Resources and Ombuds

Ombuds

The Ombuds Program is...

A confidential, informal, impartial, and independent resource for effective communication, collaboration, and conflict management.

More about Ombuds

We Serve

All levels of UA employees and students, in all UA units and colleges, as well as others who have a university-related concern.

We Help

With a wide variety of issues, concerns, questions, conflicts, and challenges.

  • Teams/units wanting to work together most effectively or harmoniously
  • Difficulties with co-workers, supervisors, and employees
  • Challenges with professors, advisors, and students
  • Issues with team members or coaches
  • Clashes of style – including communication, conflict, personality, work and leadership styles
  • Departmental/workplace climate and culture
  • Concerns related to equity, fairness, and respect
  • Concerns about career progression
  • Concerns about supervisor or employee effectiveness
  • Intra and inter-departmental issues
  • Systemic and long-standing issues
  • Identifying and connecting with appropriate resources and channels for assistance
  • Clarification of university policies and procedures
  • And more

We Work on Many Levels

From one-on-one to small and large groups, from individual to departmental, organizational, and systemic level concerns/issues.

Conflict and Other Challenges Impact the UA Community

Related to their concern/situation, Ombuds Program visitors report experiencing high levels of stress/anxiety, damage to or loss of important professional and/or personal relationships, low/decreased morale, sleep loss, difficulty focusing on work/school, detrimental impacts to physical and/or mental health, reputational impact/damage, and more.

Are you unsure of how to handle a complex, tense, or unideal situation with a colleague/employee/supervisor, or with your entire team or department? Are you interested in responding to a situation in the most effective way possible? Do you have a situation that has gotten out of hand? We invite you to contact us to help you move forward in a responsive and positive manner, no matter how small, large, or messy your situation may be. If it isn’t something we can assist you with directly we can connect you to other helpful resources.

Ethics, Standards, & Terms of Use

The UA Ombuds Program works in accordance with the International Ombudsman Association Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. The program is a confidential, impartial, informal, and independent resource for all members of the campus community.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is a fundamental element of the Ombuds Program. As such, the Ombuds Program is not authorized to accept notice of allegations of violations of law or other formal complaints. The Ombuds Program treats all communications, and the identities of all visitors, as strictly confidential to the maximum extent permitted by law unless, in the discretion of the Ombuds, failure to disclose information would create an imminent risk of serious harm. No employee or other University constituent may compel the Ombuds Program to disclose information.

Impartiality

As the designated neutral of the organization, the Ombuds Program works with all visitors and situations in an impartial manner. Ombuds do not take sides or advocate for any individual or group.

Informality

The Ombuds Program is an informal and off-the-record resource and as such does not engage in formal processes and is not authorized to make or change policy.

Independence

The Ombuds Program functions independently of other organizational entities.

Terms of Use

By electing to utilize the voluntary services offered by the UA Ombuds Program, visitors agree to never seek to compel the Ombuds to disclose any information received as part of providing Ombuds services in any other forum, including a formal grievance or lawsuit. In addition, if the Ombuds Program utilizes mediation, facilitation, or another group process the visitors agree (to the extent permitted by law) to: (i) keep any and all communications that take place in the process confidential unless all parties agree otherwise, (ii) waive any right they may have to use communications that take place in the process in any formal grievance or lawsuit, and (iii) participate in good faith towards a mutually satisfactory outcome.

The Ombuds Program is not authorized to accept notice of allegations of violations of law or other formal complaints. No employee or other University constituent may compel the Ombuds Program to disclose information. By electing to utilize the voluntary services offered by the UA Ombuds Program, visitors agree to abide by Ombuds Program confidentiality and terms of use, including never seeking to compel the Ombuds to disclose any information received as part of providing Ombuds services in any other forum, including a formal grievance or lawsuit.