Our Principles

The office operates under the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the International Ombudsman Association (IOA), which includes:

• Confidentiality. The Ombuds Office will not reveal a visitor’s identity or concerns to anyone without the visitor’s permission (and even then at the sole discretion of the Ombuds). The only exception is when the Ombuds believes that disclosure is necessary to address an imminent risk of serious harm.
• Independence. The Ombuds Office reports to the President for administrative and budgetary purposes only. The Ombuds will not provide anyone with personally identifying information concerning any visitor to the Ombuds Office, unless requested by the visitor and agreed to by the Ombuds Office. The Ombuds Office has sole discretion over whether and how to deal with a case or systemic concerns.
• Impartiality. The Ombuds Office helps to identify the rights, interests and perspectives of all parties, and does not take sides. The Ombuds Office is, however, an advocate for fair and equitable processes.
• Informality. The Ombuds Office is an informal, off-the-record resource, and does not participate in any formal adjudicative or administrative proceedings, but will inform the visitor about the availability of formal procedures, if appropriate. Use of the Ombuds Office is voluntary and not a required step in any grievance or policy.