Welcome to The Office of the Ombuds

Office of The Ombuds

University Ombuds Office

The University Ombuds works to solve problems, to allay frustration, and to advise those requesting help

We are a resource available to support students, faculty, staff, and the university community by providing confidential assistance in resolving issues, concerns, or disputes. We serve as a neutral third party, providing resources, guidance, and conflict-resolution strategies.

Our services are available to:
  • Employees, students, and members of the university community
  • Anyone seeking to address issues or conflicts within the organization
  • Anyone who wishes to explore their options or get information about internal policies or processes

Confidential off-the-record resource for option exploration where you can:
  • Talk about a concern
  • Explore options for resolution
  • Understand policies and procedures
  • Communicate and get support navigating challenges

A conversation with the Ombuds is:
  • An open line of communication which is confidential and voluntary
  • Your experience matters and the ombuds is here to listen!

Ethical Principles

The Ombuds Office operates independently in structure, function, and appearance to the highest degree possible within the organization. The Ombuds Officer is not part of line management, does not make management decisions, and cannot compel anyone to take a particular course of action. The office has access to university information and individuals as permitted by law.

The Ombuds Office is a safe, confidential resource. Identities and concerns shared with the office are not disclosed without permission, except as required by law, including Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, or in cases of imminent risk of serious harm.

The Ombuds Office does not keep records and cannot serve as an Office of Record or Notice. Any brief personal notes are temporary and securely destroyed once a concern is addressed. If additional parties need to be involved, this will always be discussed with you in advance and will not proceed without your consent.

Please note that email is not appropriate for confidential communication.

The Ombuds Office is an informal resource that supports all members of the 麻豆精品视频community. It does not serve as a place to give formal notice of wrongdoing but can refer visitors to the appropriate offices.

The Ombuds Office encourages resolving concerns at the lowest effective level before they escalate. If a matter requires a formal grievance or appeal, the Ombuds Office will explain available options, but its involvement ends once a formal process begins.

The Ombuds Office does not take sides, but considers the rights and interests of all parties involved in searching for a fair resolution to the problem. 

The Ombuds Office is a designated neutral. The University Ombuds does not advocate for the individual who contacts or visits the office, nor for the institution, and has no stake in the outcome. The University Ombuds role is to consider all sides of an issue, respect the rights and interests of all parties, and promote fairness.

How We Can Help

The Ombuds can:
  • Listen to your concern
  • Clarify university policy
  • Answer questions concerning appropriate channels
  • Assist with problems that have not been resolved by other offices
  • Informally look into your concern
  • Make referrals to individuals who can address your concern
  • Help define options that are available to you
  • Recommend changes to university policy, rules, or procedures that are outdated, unclear, or ineffective
  • Open avenues of communication; facilitate conversations
  • Offer a SAFE place to discuss your concerns
The Ombuds cannot:
  • Advocate for an individual or group
  • Provide legal advice or representation
  • Assist with a non-university related concern
  • Tell someone what to do
  • Participate in any investigative procedures
  • Engage in matters that are undergoing formal process
  • Accept formal complaints or serve as an office of notice
  • Mandate policies, procedures or make binding decisions

Solving Problems on Your Own

  • Don鈥檛 be afraid to ask questions.
  • Don鈥檛 hesitate to call University offices for help.
  • Be prepared. Be informed. Gather your information and documentation ahead of time.
  • Remember to be civil; rudeness and accusations rarely help any situation.
  • Make sure that you are talking to the right person to answer your question, handle your issue, or make a decision.
  • Read all information available to you concerning your issue. Search the University鈥檚 website using the search box in the upper right corner; often this will provide you with valuable information.The University makes a conscientious effort to inform the campus community of its deadlines and procedures. You are responsible for knowing University policy and University deadlines.聽
  • Use the Academic calendar to know University deadlines.
  • Before you sign contracts such as housing/meal contracts or before you agree to financial aid, read the fine print. Know what you are agreeing to, what your obligations are and when they are due.

Frequently Asked Questions

An Ombuds is a person whose function within an organization is to help solve problems, operating not as an advocate for individuals or the institution, but as a proponent for fairness of outcomes. The Ombuds is a neutral party. The responsibility of the Office of the Ombuds at 麻豆精品视频 is to assist students in addressing concerns that established processes and procedures have not resolved. Depending on the nature of a problem, and prior attempts at resolution, the Ombuds offers guidance, advice, interpretation, and review.

The Ombuds will:
鈥� Listen to you
鈥� Be Impartial
鈥� Answer your Questions
鈥� Analyze Your Situation
鈥� Explain University Policies, Procedures, and Problem-Solving Channels
鈥� Develop Options
鈥� Assist you in pursuing a Resolution
鈥� Campaign for Fairness of outcomes

The Ombuds WILL NOT:
鈥� Replace or circumvent existing channels
鈥� Direct any University office to change a decision
鈥� Offer legal advice
鈥� Make decisions for you
鈥� Have a stake in outcomes
鈥� Exact judgment
鈥� Impose penalties
鈥� Set aside rules and regulations

The Ombuds does not advocate for either party.
The office cannot assist you if you have sought legal counsel.

The time to visit the Ombuds is when established processes and procedures have failed to resolve an issue to your satisfaction when a decision affecting you is given without explanation, when the decision-making process appears to be stalled, or when you need help in just getting things started on the road to resolution. Sometimes simply having the correct information is all that one really needs to solve a problem.

All interactions with the Office of the Ombuds are strictly confidential except in cases where: there is consent by the visitor, concern about imminent harm to the visitor or another, or it is a legal requirement.

The usual areas of concern include:

鈥� Academic Problems
鈥� Cultural Conflicts
鈥� Grade Appeals
鈥� Financial Concerns
鈥� Housing Issues
鈥� Testing Procedures
鈥� Parking Problems
鈥� Fear of Retaliation

Any Many More!

The Ombuds does not order change by direct imposition of authority and does not set aside or supersede existing rules and regulations. Rather, knowledge of the facts of a situation, plus reason, persuasion, and familiarity with the system have proven adequate to resolve those problems in which a mistake was made, where a practice was applied unfairly, or where the poor judgment was exercised in reaching a decision.

Office Information

Phone: (561) 297-3693
Email: ombuds@fau.edu
Address:

Dr. Angella J. Wint
Office of the Ombuds
麻豆精品视频
Bldg 03/Wimberly Library, Room 156B
777 Glades Road
Boca Raton, FL 33431
Hours: By Appointment Only