Roles of the Ombudsperson
- Listen to concerns
- Provide a confidential place to talk
- Informally investigate student/faculty/employees complaints
- Gather information
- Explain campus policies and procedures, rules and processes
- Reframe issues
- Analyze, identify and evaluate options
- Make referrals
- Act as an impartial resource using informal mediation and/or other problem solving techniques
- Facilitate communication between and among individuals
- Suggest ways to effectively deal with a problem
- Explain the informal resolution process
- Present options to the Administration to alleviate chronic problem areas in the university
The Ombuds Office Does Not:
- Advocate for any party to the dispute
- Change grades or other university policies
- Give legal advice
- Be a part of any formal processes such as litigation, disciplinary actions, grievance hearings, or arbitration hearings
- Replace or circumvent existing formal channels
- Assign sanctions to individuals
- Receive official "notice" for the university about any issues
- Address disputes between members of the campus community and private individuals, companies, or organizations not affiliated with Central
- Handle formal grievances, whistleblower, discrimination, or sexual harassment complaints.
- Offer psychological counseling