{"id":6528,"date":"2023-10-30T12:29:32","date_gmt":"2023-10-30T16:29:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/student-life\/?page_id=6528"},"modified":"2025-11-03T13:16:51","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T18:16:51","slug":"university-ombudsman","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/student-life\/student-life\/university-ombudsman\/","title":{"rendered":"Student Ombudsman"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mission Statement<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Marymount University Ombuds Office is an independent, neutral, and confidential resource dedicated to promoting fairness, equity, and constructive conflict resolution within the university community. Our mission is to assist students in addressing concerns, resolving disputes, and improving the university&#8217;s overall climate and culture.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>I. Purpose and Scope:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Marymount University Ombuds Office serves as an informal, independent, and neutral resource for all members of the university community.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Ombuds Office helps individuals address a wide range of issues, including interpersonal conflicts, academic disputes, ethical concerns, and policy or procedural questions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Ombuds Office operates independently of existing administrative structures and does not make binding decisions, render legal advice, or substitute for formal grievance or appeal processes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>II. Principles and Values:<\/h4>\n<h4><strong>The Marymount University Ombuds Office is guided by the following principles:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Confidentiality: Conversations with the Ombuds are confidential, with exceptions only as required by law or when there is a risk of imminent harm.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Independence: The Ombuds Office is independent and impartial, operating outside formal lines of authority and reporting directly to the highest university leadership.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neutrality: The Ombuds remains neutral, does not take sides, and works to ensure all parties have an equal voice in resolving their concerns.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Informality: The Ombuds Office employs informal, non-adversarial, and collaborative approaches to conflict resolution.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accessibility: The Ombuds Office is accessible to all members of the university community and strives to be a welcoming and inclusive resource.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountability: The Ombuds Office may make recommendations for systemic change or improvement to the university leadership while respecting confidentiality.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">III. Services and Activities:<\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Informal Consultation: The Ombuds Office provides a confidential and safe space for individuals to discuss their concerns, seek information, and explore options for addressing issues.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conflict Resolution Assistance: The Ombuds Office assists in identifying and evaluating options for resolving disputes, including facilitating discussions, mediations, and other collaborative processes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Systemic Feedback: The Ombuds Office tracks trends and emerging issues and may provide anonymous, aggregated data and recommendations to university leadership for systemic improvements.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IV. Limitations:<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Ombuds Office does not have the authority to change university policies, make binding decisions, or intervene in formal legal processes.&nbsp; <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conversations with the Ombuds Office are not a substitute for legal advice, therapy, or other professional services.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">V. Reporting:<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Ombuds will provide an annual report to the university leadership that outlines the activities, trends, and systemic recommendations made by the office while protecting the confidentiality of individuals served.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VI. Ombuds Office Leadership:<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Ombuds Office will be led by an experienced, trained Ombuds who adheres to the International Ombudsman Association (IOA) Standards of Practice.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VII. Review and Revision:<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This charter will be reviewed periodically to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness in serving the needs of the university community.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%;\">\n<h3>Common Concerns<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%;\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%;\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"><b>Academic Issues:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grade disputes<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Academic misconduct allegations<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Concerns about teaching quality<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Incomplete or unfair course policies<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"><b>Policy and Procedure Questions:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clarifications regarding university policies<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Questions about academic or workplace procedures<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Appeals for policy exceptions<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"><b>Financial Concerns:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tuition disputes<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial aid or scholarship problems<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Billing errors or disputes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"><b>Student-Student Conflicts:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Roommate disputes<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interpersonal conflicts among students<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Group project disputes<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bullying or harassment<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"><b>Discrimination and Harassment:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cases of discrimination based on gender, race, religion, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sexual harassment or misconduct<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Microaggressions or subtle bias concerns<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"><b>Campus Climate and Culture:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Concerns about the overall campus environment<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Suggestions for improving the university&#8217;s climate<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"><b>Faculty-Student Issues:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advisor-student conflicts<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mentorship problems<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Concerns about unfair grading or evaluation<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allegations of academic misconduct<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employment Matters:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"><b>Procedural Fairness:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Concerns about the fairness of university processes<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grievances related to admissions, disciplinary actions, or promotions<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Violations of due process<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"><b>General Complaints and Feedback:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Suggestions for improvements in university services<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General complaints or grievances<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seeking guidance on how to navigate university processes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"><b>Ethical Dilemmas:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Violations of academic or research integrity<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unethical behavior by students, faculty, or staff<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ethical concerns related to research<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%;\"><b>Accessibility and Accommodations:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Concerns related to disability accommodations<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accessibility issues on campus<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Requests for reasonable accommodations<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 33.3333%;\">&nbsp;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h4><b>Link to Form:<\/b><\/h4>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Think you have a case that we can assist with? Then please fill out this <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cm.maxient.com\/reportingform.php?MarymountUniv&amp;layout_id=5\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">intake form<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Someone will reach out within 48 hours\/2 business days to schedule a meeting with you.<\/span><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mission Statement The Marymount University Ombuds Office is an independent, neutral, and confidential resource dedicated to promoting fairness, equity, and constructive conflict resolution within the university community. Our mission is to assist students in addressing concerns, resolving disputes, and improving the university&#8217;s overall climate and culture. I. 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