Initiative 5: Advocacy & Support
Act as advocates for the elimination of institutional barriers that can impede the advancement of some members of our campus community and support institutional practices that promote equitable progress.
5.1 Ombuds Services for Employees
Independence, Impartiality, Neutrality, Confidentiality, and Informality
Statement of Purpose and Goals
During the last seven years, the Vice President for Intercultural Affairs has provided Ombuds Services for Loyola Marymount University (LMU) employees. While serving LMU in the capacity of Ombudsperson, the Vice President for Intercultural Affairs acts as an independent, impartial, neutral, confidential and informal resource for faculty, staff and administrators seeking to address on an informal basis University-related problems, disputes and complaints. According to the International Ombudsman Association (IOA), Ombudsperson services:
· Demonstrate that an organization is interested in the quality of work life for employees
· Increase employee satisfaction with work environments
· Provide all parties a voice without fear of reprisal
· Provide a safety net for issues not addressed through normal channels
· Limit the escalation of situations
· Provide savings in resources, especially if litigation is avoided
The goals for LMU’s Ombuds Services are to help employees identify underlying causes of problems, facilitate fair and respectful interactions, establish problem-solving options and foster informal resolutions.
The Ombuds Network serves a as bridge between the vice president for intercultural affairs and the equal employment opportunity (EEO) specialist in human resources. These administrators share responsibilities and coordinate communication to strengthen the campus community. The network facilitates the complaint process, providing multiple entry points into the reporting of bias incidents. It consists of six individuals: two staff, two faculty and two students. Members of the network receive bias complaints and advocate on behalf of complainants during the resolution process. The EEO specialist provides training on procedures, community resources, diversity issues and conflict mediation for network members.
Back to list of Initiatives
Strategic Goal 5: Advocacy & Support