Student Ombuds Home

Ombuds Services

Background Information

Ombuds Contact Information

File an Inquiry

College Policies/Procedures - Student Guide - Conduct/Discipline Process - Residence Life Guidebook - Public Safety Guidelines - Grade Grievance Process - Financial Aid Procedures - Registration Policies

Academic Offerings Admissions - Undergraduate Day - Weekend College - Rochester Program - M.B.A. - M.A. Education - M.A. Leadership - M.A. Nursing - M. of Social Work - M.S. Physician Assistant Campus Life - Athletics - Fine Arts - International Programs - Service, Work, Learning - Residence Life - Student Services - Student Organizations - Spiritual Expression Quick Links - Administration - Alumni and Friends - Apply Now - AugNet - Campus Map - Employment - Enrollment/Financial Aid - Library - News/Calendar - Registrar's Office - Search - Student Computing Augsburg College

WHO WE ARE

The Augsburg Student Ombuds is a designated neutral or impartial dispute resolution practitioner whose major function is to provide confidential and informal assistance to students (Day, WEC, and Graduate) of Augsburg College. The Ombuds may serve as counselor, go-between, mediator, informal fact-finder, or upward feedback provider. The ombudsperson's function is located outside the ordinary line management structure. The ombudsperson has access to anyone in the organization including the chief executive officer.

The Augsburg College Ombuds follows the Code of Ethics and the Standards of Practice of The University and College Ombuds Association.

The Ombuds‘ services are a supplement to, and not a replacement for the College’s formal processes. The Ombuds receives and investigates student complaints, reports on findings, and helps achieve just and equitable settlements. The Ombuds is, in fact, an advocate for fairness, and can bring forward opportunities for improvement at Augsburg College.

Confidentiality: Where possible, the Ombuds will respect the confidentiality of students. If a student who seeks assistance wishes it, the person or persons complained about can be approached by the Ombuds to seek to resolve the situation or to get information.

The Role of an Ombuds Office
* Listen and discuss questions, concerns, and complaints
* Help evaluate various options to address concerns
* Answer questions or help find others who can
* Explain College policies and procedures
* Facilitate communication between people
* Advise students about steps to resolve problems informally
* Advise students about formal and administrative options
* Mediate disputes to seek "win-win" resolution of problems
* Make appropriate referrals when informal options don't work
* Point out patterns of problems/complaints to administrators

Exclusions from the Role of an Ombuds Office
* Participate in formal grievance processes or testify in lawsuits
* Make administrative decisions for administrators
* Determine "guilt" or "innocence" of those accused of wrong-doing
* Assign sanctions to students
* Give legal advice

2005-06 AUGSBURG OMBUDS VALUES
The Office of the Ombuds follows the principles of neutrality, integrity,
independence, and confidentiality in all its dealings.

NEUTRALITY - The Ombuds does not act as an advocate for either side in a dispute, but strives to consider and fairly present all sides of a situation.

INTEGRITY - The Ombuds role has a long and honorable tradition as a means of protecting against abuse, bias and other improper treatment or unfairness.

INDEPENDENCE - The office is separate from Augsburg’s other administrative and judicial functions. The Ombuds' function is located outside the ordinary line management structure. The Ombuds has access to anyone in the organization. To achieve maximum independence, the Ombuds will report to the Provost.

CONFIDENTIALITY - The Ombuds does not discuss complaints without the consent of the complainant, nor does the Ombuds offer information about people who have or have not visited the office. All dealings are completely confidential, except in cases where there is imminent harm to the visitor, to others, or to the welfare of the institution, or in situations where the law requires the matter to be reported.