Ombuds to Staff

Responsibilities

• Serve as an informal, neutral and confidential resource for staff to report concerns in instances where they are uncomfortable reporting through their traditional reporting channels or in instances in which concerns have not been addressed by established university procedures.
• Connect staff to university resources in support of workplace concerns.
• Refer staff concerns to the appropriate campus partner based on the nature of the complaint.
• Review and report trends and patterns in staff concerns and develop broader University strategies to support staff in relation to the trends and patterns. 
• The Ombuds to Staff does not handle actual investigations, but instead pulls in the appropriate campus partner to conduct an investigation when needed.
• The Ombuds to Staff cannot impose solutions but identifies options and strategies for resolution of disputes.

Confidentiality

• All inquiries to the Ombuds will remain confidential except:
  • in cases of serious threat to life or property,
  • as required by State of Texas "Senate Bill 212" or other applicable laws, or
  • as required by policy.
• The Ombuds does not report the names of those who use the service to anyone without their permission unless required by law.

What an Ombuds Does Not Do

• Does not act as an advocate in a dispute. The Ombuds is neutral and impartial.
• Does not represent individuals in appeals or formal grievance procedures either on campus or off campus. 
• Does not provide legal representation or give legal advice. 
• Does not get involved with non-University related problems or complaints.
• Does not overturn binding decisions, but can investigate procedural fairness.
• The Office of the Ombuds is not an office of record. Speaking with the Ombuds is not "notice to the University" of problems or policy violations. Often persons will seek advice from the Ombuds privately, before deciding what actions to take in response to a problem. If you want the University to "be on notice," that is, formally to know about a particular problem and formally respond, the Ombuds can help you identify which office to contact.
• Does not keep formal written records. The Ombuds can help you determine how to keep your own records if you need to do that.

Learn More

• The International Ombuds Association (IOA) is the professional association committed to championing Organizational Ombuds worldwide. The association's members help organizational stakeholders raise patterns and concerns, navigate conflict, and manage change to support highly effective and healthy organizations.