Learn About Ombuds
What is an Ombudsperson?
- Confidential
- Impartial
- Informal
- Independent
- A safe place for all members of the university community to discuss university-related issues or manage conflicts.
What does an Ombudsperson do?
- Listen to concerns
- Assist through voluntary consultation
- Provide information about policies and procedures
- Help you assess your situation and develop strategy around it
- Suggest options that may help you resolve the situation
- Referrals to individuals with the authority or expertise to address the concerns
- Referrals to individuals who are advocates (if applicable)
- Facilitate difficult discussions
- Mediate
- Advocate for fairness and equity in the creation and application of policy and procedure Policy/procedure development consultation
- Presentations/workshops on leadership skills, communication, conflict resolution, etc.
What does the Ombudsperson NOT do?
- Advocate for individuals
- Provide legal advice
- Participate in any formal process inside or outside of the university, as a witness or otherwise.
The Office of the Ombudsperson is NOT an “office of notice” for Â鶹´«Ã½. Communication with the office does not constitute “official notice” to the university.
Types of concerns brought to the University Ombudsperson:
- Academic issues
- Disciplinary matters
- Housing concerns
- Workplace issues
- Discrimination
- Incivility
- Faculty/student disputes
- Retaliation
- Unethical behavior
- Privacy issues
- Any other behavior university-related
If you find yourself saying . . .
- Now what do I do?
- All I get is the run-around! Can they do that?
- I don’t know who can help me!
- This is unfair!
- No one listens or cares.
- How can I get this resolved?
- How do I appeal this decision?
. . . the Office of the Ombudsperson can help
Office Address
555 Clark St., Suite 209
Evanston, IL 60208
(847) 467-2430
ombuds@northwestern.edu
Meetings also available in Abbott Hall in Chicago, phone, and by Zoom.