeking a full-time intern for its office in Santiago.  The unpaid internship will last three to six months and offers the opportunity to support outreach and advocacy, prepare data and reports, and conduct research.

Video Introduces UC Santa Barbara Ombuds

Three of the members of the UCSB Ombuds Office (Campus Ombuds Caroline Adams, Associate Ombuds Michael Steinberg, and Assistant Ombuds Shauna Shea) left their office to ask students: "What is an Ombuds?"  The answers are sometimes amusing and give the Ombuds a chance to explain their role.

Job Posting: Georgian College

The college of applied arts and technology in Ontario is hiring a part-time Conflict Resolution Coordinator. The position is equivalent to that of other Canadian higher-ed Ombuds and serves as the first point of contact for students with conflicts and complaints. (The school enrolls about 11,0000 students.) The position is part-time and is contracted for a one-year period through November 8, 2018. 

Job Posting: Rochester Institute of Technology

The private university in Upstate New York will hire its first Associate Ombudsperson.  Reporting to the long-time University Ombuds, Lee Twyman, the position will help administer the office and provide services, including training to all members of the RIT Community. The role will practice to IOA standards.  

University of North Carolina at Ashville Appoints First Faculty Ombuds

The state's only liberal arts university has named Heidi Kelley and Ameena Batada as its first Faculty Ombuds. The team reports to the Faculty Senate and Office of the Provost and handle Ombuds cases on a part-time basis. The Ombuds will practice to IOA standards and are required to complete IOA training. Together, they serve UNC Ashville's 300 faculty members. 

California Legislature May Revise Its Ineffective Ombuds Program

In 2014, the California State Senate created a Ombuds program, “to facilitate the receipt of information about potential ethical violations.”  Since then, it has flown completely under the radar: there is no public information on the legislature's website and the toll-free telephone number is unlisted.  Moreover, the office is headed the staff director for the senate ethics committee.  

Job Posting (RFP): The Global Fund and Gavi

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the Gavi Vaccine Alliance are seeking proposals for a new Ombudsman program. The position will serve staff, consultants, and interns following IOA standards. The work may be performed remotely, but quarterly travel to Geneva is required. The position reports jointly to the chiefs of both organizations. 

Swiss University Closes Institute After Ombuds Surface Concerns

ETH Zurich, a leading engineering and technology university, has entirely shut down its Institute of Astronomy after the Ombudspersons raised issues of bullying by a prominent professor.  

North Carolina State University Ombuds Shares Examples of Cases

The latest blog post by NCSU's Faculty & Staff Ombuds Roy Baroff answers the frequent question: What kinds of cases do you handle?  Baroff provides a dozen different examples of cases visitors have brought to his office. 

Job Posting: Stanford University

The private university in California has opened a search for its next Ombudsperson.  The full-time position, which has been held by David Rasch since 2004, acts as a resource for faculty, staff, students, postdoctoral scholars, fellows and other members of the Stanford community.  (Stakeholders with the School of Medicine are served by a separate Ombuds, James Laflin.) The Stanford Ombuds practices to IOA standards and reports to a Senior Associate Vice Provost.

Cal Caucus Reaches Capacity for 2017 Meeting

Organizers have closed registrations for this year's California Caucus of College and University Ombuds.  A record number of attendees has reached the maximum for the capacity of the single meeting room. (Cal Caucus Info.)

Ombuds for Montgomery College Posts Fourth Annual Report

Montgomery College's Ombuds, Julie Schwartz Weber, reports that her office continues to serve a significant portion of stakeholders (faculty and staff).  During the 2017 fiscal year, 125 individuals visited her office, reflecting a utilization rate of about four percent.  The report was published on October 19 to coincide with international Conflict Resolution Day.  (MC Ombuds Reports.)

Job Posting: Kentucky State University

The public university in Frankfort is hiring two Ombuds to revive their program.  Both positions report to the university president; the Student Ombuds serves a student population of about 2,200 and the Faculty Ombuds serves faculty and staff.

Meet the Ombuds at University of Miami

Jennifer Rau has been the Ombudsperson at UM for just over three years and also serves as the Assistant to the Vice President.  In a recent article she described working closely with a student advocate, Academic Ombuds, and other administrators to provide services for a student body of nearly 17,000. “Our team is here to listen to all students and discuss their options, next steps and get them connected with the appropriate resources,” Rau said. 

Job Posting: University of California Berkeley

The Staff Ombuds Office at Berkeley is hiring an Assistant Ombudsperson for a one-year contract.  The position reports to Director, Sara Thacker, and works with Assistant Ombuds, Julia Horvath, to provide conflict resolution and problem-solving services for all non-senate employees.

Internship: United Nations Uganda

The Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services is offering a full-time, unpaid position as a Research Assistant Intern in its Entebbe office.  The internship will last six months and may be extended.  The position offers the opportunity to support outreach and advocacy, prepare data and reports, and conduct research.

U.S. Park Service Plans to Grow Ombuds Program

Following a recent survey finding that nearly 40 of employees had suffered sexual harassment in the past year, the National Park Service will hire more Ombuds.  Acting NPS Director Mike Reynolds said the department will grow the Ombuds program as part of a range of services for employees to raise concerns.  

Tribunal Protects Confidentiality of Asian Development Bank Ombuds

The external administrative tribunal that reviews personnel decisions for the regional development bank ruled that the Ombudsperson cannot be compelled to testify.  The tribunal issued the decision in response to a grievance filed by a terminated employee who wanted to call the ADB Ombuds (at the time Nick Diehl) as a percipient witness.  The decision explicitly rejected the request because of the Ombuds' inherent confidentiality.

Job Posting: University of California Merced

The UC campus in Northern California is hiring an Assistant Ombudsperson. The position "serves as the initial, and sometimes sole, contact for students [about 8,000 and growing], staff and faculty seeking assistance from the Office of Ombuds Services," and provides conflict resolution services on cases of moderate complexity. The search will fill a position held by Henok Elias.