What does "Ombudsman" mean?
Who can use the Ombuds Office?
When should I call the Ombudsperson?
What kinds of problems do persons take to the Ombuds Office?
Is everything completely confidential?
If the Ombudsperson is a university employee, how can he/she be independent?
Are there time limits for bringing a problem to the Ombudsperson?
Does the Ombudsperson arbitrate? Does the Ombudsperson mediate?

What does "Ombudsman" mean?
The term "ombudsman" originated in Sweden and refers to a public official who protects the interests of the citizens against governmental abuses.
At UCR we generally use the term "Ombudsperson." The terms "Ombud" or "Ombuds" are also used.

Who can use the Ombuds Office?
Students.
Staff including supervisors, managers and administrators.
Faculty and other academic appointees such as librarians, lecturers and postdocs.
Applicants for employment or for student status.
Members of the public with a university-related problem, including former students and employees, and family members of students and employees.

When should I call the Ombudsperson?
You have choices at UCR about what resources you access for assistance with a problem. Do consider speaking with your supervisor, your academic advisor, a friend or family member, or a staff person in one of the Student Services offices.
Some people seek out the Ombudsperson at the beginning of their efforts to solve a problem, when they don't know where to start. Others try a variety of options first, before contacting the Ombudsperson as a last resort.
Contact the Office of the Ombudsperson:

• If you are unsure about what campus resources are available to help you in your situation, or what policies, procedures or regulations apply.
• If you don't know whom to talk with or what to do about a university-related conflict.
• If you believe that a university policy or regulation has been applied to you unfairly.
• If you have not been successful in getting your situation resolved via other campus resources.
• If you need help deciding how to approach a person who you think is causing a problem.
• If you are concerned about a sensitive issue that requires confidentiality.
• If you aren't sure whether to address what is bothering you or to ignore it.
• If you feel you are too personally involved with the problem to see it clearly and need someone else's perspective.

What kinds of problems do persons take to the Ombudsperson?
The Ombudsperson will listen to any kind of difficulty related to UCR or to the University of California, including:

• Performance evaluations
• Grades
• Discrimination
• Quality of work life
• Harassment, sexual harassment
• Dismissal
• Policy violations
• Safety problems
• Conflicts with supervisors, or advisors
• Miscommunication

Is everything completely confidential?
Not quite. On rare occasions a person bringing a complaint will speak of an imminent risk of serious harm to a person or to significant University interests. In this case it becomes imperative for the Ombudsperson to identify with the complainant an acceptable option for bringing the situation to the attention of someone who can address it. Failing this, the Ombudsperson may have to reveal the situation without the complainant's permission.

If the Ombudsperson is a university employee, how can she be independent?
The Ombudsperson does not report individual complaints to anyone. She reports to her supervisor, the Executive Vice Chancellor, on administrative and budgetary matters only. The administration has found that having a confidential, neutral resource on campus is so valuable that it has been willing to allow the Ombuds Office certain privileges, including not reporting in the usual ways or being subject to the usual kinds of oversight.

Are there time limits for bringing a problem to the Ombudsperson?
No. However, some kinds of resolutions may not be possible if a problem is raised long after it occurred. Note that most formal processes do have strict time limits, and your informal attempts with the Ombuds Office do not extend these time limits.

Does the Ombudsperson arbitrate? Does the Ombudsperson mediate?
You may have heard the phrase "alternative dispute resolution" or "ADR." This refers to the less formal processes that take place outside of the court system, and include arbitration, mediation, and the ombudsman function.
To arbitrate is to make a decision for someone, as a judge would. Ombudspersons do not have that authority.
To mediate is to facilitate communication between persons who are in conflict, and to support their making a joint decision to resolve the conflict. Mediation is one of the possible options that you may identify for resolving your dilemma. The UCR Ombudsperson is trained to mediate, and will do that in appropriate situations.