ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED OCT. 22, 2021 Back in kindergarten, you might have been told that if you don’t have something nice to say, you shouldn’t say anything at all. In many cases, you honor that precept, but sometimes, it is difficult. There may come a time when you feel an irrepressible urge to share bad news, […]
Six Reasons to Think Twice Before Speaking Poorly of Others at Work Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEB. 9, 2022 The Ombuds Office recently released the UNLV Ombuds Office 2022 Annual Report. Preparing this report and sharing it with the campus has helped me to put into perspective the issues people bring to the office. If the numbers tell the truth, the biggest obstacle to greater happiness and satisfaction for
Why Can’t We Talk? Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEB. 16, 2022 The International Ombuds Association’s Code of Ethics outlines four basic ethical principles: informality, independence, impartiality, and confidentiality. Each of these is necessary to the practice of an organization ombuds, and each offers benefits to both those who visit the office and the larger institutional community. I feel it will helpful to use
Why the Ombuds Office Is Informal Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsORIGNALLY PUBLISHED FEB. 22, 2022 One of the most common questions people in a difficult situation ask is how they should document their concerns. When they suspect they are being bullied or harassed, what is the best course of action? Whether it was a fraught email exchange or a questionable conversation, it is critical to
Documenting Your Conflict Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsORIGNALLY PUBLISHED MAR. 2, 2022 This is the second in a series of posts exploring the four ethical principles that serve as the foundation of the practice of an organizational ombuds: informality, independence, impartiality, and confidentiality. Today, I will share some thoughts on what independence means for ombuds and those who use their offices. Usually it
Independence and the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsOriginally published MAR. 14, 2022 I want to take the risk of breaking from my recent subject matter—the somewhat abstract but nonetheless crucial importance of the principles that guide organizational ombudship—to share a more personal view of conflict resolution. We all know someone who seems to delight in wringing any possible drop of tragedy from
A Matter of Perspective Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsOriginally published OCT. 22, 2021 I was fortunate to attend the Faculty Senate Retreat yesterday morning as a guest. This was the first Faculty Senate meeting I’ve attended in person, if memory serves, since February 2020. Much of the discussion centered on the uncertainties around classroom instruction in the upcoming semester, enforcement of mask mandates,
Returning to Campus–and Conflict | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsAs UNLV’s Ombuds I tend to talk with people who aren’t happy about something or many things. Every case is different, but generally those who visit the Ombuds Office are facing a conflict of some type. One of the biggest questions they have is, “When is it time to do something about it?” And my
You’re Not Happy; When Do You Do Something? | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsI have gotten a few questions about the UNLV Ombuds Office 2023 Annual Report, particularly about trends—how have concerns brought to the office shifted over the past three years? So I would like to take some time to discuss what I see when I look at the numbers, focusing on three big takeaways. First, I would
Three More Takeaways from the Annual Report: Who, What, and How? | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsWe’re well into January, which means that the Ombuds Annual Report for 2023 has been completed. I want to talk with you a little about the report itself, and a little about UNLV since December 6. Because, in a way that I don’t know anyone was prepared for, the tragic murder of three faculty members and the
Ombuds Office Releases 2023 Annual Report | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsIt has been nearly a month since we lost three of our teachers, colleagues, and friends in a senseless shooting, and it is still difficult to know what to say and what to do. The UNLV community has been through a traumatic event for which we have few guides. And very soon spring semester will
Finding What’s Next | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsRecently, UNLV’s Ombuds Office partnered with the Graduate College to provide resources for graduate and professional students (and others) who feel that they have been subject to academic bullying. I would like to briefly explore what academic bullying is and what we can do about it. To sum up the definition on the Graduate College’s Stand Together Against
Standing Against Academic Bullying | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsIn my last post, I wrote about “Why I Am Not the Ombudsman.” If you are a fan of Star Trek in general and Leonard Nimoy in particular, you will appreciate that my next post just had to be, “Why I Am the Ombudsman.” But wait, you might think, you made such a big deal two weeks ago
Why I Am the Ombudsman | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsNOV. 17, 2023 In my last post, I wrote about “Why I Am Not the Ombudsman.” If you are a fan of Star Trek in general and Leonard Nimoy in particular, you will appreciate that my next post just had to be, “Why I Am the Ombudsman.” But wait, you might think, you made such a big deal
Why I’m Not the Ombudsman | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsAs I have often said, the most common issues that visitors bring—by far—to the Ombuds Office is breakdowns in communication between supervisors and those they supervise. This could be a manager and employee, chair and faculty member, or even instructor and student. And the problems flow in both directions, with both the evaluated and the
Dealing with Disappointment | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsFast on the heels of the end of September, the Ombuds Office has issued its quarterly report covering the third quarter of 2023, a busy and productive time for the office. The Ombuds Office continued to offer workshops and presentations to a variety of groups on conflict management and communication topics. Although the subject matter differs,
UNLV Ombuds Office Third Quarter 2023 Report Is Available | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsWe all probably know how it feels to be excluded. Denied entry. Left outside. Othered. Exclusion is one of the many ways that we can make others feel “less than.” It can be done without a word, done so that the person excluded isn’t even sure it has been done. Being excluded from a space or a
Inclusion Safety: The Door to Belonging | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsI’m going to really date myself here. Back in the 1970s and 1980s, a series of commercials for Memorex tapes asked the question, “Is it live…or is it Memorex?” See, there used to be audio and video cassette tapes that you could use to record music and video, respectively. The commercials were supposed to convince consumers that Memorex’s
Is it Live? Why That Matters | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsI’m always looking for ways to improve, whether it’s as an ombuds, mediator, instructor, or writer. So when someone suggested that taking an improv class could help sharpen my presentation and facilitation skills, I signed up. Now, about six weeks into an eight-week course, I have come to the realization that they were right, it
Space (and lots of it) to Learn: A Personal Journey | From the Ombuds Read More »
From the Ombuds Archive, ombudsIt’s that time of the summer—Fall semester is almost here. Teaching faculty, those who support them, and students are getting ready for classes. Some are looking forward to their return to campus; some never left. The important thing, though, is that the hopeful scent of preparation hangs in the air. Just framing this post has