ombuds

Formal? Informal? What’s the Difference, Anyway? | From the Ombuds

MAR. 28, 2023 I frequently get asked just what an ombuds does—almost as often as I get asked how you say it (rhymes with “Tom Suds”). For me, one of the most important aspects of the office is its informality. But what does “informal” mean in this context, and how precisely is it different from […]

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Spring Break, Schedules, and Silos | From the Ombuds

MAR. 15, 2023 It’s spring break, but that might not mean anything to you. Which makes me think of the many calendars we use on campus, and how that highlights the diversity of programs, jobs, and experiences at UNLV—or any major university. First, we have the standard calendar. That’s the one that starts on January

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When No News Is Bad News | From the Ombuds

FEB. 25, 2023 Everyone who visits the Ombuds Office to discuss a concern is unique, with responsibilities, experiences, and aspirations that they share with no one else. Yet certain patterns emerge. In 2022, 38 percent of visitors to the office had issues surrounding communication with a supervisor. That’s why I have dedicated myself to leading

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One Question That Might Make the Supervisors’ Big Game a Bit Better | From the Ombuds

FEB. 13, 2023 With the NFL’s big game just behind us, many on campus are turning to their next big battle, challenge, or opportunity (depending on the context): the annual evaluation, or as I like to imagine it, the yearly Big Game for supervisors. For academic and administrative faculty, due dates for our yearly Rite of Winter are rapidly

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UNLV Ombuds Office 2022 Annual Report Released | From the Ombuds

FEB. 3, 2023 It’s with deep satisfaction that I unveil the annual report charting the progress of UNLV’s Ombuds Office in calendar 2022. Before you read the entire report, you may want to look at a few of its highlights, as well as my thoughts on what they mean. The annual report gives me and Ombuds

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Involvement Fair: Outreach with an Unexpected Benefit | From the Ombuds

JAN. 26, 2023 This has been a busy season at the Ombuds Office. I had originally planned to publish a post discussing the release of our 2022 annual report (indeed, it is mostly written), but due to a high level of volume of visitors and other work over the past week, the report isn’t ready

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Leading by Listening: A Big Band Jazz Odyssey | From the Ombuds

JAN. 10, 2023 Over the past few weeks, I have been prepping a new Honors seminar about jazz history, which has let me become more acquainted with music that I have long adored. It also offered me some insights that I can deploy in my day job as Ombuds, via the opportunity to critically consider

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Reviewing Your Year: Wrapping Up, Looking Ahead | From the Ombuds

DEC. 22, 2022 The semester is over. All of the students who were going to walk across the stage at Winter 2022 Commencement have done it and started their next chapter. The days are short, but just getting longer. All this means one thing: We are about to say goodbye to 2022. In the past

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Why, What, How: Three Questions We Need to Answer about Culture Change | From the Ombuds

DEC. 12, 2022 As we hurtle toward the end of the semester, people are busy, but I would like to take a moment to share something that should be timely. My most recent post, on how Mary Rowe’s concept of microaffirmations might have a place in shifting culture, generated more interest than anything I have written

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Why Not the Visit the Ombuds? | From the Ombuds

OCT. 24, 2022 Ombuds Week, which UNLV celebrated two weeks ago, provided many opportunities for members of the campus community to engage with the Ombuds Office. Whether it was at our Difficult Conversations roleplay workshop or with our Escape Room, students, faculty, and staff got to learn more about healthy ways to resolve conflict. They

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Finding Your Strongest Advocate | From the Ombuds

SEP. 12, 2022 I’m not going to lie to you. It feels great to have an advocate. Someone standing tall, standing strong, with a loud, clear voice fighting for you and only you. Determined to make sure you get what you have earned. Someone eloquent, sure, and fierce. Or at the very least, someone who

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What Does an Ombuds Do (And How Do You Say It)? | From the Ombuds

SEP. 5, 2022 With the start of the semester, I am getting to know many new faculty, staff, and students. One of the biggest questions I get (after my new acquaintance struggles over the word “ombuds”) is, “What does an ombuds do, anyway?” First things first: how do you say it? This is one that

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New Semester, New Programs at the Ombuds Office | From the Ombuds

There are a ton of interesting programs being sponsored by the Ombuds Office this fall. In my latest From the Ombuds post, I share some news about them: Last Monday, I was privileged to take part in this year’s New Faculty Orientation. The event, organized by the Faculty Center, welcomed well over one hundred new

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Learn About Ombuds Interactive Workshops | From the Ombuds

As Ombuds, I spend much of my time working with people one-on-one, whether it is in consultations or conflict coaching. I also dedicate a good part of my time to developing and presenting workshops to campus groups. I would like to tell you why I offer workshops, and explain what they entail. My overarching goal

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Confidentiality and the Ombuds Office | From the Ombuds

JUN. 30, 2022 The International Ombuds Association outlines four fundamental principles that buttress the practice of organizational ombuds. They include independence, impartiality, informality, and confidentiality. I would like to talk a little about what confidentiality is and why it is such an important part of any ombuds office. According to the IOA’s Code of Ethics, confidentiality “is the defining characteristic of

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Thoughts on My First Year as Ombuds | From the Ombuds

JUN. 24, 2022 As June 1, the first anniversary of my assuming the Ombuds role, approached, I wanted to take a few minutes to share some reflections on my first year in the position. That I’m finally writing this more than three weeks later is evidence that I have been, and continue to be, busy

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Ombuds Office Quarterly Summary: January to March, 2022 Released | From the Ombuds

The Ombuds Office has just released its Quarterly Summary covering the first quarter of 2022. This brief report, true to its title, summarizes the work that was done in the office from January to March, 2022. I’d like to share a few of the most salient points with you here, and encourage you to read the

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When Should I See the Ombuds? (And Who Can Stop Me?) | From the Ombuds

MAY. 10, 2022 It’s understandable. Maybe you started your new job with a feeling of hope, looking forward to making new friends. Maybe you thought your new boss was going to be better than your old one. Maybe you knew, for sure, your supervisor—who has had nothing but praise for you since you started—would be

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