The Office of the Ombudsperson provides informal conflict resolution to help students, staff and faculty deal with questions or problems. The Ombudsperson serves as a confidential, neutral, independent resource. All requests and consultations are treated in the strictest confidence. The only exception to confidentiality is when there is indication of possible harm to someone. The Office of the Ombudsperson is not an office of notice, and illegal or unethical actions will not be reported to the University.
Services of the Office of the Ombudsperson include listening, providing information, conducting informal investigations, helping visitors identify possible solutions to problems, carrying out shuttle diplomacy, facilitating meetings, and mediating. The Ombudsperson can be contacted at any point in a situation. The Ombudsperson can offer guidance when visitors do not know where to begin to address a problem; when sensitive issues make standard processes for conflict resolution inappropriate; or as a last resort, when regular channels have been unsatisfactory. The office seeks to ensure that visitors are heard and treated fairly and that processes and procedures have been carried out appropriately. Information given to the office about illegal or unethical behavior does not put the University on notice
The Office of the Ombudsperson is located at C108 Seashore Hall. The telephone number is 335-3608, and the email address is ombudsperson@uiowa.edu. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. When possible, persons should call for an appointment, but written requests and drop-ins are welcome. Voice mail records messages left evenings and weekends or if the phones are busy. The Office of the Ombudsperson website, located at http://www.uiowa.edu/~ooombuds/ describes the office and provides additional resources.