When to contact Ombuds Services
Contact Us
- FACULTY OMBUDS
Renee Smith
Kimbel Library 210
843-349-2727
By appointment
Virtual and in-person meetings available. - STAFF OMBUDS
John Dooley
Kimbel Library 210
843-349-2209
Office Hours Tue/Wed/Thurs 8:00-4:30
Virtual and in-person meetings available.
- When you have a problem or complaint and wish to talk informally through options with someone not directly involved
- When you are not sure what to do or who to talk with within the University community
- When you want to know more about University policies and how to understand them
- When you feel your problem has not been heard
- When you want to learn ways of resolving conflict on your own
What we do
- Listen to your concerns and questions
- Help you identify underlying issues
- Identify and explore options and next steps
- Discuss resolution strategies
- Provide another—and an impartial—perspective
- Help you prepare for a difficult conversation with another person
- Facilitate difficult conversations as an impartial third party
- Help open avenues of communication
- Suggest resources and make referrals to appropriate resources
- Assist in sorting through why communications you’ve tried may have broken down, and offer some ways to address the situation
- Provide coaching
- Gather more information about your situation, when you ask
- Track patterns of perceived challenges on campus, while maintaining confidentiality
- Suggest strategies for addressing systemic issues present on campus as appropriate
What we don't do
- Do NOT maintain records (paper nor electronic) that identify you as a visitor
- Do NOT represent individuals in formal procedures
- Do NOT conduct or participate in formal investigations or processes
- Do NOT formally and/ or professionally adjudicate, arbitrate or mediate issues (although we may use mediation strategies for shuttle diplomacy)
- Do NOT make binding decisions
- Do NOT provide professional psychological counseling or legal advice or services
- Do NOT testify or gather evidence for formal administrative processes
- Do NOT advocate for individuals or departments (we advocate for a fair process)
- Do NOT revise or rescind any policies, rules or procedures
- Do NOT serve as an office of record or an agent of notice for the University
Types of issues we explore
- Interpersonal conflict or difficulties; supervisor-supervisee conflicts and colleague relations; a troubling evaluation or assessment
- Issue clarification or untangling a complicated situation; competing perspectives or agendas; misunderstandings based on cultural perspectives
- Confusion about a University policy, or the perception that a policy has been applied unfairly; uncertainty about what department or office could assist you; information about formal processes for resolving your concerns
- Ethical issues and CCU values, instances of misconduct or unprofessional conduct
- Perceived retaliation or fear of retaliation: fear of coming forward or of acting to stop unacceptable behavior
- Perceived unfair treatment, harassment, discrimination, abuse of power, bullying
- Career/personal coaching: help writing a reference, evaluation, commendation, a letter of concern, or responses
- Improving communications: assistance with difficult conversations in performance appraisal or disciplinary action; help to move beyond a perceived impasse in a work relationship; information about formal processes for resolving your concerns
- Health and safety concerns at the workplace
- Suggestions for improvement at CCU
- Identifying strategies for overcoming interpersonal barriers in the workplace; working conditions, campus cultural changes