Table of Contents
- What’s with the name “Ombuds”?
- How can the Ombuds Office help me without formal authority?
- How can I trust the Ombuds Office to be impartial and safe?
- What’s the difference between the University Ombuds and other offices with easier-to-pronounce names?
Frequently asked questions will be updated and posted as the Ombuds Office becomes established at CSUCI. Some common questions are:
What’s with the name “Ombuds”?
There is a long and rich history behind the name “ombuds” (See What is an Ombuds). However, it is a bit of a mouthful admittedly. It is pronounced “Ahm-budz.” In some CSUCI communications, you may see “Ombuds Officer.” However, the University Ombuds serves in no formal roles like an officer would.
How can the Ombuds Office help me without formal authority?
Addressing problems informally when conflict arises allows the ombuds to work with all individuals and organizations across campus. As an informal resource, those who seek help from the Ombuds always get to determine how and when they want to address their issues, not the system. Because the Ombuds does not assume University authority, the Ombuds Office can help visitors resolve problems quickly and efficiently in ways that meet their needs first. Additionally, because the Ombuds Office does not have a role in managing formal processes, the University Ombuds can be flexible in exploring different means of resolution. In situations in which CSU Executive Orders require the ombuds to initiate certain processes (e.g., Title IX), the University Ombuds always does so in consultation with the individual and will participate in those processes only to the extent the visitor consents or CSU Executive Orders explicitly require it.
How can I trust the Ombuds Office to be impartial and safe?
The Ombuds Office serves the entire CSUCI workforce—staff, faculty, administrators, student employees—in accordance with its founding charter. The Office also expanded in Academic Year 2022-2023 to serve students as well. People wanting ombuds services can visit Solano Hall, Room 2162, or the office can reserve a confidential space in a different building on campus.
For those who do come to the Ombuds Office, the Ombuds Office is not co-located within any other department, including the President’s office (although the Office of the President provides administrative support). On the other hand, the University Ombuds does provide anonymized information to the Chief of Staff and President to raise concerns directly.
What’s the difference between the University Ombuds and other offices with easier-to-pronounce names?
The Ombuds Office works with HR, General Counsel’s office (legal), Union representation, the Employee Assistance Program (counseling), and other offices providing employee support, helping employees connect with them in ways that work for the employee on the employee's terms. The Ombuds Office does not replace or supersede these other resources, nor does the University Ombuds report to them. Rather, the Ombuds Office combines confidentiality and impartiality (like a counselor or mediator) with work-related problem-solving (like HR or General Counsel) and off-the-record help (like a trusted colleague or coworker). For example, the University Ombuds can make a connection to another office without identifying the individual seeking help and can then coach the person on how to approach that other office when ready. In general, the University Ombuds helps individuals and organizations understand their conflicts better and equips them with tools to address those conflicts… or finds someone else who can.