Royal Roads University has an Ombuds Placeholder

Apparently, Ombuds offices are so commonplace at Canadian universities, that Royal Roads feels the need to have an Ombuds webpage even though the university does not have offer the service.

The RRU "Ombuds Service" webpage explains, almost apologetically,

Royal Roads University does not have an ombudsperson. If you have a concern that you feel has not been addressed after attempting resolution yourself, or about which you are uncomfortable approaching those directly involved, please contact Kyla McLeod, Manager Student Affairs.

(RRU Ombuds Service.)

Related post: Northwest Ombuds Group Meeting.

Ombuds for Tyco Electronics Serves Internal and External Stakeholders

The global electronics supplier, which separated from Tyco International in 2007, has unveiled a website for its Ombudsman Office.  According to the webpage which went live this week, the office handles "concerns from external constituencies - investors, suppliers and customers - as well as Tyco Electronics employees."  The Ombuds program is confidential, neutral and independent, reporting directly to the Audit Committee of the Tyco Electronics' Board of Directors. The Ombuds Office offers telephone numbers in the U.S., France, Belgium and China. (Tyco Electronics Ombuds.)

In an interview last week, Richard Suminski, deputy general counsel and chief ethics and compliance Officer of Tyco Electronics, says that the company emphasizes a mindset of timely reporting. "If someone cannot resolve an issue with local management or there is a need to report something up, we very much push for and request employees to be sure that when they don’t understand something, or something doesn’t seem right, to report the concern to the Ombudsman’s Office." (Compliance Week.)

Tyco Electronics does not identify its Ombuds staff. However, Phillip Sinopoli appears to be an Associate Ombuds in the Philadelphia office. (LinkedIn.)

Interview With Colorado State University Ombuds

An article in the CSU campus newsletter profiles Lanai Greenhalgh, LCWS, the Director of the Office of the Ombuds and Employee Assistance Program for the public university in Ft. Collins, Colorado. Greenhalgh is a member of IOA and provides confidential, neutral, informal and independent services to nearly 4,400 employees.

Greenhalgh explained, “I’m not an advocate for any person. I don’t determine guilt or innocence in a complaint,” she said. “It is simply a resource for employees to be able to come in and talk about problems.” Greenhalgh earned her MS in communication from Utah State University and MA in social service administration from the University of Chicago. (CSU FS Life.)

University of Victoria Ombuds Posts 2009 Annual Report

Martine Conway, Ombuds for the University of Victoria in British Columbia, reports that her office handled 412 matters last year. Conway said that while the overall number of contacts with the office was similar to previous years, she saw an increase in situations requiring extensive guidance or intervention because they presented multiple challenges (for example: chronic illness, personal or financial difficulties and cultural differences exacerbating communication or procedural breakdowns).

In addition to her work on campus in 2009, Conway also served as president of the Association of Canadian College and University Ombudspersons (ACCUO), sat on the steering committee for the North West Ombuds Group, helped organize the joint ACCUO/FCO/IOA conference in Montreal, presented during a two-day workshop on Conducting Internal Investigations organized by the Canadian Institute in Vancouver, and spoke on Comparative Approaches to Ombudsman Work during the anniversary celebration of the British Columbia Ombudsman office. (UVic Ombuds 2009 Annual Report.)

Related posts: University of Victoria Ombuds Office Marks 30 Years; University of Victoria Ombuds Issues Annual Report (2008).

Navy Reserve Ombuds Hold First National Conference

Nearly 200 Ombuds participated in the first National Navy Reserve Ombudsman Conference last weekend. The two-day conference Orlando, Florida was designed to provide in-depth, Reserve-specific training and appreciation to the dedicated Navy volunteers.

The 40 year old Ombuds program provides Navy families with a knowledgeable link to a Sailor's command. The Ombuds, usually Navy spouses, are a command asset, capable of disseminating official Department of the Navy and command information, as well as providing current resource referral services. Navy Reserve Ombuds are trained to mitigate issues affecting military families, and assist in the resolution of those issues that could later require command attention. (Navy Press Release.)

Related post: Navy Marks Ombudsman Appreciation Day

Eighth Annual Midwest Meeting of University & College Ombuds

Tim Griffin and Northern Illinois University will host the 8th Annual Summer Meeting for University and College Ombudspersons on July 12. The meeting is preceded by an all-day workshop for new academic Ombuds on July 11.

Topics for the conference breakout sessions will include:

• To Mediate or Not to Mediate and To What End;
• Electronic Technology and Confidentiality;
• The Role of the Ombudsman in an Organizational Crisis: Operating in the Reality of the Moment; and
• Essential Interviewing Skills for Ombuds.

There will also be structured plenary discussions of topics raised by those in attendance, small group case study discussions, and plenty of opportunities to interact with colleagues informally. The July 12 meeting cost is $50 and the July 11 workshop cost is $75 which includes all materials plus continental breakfast, lunch, and afternoon refreshments each day. (Midwest Summer Ombuds Meeting Info.)

Related posts: Call for Proposals: Midwest Meeting of University & College Ombuds; IOA Annual Conference Marks Fifth Anniversary With Promise of Rebirth, Rebuild and Respond.

Australian and New Zealand Ombuds Convene in Wellington

The Australian and New Zealand Ombudsman Association will hold its biennial conference in the Kiwi capital on May 6 and 7. The conference theme, "It's the 'Putting Right' That Counts," reflects the focus on the changing landscape for consumer dispute resolution in New Zealand.

The event will feature 17 presentations from more than 25 speakers. Expected to attend are Classical Ombudsmen, their staff and those in government, regulation, industry, academia and the consumer sector. A keynote address on the role of the Ombudsman in the justice system will be given by Dame Sian Elias, the Chief Justice of New Zealand's Supreme Court. (ANZOA 2010 Conf. Info.; Voxy)