HOW We HELP
The University Ombuds is here to:
- Listen and understand issues while remaining neutral and avoiding taking sides
- Help develop options for resolution
- Reframe issues and help individuals develop and evaluate options
- Help identify the interests of various parties to the issues and helps focus efforts on potential options to meet those interests
- Guide or coach individuals on how deal directly with other parties
- Help improve their resolution skills and confidence in giving voice to their concerns directly
- Refer individuals to appropriate resolution resources, including formal resources that can potentially resolve the issue as apppropriate
- Assist in surfacing issues when an individual is unable or unwilling to surface a concern directly
- Give voice to concerns and create awareness of issues among appropriate decision-makers (when given permission to do so)
- Facilitate informal resolution between parties through various types of informal mediation or resolution
- Identify new issues and opportunities for systemic change within the University
- Share insights, anomalies, and systemic issues in an anonymous way to help identify opportunities for improvements and positive change