The Ombuds Office operates confidentially. That means we do not disclose who used - or did not use - the office. We make - and keep - the promise of confidentiality to the University community in the hopes that individuals will feel safe using our services. This confidentiality cannot be "waived" by users of the office because the privilege of confidentiality does not belong to users of the office. It belongs to the Office. In matters which become formal grievances or legal actions, the Ombuds Office staff will not testify - either for or against you.

Because of its unique informal, problem-solving role, speaking to the Ombuds Office about a concern does NOT constitute legal "notice" to the institution that the problem exists. Anyone wishing to "put the institution on notice" may contact an administrator or invoke formal grievance procedures. The Ombuds Office can provide referral information about "who to contact" for anyone seeking to use administrative or formal grievance options.

We do not participate in formal grievance processes for at least three reasons:

1. Our work is intended to be kept confidential.

Participating in formal grievance procedures would violate this intention by acknowledging that we had conversations with individuals about issues that we promised to keep confidential.
2. Formal grievance procedures, by definition, are adversarial. Our role is to remain impartial. Providing information that might assist one party - to the detriment of another - violates this aspect of the mission of our office.
3. Our only role is to provide informal problem-solving assistance. In most cases, we do not have proof of the truth of individual allegations. We only know what we were told. 

It should be noted that using the Ombuds Office does not prevent anyone from using existing administrative or formal grievance procedures. Our lack of participation in such proceedings does not prevent the use of evidence or witnesses which may exist to help an individual "prove his/her case."

Limits of Confidentiality

The Ombuds Office cannot guarantee confidentiality when:

1. An Ombuds Office staff member witnesses a crime.
2. An Ombuds Office staff member is told by a user of the Office about the intent of an individual to harm him/herself or another.

When there is a legal subpoena requiring that the Ombuds Office testify or turn over records, we will seek legal counsel to "quash" the subpoena and prevent our testimony.