The Ombuds will:
- Listen to your questions and concerns
- Maintain confidentiality
- Help identify and evaluate options
- Offer an impartial, non-judgmental perspective
- Facilitate difficult conversations as a neutral third-party
- Help determine and access UC Merced policies
- Make referrals to appropriate resources
- Informally inquire into issues of concern, if appropriate
- Help facilitate a just resolution to problems and disputes, if possible
- Advocate for fair processes and recommend changes in UC Merced policy, if appropriate
- Provide training for conflict management skills
- Recommend constructive change in university policies and procedures
The office supplements, but does not replace, existing resources for conflict resolution at UC Merced. If you are not satisfied with informal attempts at resolving a conflict, you may choose to initiate a grievance process. The ombuds can give you information about these types of formal processes but cannot handle or get involved with them.
Consulting the office is completely voluntary. All members of the university community can speak with the office. Retaliation for exercising that right will not be tolerated.
If at any time there is a perceived conflict of interest, the Ombuds may refer the visitor to an Ombuds at another UC location. Constituents may contact the office anonymously to request off-campus referrals.
