Washington State Education Ombudsman Begins Offering Services

The Washington State Office of the Educational Ombudsman recently launched its website. The office is a new public service agency within the governor’s office and is not part of the public school system. Ombudsman Adie Simmons and her staff are neutral problem-solvers and mediators who help students, parents and legal guardians understand how the public school system works, how to find services and resources and what to do when conflict happens. (Wash. State OEO via SaveSeattleSchools.)

Arizona College District Seeks Vendor for Ombuds Services

The Maricopa Community College District in Tempe, Arizona is accepting sealed proposals for contracted Ombuds Services and for the provision of a 24 hour reporting hotline for faculty and staff. The District may award for these services individually or both to a single firm. Deadline for receipt of proposals is 2:00 p.m. on April 17, 2007. (MCCCD Purchasing Dept.; related post Maricopa County Approves Plan for College Ombuds.)

ICANN Ombuds Updates Internet Community

At each meeting of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, Frank Fowlie provides an update on the activities of the ombuds office. At the public forum in Lisbon, Fowlie also discussed how ombuds access information relevant to visitors' inquiries. His remarks are available to download. (ICANN Ombuds Blog.)

Former GE Attorney: Employees Can be Fired for Failing to Bring Concerns to Ombuds

In an article for Corporate Counsel Magazine, a former GE senior VP and general counsel discusses the inherent conflict for attorneys who are also corporate officers. Among other things, Ben W. Heineman Jr. asserts that corporations must have systems available for employees to elevate concerns. However, his perspective is antithetical to IOA's tenets and even ABA guidelines:

Whether through an ombudsman system, an internal corporate audit staff, or division GCs and line lawyers..., employees at all levels of the organization must feel free to bring concerns about financial, legal, ethical or reputational issues to the top. Employees must know that those matters will be fully investigated and resolved, and they must have no fear of retaliation. Indeed, they must know that they have a duty to raise such issues, with failure to do so resulting in serious sanctions, including termination. [Emphasis added.]

Heineman also says that corporate attorneys, finance and audit departments have an obligation to investigate any issue raised by ombuds. (Via Law.com; Related Ombuds Blog post Harvard Business Review on Ombuds.)

Becoming an Ombuds Teleseminar

Dina Lynch, who publishes two blogs (Mediation Mensch and ADR Practice Builder), will host a teleseminar on Thursday, March 29, featuring Toni Robinson and Jane Bermont. There is a fee, but participants will be able to ask questions of these two experienced ombuds. (Sign-up info.)

Princeton Offering Internship

The Princeton University ombuds office is offering an unpaid internship for a graduate or post-doctoral student familiar with conflict resolution theory and mediation. Princeton students are not eligible. Hours and duration of internship to be determined; a travel stipend may be available. (Via Part of the Solution ADR Services.)

Why the World Hasn't Gotten to Yes

On the 25th anniversary of "Getting to Yes," Georgetown Law professor, Carrie Menkel-Meadow reviews why more of the world's actors and institutions have not employed more integrative, problem-solving and peace seeking approaches to conflicts at all levels. She also also reports, more optimistically, on the enormous contributions GTY and its progeny have made to how some people approach each other in resolving disputes and negotiating new transactions and relationships. (Available for download via SSRN.)