A Magician?             A Lifesaver?           A Hall Monitor?             An Oracle?                

                  
A Referee?        A Peacemaker?        Fairness Fighters?        A Change Agent?

The term Ombuds is a Swedish word which refers to the people's representative, an appointed person who has a charge or commission. A university or college Ombuds is a designated neutral or impartial dispute resolution practitioner whose major function is to provide confidential and informal assistance to all constituents of the university or college community [e.g, students, staff, faculty, and administrators].

An Ombuds may serve as a facilitator to communication, go-between, mediator, informal fact-finder, or upward feedback provider. The Ombuds' function is located outside the ordinary line management structure. The Ombuds has access to anyone in the organization including the chief executive officer.

The Ombuds' role has a long and honorable tradition as a means of protecting against abuse, bias and other improper treatment or unfairness. A university or college Ombuds follows the Standards of Practice of The University and College Ombuds Association or to the similar precepts of another Ombuds association, or to the requirements of terms of reference.
 
 

Excerpts from the UCOA website: http://www.ucoa.org