North Carolina State University Ombuds Works to Assist Students Hit by Hurricane Florence

NC State students recovering from the recent storm are getting help from a program started by the Student Ombuds, Michael Giancola. Pack Essentials offers help for students in need of food, housing, financial, and educational assistance. And, because it's run through the Ombuds Office, students are able to discuss their needs confidentially.

FINRA Ombuds Publishes 2017 Report

The Office of the Ombudsman for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, says that its caseload declined to 717 in 2017, a 5.2% decrease from the prior year and a 9.4% decline from the high caseload of 791 in 2015.  The decrease was driving primarily by lower numbers of cases from brokers. In addition to external stakeholders, the FINRA Ombuds also hears from employees and last year there were 25 employee cases. (FINRA 2017 Report.)

VCU's 2018 National Conflict Resolution Day Program to Feature Green Climate Fund Ombuds

Donna Douglass Williams, the first Ombudsperson for the Green Climate Fund, will be the featured speaker at the annual event hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University Ombudsman William King on October 16, 2018.  This is the sixth time National Conflict Resolution Day has been marked at VCU. The event is free and open to the public.  

U.S. Department of Labor to Create Ombuds Program for Federal Contractors

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs will implement an Ombud Service to resolve concerns faced by government contractors. According to Department of Labor Directive 2018-09 issued last week, the new program will "facilitate the fair and equitable resolution of specific types of concerns raised by OFCCP external stakeholders in coordination with regional and district offices." This is also intended to increase the agency's transparency and communication with stakeholders.

Job Re-posting: Minneapolis Public Schools

The Minnesota school district with over 36,000 students is still seeking applications for its next Ombudsperson. The full-time position reports to the MPS Chief of Staff and works with parents, students, community members and employees.

Someone is Pitching a TV Show About an Ombuds

A recent story in the New York Times about Apple moving into the streaming TV business, included a mention of a potential show featuring an Ombuds. Apple apparently passed on the idea, but it may be offered to Amazon. 

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Duke University Ombuds Presents 2018 Annual Report

Thomas Metzloff, who just completed his first year as the Faculty Ombuds at Duke, presented an annual report to the faculty senate. He said that he handled about 60 cases and called on the university to expand the number of Ombuds.

Don Hartsock: Founding Ombuds at UCLA

Donald Hartsock, who served as the first Ombudsman at UCLA passed away on September 1, 2018 at the age of 90. Hartsock was pointed in 1969 in response to student protests and served the campus until 1991. He was one of the original founders of the California Caucus of College and University Ombuds and the University and College Ombuds Association. A memorial service will be held on October 6 at Westwood Presbyterian Church, where he once served as minister. (Legacy Obituary.)

Seattle to Create Ombuds Office for City Employees

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced last week that she will create an independent Ombuds program for city executive branch employees. The move would position Seattle as the largest city with an Organizational Ombuds program. Durkan's decision came in response to an organized complaint workplace sexual and racial harassment earlier this year.

San Francisco State University Appoints First Ombuds

The California State University in San Francisco has appointed Christina Sabee as its first Employee Ombudsperson and Dean of Equity Initiatives. In this position, Sabee will "consult on all matters of concern or conflict among employees at SF State, regardless of rank, affiliation or union membership." She has also been a member of the faculty since 2007 and is on leave from her position as Professor in the Communication Studies Department to take on the new work.

Lakehead University Selects Ombuds

Rob Thompson has been appointed the Lakehead University Ombudsperson. Thompson is already familiar with the role. He recently served as the Ombudsperson Support Officer at the International Organization for Migration in Geneva. At Lakehead, he will works with 11,000 faculty, staff, and students on a part-time basis while he completes a Master's in Conflict Resolution at the University of Bradford in the UK. (Lakehead Ombuds.)

Northern Arizona University Taps Next Faculty Ombudsman

NAU has appointed Bruce Fox for a three-year term as Faculty Ombudsman. He succeeds Gene Moan and will work with about 1,500 faculty members at the campus in Flagstaff. has been named to a three-year term as the Faculty Ombudsman at NAU. Fox has been a faculty member ince 1985 and is a Professor in the School of Forestry. 

University of Rochester Med Center Opens Ombuds Program for Grad Students and Trainees

The academic medical center in Upstate New York has created an Ombuds program to serve graduate students, postdoctoral appointees, and trainees. Three faculty members provide confidential, neutral, independent, and informal consultations in person or by phone. The Ombuds are Bob Freeman, Professor of Pharmacology and Physiology; Krystel Huxlin, Professor of Ophthalmology; and Chris Seplaki, Associate Professor of Public Health Sciences. The program began operating in December 2017. (URMC Ombuds.)

Francis Marion University Creates Ombuds Program

The public liberal arts university has named Katherine Barnette as its first Student Ombudsman. She serves a student body of 4,200 students on the campus near Florence, South Carolina. Her work follow IOA standards of confidentiality, neutrality, informality and independent. She reports to the VP of Student Affairs & Dean of Students.

Job Re-posting: Columbia College Chicago

The independent, private, liberal arts college in Illinois has re-opened its search for an Academic Ombudsperson. (A search that opened in July apparently hasn't been successful.) The part-time position will be available to full-time faculty members with workplace or academic conflicts. The Ombuds will report to the Provost for administrative and budgetary purposes. 

Lehigh University Appoints New Faculty Ombuds

Elizabeth (Beth) Dolan has been named the second Ombudsperson for the private university in Bethlehem, PA. She joins Robert Thornton, who has served in role since 2014. Dolan is an Associate Professor of English and has been at Lehigh since 2001. The Lehigh Ombuds office serves about 9,000 faculty, staff, and students. 

Ombuds at University of Washington Offers Perspective

Chuck Sloane, the University Ombud at UW (he is one of the few that drops the 's' from the neutered label), was interviewed for the campus newsletter. The wide-ranging conversation covered his career path, and explanation of the Ombuds role and challenges gained during his five-year tenure.

Internship Opportunity: UNICEF, New York

The United Nations Office of the Ombudsman and Mediation Services is seeking an intern for UNICEF (and including UNDP, UNFPA, UNOPS, and UN Women) in New York City.  The full-time, paid internship will last 26 weeks and offers the opportunity to support the office's mediation training, outreach, and advocacy. The position starts before the end of November.

Video Introduces University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Ombuds Program

A new video explains the work of the UW-Milwaukee's Ombuds Council. The seven members provides impartial and confidential conflict resolution services to 5,000 university employees. The video features Nadya Fouad, Chair of the Ombuds Council, and council members Jeanne Wagner, Clinical Associate Professor & Director of Social Work Field Education, and David Pate, Chair of Social Work & Associate Professor. (YouTube.)

University of Iowa Ombuds Reports Surge in Cases

In her latest annual report, UI University Ombudsperson, Cynthia Joyce, says that her office received 737 visitors in 2017-18, a 10% increase from the prior year. Staff comprised more than half the visitors and the hierarchical relationship issues predominated.