- Listens to you
- Answers your questions
- Analyzes your situation
- Explains policies and procedures
- Provides information and advice
- Explores possible solutions
- Suggests appropriate referrals
- Assists in pursuing a resolution
- Informally mediates a dispute where appropriate
- Apprises the administration of significant trends
- Recommends changes in policies and procedures
All University faculty, including instructors, assistant professors, associate professors, professors, and emeriti faculty of research, clinical, or tenure tracks, as well as lecturers, librarians, archivists, and curators on the Ann Arbor campus who are not subject to a collective bargaining agreement.
A faculty member should contact an ombudsperson when they:
- need to have a confidential discussion about a university-related issue
- feel a policy or procedure has been unfairly applied
- need information about faculty rights and university policies and procedures
- need help in facilitating a resolution to a work-related problem
- need help communicating with other faculty or university administrators
- want to know your options for solving a work-related problem
- prefer to resolve a dispute in an informal manner
- want to know what university resources are available to you
Because of supervisory, mentoring or other relationships, there may be times when faculty members feel more comfortable working with the University Faculty Ombuds. In such circumstances, faculty are welcome and encouraged to contact the University Faculty Ombuds.
Here is where you can find the Unit Ombuds for you School or College
The Ombuds can:
- Listen to and clarify your questions and concerns
- Help you to identify and evaluate options
- Offer an impartial perspective
- Help you to identify possible solutions to deal with a problem
- Facilitate difficult conversations as an impartial third-party
- Help you to resolve a problem by coaching, shuttle diplomacy or informal mediation
- Make referrals to the appropriate resources
- Recommend constructive change in University policy
- Make informal inquiries to gather relevant information
The Ombuds can not:
- Provide legal advice
- Serve as an advocate
- Offer psychological counseling
- Be involved in any grievance process
- Make decisions or render judgments on issues
- Compel or order anyone to take any specific action
- Conduct formal investigations
- Participate in formal processes, including lawsuits or grievances
- “Take sides” or advocate for either party or for the University in a dispute
- Accept notice on behalf of the University
The Office does not keep records other than aggregate statistical summaries. The Office is not a place of notice or “record keeper” for the University. Any case notes regarding issues brought to the Office are retained only until the matter is resolved as determined by the Office, and then they are destroyed. Data indicating general categories of users of the office and types of concerns may appear in our annual report. The data are strictly demographic and do not contain information that would identify individuals who have used the Office. The data may signal emerging issues, indicate trends, highlight vulnerable groups or suggest areas of improvement.
Faculty names will be kept anonymous. The Ombuds will work with you to find a way to address your concern in a way that does not compromise your identity. However, please note that this may limit the options available to you for the resolution of your concern.
- The principles of confidentiality, impartiality, informality, and independence are absolute, non-negotiable, and belong to the Office of the Ombuds rather than the user of the Office.
- The faculty ombudsman has no formal authority.
- Anyone who uses our services cannot request us to breach any of the standards of practice.
- Email is not a confidential medium for communication. Please do not include any confidential information in email communications.
- Communication is “off the record” and does not constitute a step in any grievance process.
- The services of the Office do not compromise or replace policies or procedures established under collective bargaining agreements
- The Ombuds has the right to discontinue providing service and to disassociate from a matter at any time.
