About
The ombudsperson is authorized by WPI's president to confidentially receive complaints, concerns or inquiries about alleged acts, omissions, improprieties, and/or broader systemic problems within the WPI community and to listen, offer options, facilitate resolutions, informally investigate or otherwise examine these issues independently and impartially. The ombudsperson assists people with complaints involving interpersonal misunderstandings or disputes as well as those with complaints about academic or administrative issues and attempts to help individuals resolve their concerns fairly.
To achieve maximum independence, the ombudsperson reports only to WPI's President and then only for administrative and budgetary purposes; that is, no names or specific grievances are released and absolute confidentiality is maintained. The ombudsperson's function is located outside the ordinary line management structure of WPI and operates as a supplement to existing administrative or formal grievance procedures, and has no formal decision-making authority. Its process is informal and bringing a concern or complaint to the ombudsperson does not constitute serving legal notice to WPI. The ombudsperson does not act as advocates for either side in a dispute. The ombudsperson has access to anyone in the organization.
WPI's ombudsperson belongs to the University and College Ombuds Association (UCOA) and adheres to its Standards of Practice.
The Role of Ombudsperson
- Listen and discuss questions, concerns, and complaints
- Help evaluate various options to address concerns
- Answer questions or help find others who can
- Facilitate communication between people
- Advise individuals about steps to resolve problems informally
- Advise individuals 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 Ombudsperson
- Participate in formal grievance processes or testify in law suits
- Make administrative decisions for administrators
- Determine "guilt" or "innocence" of those accused of wrong-doing
- Assign sanctions to individuals
Source: University and College Ombuds Association (UCOA)
Maintained by webmaster@wpi.eduLast modified: September 25, 2007 11:41:26