What Is An Ombuds?

The Ombuds is a person who serves as an impartial, independent, informal, and confidential conflict management resource to help resolve complaints, misunderstandings and conflicts which stem from University policies, procedures, practices, and relationships. The Office of the Ombuds is a safe place to go where concerns can be discussed confidentially and informally in an "off-the-record" fashion.

The Ombuds adheres to the Code of Ethics, the Standards of Practice, and the Best Practices of the International Ombudsman Association (IOA) in providing services to visitors. In sum, the four key principles governing the practice of the Ombuds are:

• Impartiality: The Ombuds advocates for fairness in the procedures, not for the person.
• Independence: The Ombuds is independent of any University structure, and contacting the Ombuds does not constitute notice to the University.
• Informality: The Ombuds does not replace or duplicate any available formal process on campus. The Ombuds can only provide informal advice and assistance.
• Confidentiality: The Ombuds can not disclose the identity of her visitors except when there is an imminent risk of serious harm.

The Ombuds hosts an annual event to celebrate International Conflict Resolution Day which falls on the third Thursday of October each year. 

• In 2008, the Americans with Disabilities Act compliance specialist with the District of Columbia Office of Disabilities Act was invited to speak about turning conflicts into opportunities.  Click here to see the flyer for more information.   
• In 2009, five students were invited to participate in a panel to discuss personal and professional experiences with critical conflicts and effective resolution strategies.  Click here to see the flyer for more information. Click here to see a photo of the event.