University Ombuds

The University Ombuds serves as an independent, impartial, neutral, and confidential resource for members of the Boston University community, including but not limited to faculty, students, and staff on its campuses and satellite facilities. Ombuds office staff act as impartial dispute resolution consultants and provide strict confidentiality for those seeking its services. 

 

The University Ombuds provides leadership for the Office of the Ombuds, offers insights that inform the university’s strategic thinking, and supervises staff and the work of the office. This is an on-campus position requiring regular, in-person presence to preserve the visibility, accessibility, and confidentiality essential to the role. The mission of the office is to provide a confidential place for people to voice concerns, develop options, and problem-solve. The Ombuds also provides de-identified information to university officials on general trends and patterns of complaints to prevent problems from escalating or recurring. Through its mission, the Ombuds Office builds and depends upon the trust of the community to advance the University’s strategic objectives and mission within a culture that is ethical and civil, where the values of the institution are upheld, and in which differences can be resolved and mutual understanding created through respectful dialogue and fair process. 

 

• Provide impartial and confidential consultation to members of the university community related to concerns about work and work management, education, or life at BU including workplace conflict, supervisory relationships, academic or research-related integrity, discrimination or harassment concerns, ethical questions, interpersonal disputes, organizational change, and barriers to fair process.

 

• Identify recurring themes, patterns, and systemic barriers through de-identified data and observations; bring forward recommendations to unit/senior leaders for organizational improvement while protecting individual confidentiality. Develop periodic reports and maintain records that communicate aggregate trends, activities, and recommendations without identifying visitors or disclosing confidential information. Annually and/or upon request, meet with the Audit Committee of the Board of Trustees to provide a report of aggregate data and trends of possible risk to the university.

 

• Build trusted working relationships across academic, administrative, student-support, research, and affiliated units while maintaining appropriate independence from university management functions. Maintain accurate, secure, non-identifying data consistent with the Code of Ethics and professional ombuds standards of practice established by the International Ombuds Association, institutional policy, and applicable law. Consult with faculty and/or managers, and other community members to develop cooperative strategies for complaint resolution.

 

• Collaborate and consult with offices under the purview of the Office of the Senior Vice President for People, Belonging, and Culture. Lead outreach to maintain awareness of the Ombuds Office and its role through presentations, educational programming, and collaboration with campus partners.