What We Do
The Ombuds can:
- Listen to you, discuss your concerns, and help you obtain information or identify options for resolving a them.
- Answer your questions or refer you to someone who can.
- Explain how University policies or procedures work.
- Mediate a dispute or facilitate communication among people in conflict.
- Coach you on how to deal with a problem yourself
- Look into your concern by gathering data and the perspectives of others, and doing shuttle diplomacy.
- Recommend changes to policies or practices that appear outdated or problematic.
- Look into perceived procedural irregularities in grievance proceedings.
- Refer you the appropriate office should you wish to file a formal complaint.
- Identify trends or patterns of complaints or problems that might be systemic.
- Provide other forms of assistance or guidance to help you resolve a problem informally.
The Ombuds cannot:
- Make or change University decisions, rules, or policies.
- Overrule a decision or supersede the authority of another University official.
- Duplicate existing grievance procedures.
- Provide legal advice or act as substitute for union representation.
- Testify in or participate in formal grievance or legal proceedings with respect to confidential communication.
- Conduct formal investigations.
- Accept notice of claims against the university (The Ombuds is expressly not authorized to to so.)