Programs

Consultation, Mediation, Mediated Meetings

The program is intended to address disputes, complaints, and allegations of misconduct brought by faculty and faculty administrators. The issues (Problems, Concerns) addressed are limited to violations of Faculty Handbook Policies and Procedures, the Faculty Code of Conduct and the Faculty Complaint Procedure. Issues involving discrimination and Title IX will be referred to the appropriate campus office for those issues. All inquiries, consultations and mediations are kept confidential. The Ombuds and Mediators do not have any enforcement, investigative, disciplinary or evaluative authority. They are also not subject to discovery or testimony in any legal or administrative proceeding.

Process for Mediation

After the inquiry and consultation, a mediation can be instituted.

ombuds-flowchart-process

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STEP 1

Faculty Inquiry

STEP 2

Consultation - leads to one of the following - a or b or c

a) Explore options

  1. Applicable Faculty Handbook Policies
  2. Not applicable Handbook Policies or not in Ombuds jurisdiction
  3. Meets mediation timeline criteria

b) Discuss mediation

  1. Presentation of Mediation process
  2. Assist with the form requesting mediation
  3. Respondent contact information and agreement for contact
  4. Agreement for maintenance of confidentiality

c) Referral

  1. Discrimination
  2. Title IX
  3. Other

STEP 3

Send Request for mediation to the Respondent - leads to one of the following

a) If respondent answers no, explore options

  1. Other resources
  2. No mediation

b) If respondent answers yes, move to planning mediation

STEP 4

Plan Mediation

Lead mediator - interviews requestor to clarify goals and expectations for outcomes

  1. Collaboratively sets the date for mediation
  2. Ensures that participants understand the rules and guidelines for mediation
  3. Secures a site for mediation that is private
  4. Facilitates the mediation process

Secondary mediator - participated in all planning tasks

  1. Takes notes at mediation
  2. Develops the agreement and obtains signatures

STEP 5

Mediation

a) No agreement - Documents destroyed

b) Agreement - both sign

c) Documents destroyed except for agreement

University Faculty Ombuds Program

Contact

University Faculty Ombuds Program

ombuds@odu.edu
Directory
Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.–5 p.m.