There are some at Wellesley who are fully aware of the campus Ombuds Office, some who have never heard of it, and others who are vaguely aware but not entirely sure what its functions are. In a nutshell, the office is here to serve students, staff and faculty in a confidential setting where the Ombuds is independent, neutral and informal.
Most frequently, the issues arising pertain to interpersonal conflicts, such as between supervisors and supervisees, colleagues, and roommates in a residence hall, etc. Sometimes the matter raises systemic problems and other times the visitor is looking for a sounding board so that they can process a vexing issue and possibly release a bit of steam. There are times when a group comes together so that all voices can be heard and other times when the Ombuds is asked to give a presentation, training, or team building exercise. The flexibility is advantageous because it allows for any number and type of interactions, always with impartiality. The only limitation is that the Ombuds does not advocate, advise or serve in any type of formal role. The Office is here for the campus community and helps with identifying options for the remediation of conflicts, big and small. Since the Ombuds is neutral and confidential, there is no fear of repercussions to one raising concerns.
More broadly, the value of the Ombuds Office is seen in the organic work that arises. By supporting members of the community by providing a safe place to discuss issues, the office helps raise the respectful living/learning culture that we all seek. Referring concerns of discrimination to the Title IX/Non-Discrimination Office allows those experiencing illegal harassment to take formal steps to address it. If there is conflict within or among a department or division, the Ombuds Office can actively listen to concerns and brainstorm with the group about next steps.
It is very important that everyone in our community feels that they are being treated fairly and the Office seeks to help raise awareness about this. If there are recurring types of problems for students and/or employees, such systemic issues can be brought up by the Ombuds without beaching confidentiality. Sometimes this can lead to the creation of new policies, practices or procedures and other times it can help identify issues that need to be addressed. As a trained mediator, the Ombuds can mediate escalated conflicts and can also facilitate informal dialogue between two or more people.
The effectiveness of our campus Ombuds Office is not fully known, but it is hoped that being available to everyone equally and offering an attentive ear along with a knowledge-based array of options for resolving concerns is valuable.
