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How We Can Help

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Why Visit the Faculty Ombud?

Disputes are inevitable in any institution including Southern Miss.  When concerns arise that involve faculty, the Faculty Ombud can provide an unbiased resource for finding solutions. The ombud helps to ensure that all parties are living up to The University of 91°µÍøºÚÁÏ’s shared values.

Visiting the ombud starts with a conversation. This conversation is confidential and there is no imperative that you provide your name or take any action. There can be no workplace retaliation for speaking with the faculty ombud. The ombud can assist faculty in locating resources in the pursuit of a fair resolution to a problem and, if requested, can facilitate resolutions, but the ombud will never act without your consent.

We Protect Your Privacy

All visitors are ensured complete confidentiality.  You may visit the ombuds’ office during office hours or arrange an appointment via email or phone (dial *67 and our number from an outside line if you wish to block caller ID). No records of your visit are maintained (even short term) without your consent.

The Faculty Ombud serves all faculty on any Southern Miss campus, full-time and part-time, tenured or not, including administrative faculty. The ombud does not represent the administration or the faculty, but rather encourages all parties to live up to our shared values.

 

How We Can Help

If something is troubling you and you are not sure how to proceed, the Faculty Ombud’s office is a great place to start looking for solutions. 

The ombud provides the following services:

• Listens to concerns
• Identifies possible resolutions
• Explains university policies and processes
• Provides coaching to help prepare for difficult conversations
• Aids when filing a formal grievance
• Facilitates conversations
• Makes referrals to campus and non-campus resources
• Advocates for a fair and supportive campus environment

The ombud will never:

• Tell you what you must do or act in any way without your consent
• Take sides in a dispute or advocate for any individual or the administration
• Determine guilt or innocence
• Provide legal advice
• Provide counseling services
• Make or overturn administrative decisions
• Make or change official policy
• Participate in a formal grievance proceeding
• Serve as an office of notice or office of record (although visitors are welcome to meet with the ombud to discuss how to initiate formal proceedings)
• Breach confidentiality

The Faculty Ombud serves the Southern Miss Community

In addition to serving as a confidential sounding board for problems and providing guidance with university policies, the Faculty Ombud identifies problems with university policies and procedures and can request that appropriate administrators or committees address these problems before they lead to broader conflicts. The ombud provides the Office of the President with an annual report identifying troubling trends or policies in need of revision (without disclosing identifying or confidential information) and, throughout the year, may make informal requests to university administrators to ensure that policies and procedures are being adhered to or, if need be, are revised.

If are concerned that university policies are not being followed or have ideas about how the university might serve its faculty better, you can report these concerns to the ombud.