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Welcome to the Office of the Ombudsperson
The Ombuds Office at Hampshire College operates to ensure that all members of the faculty and staff receive fair and equitable treatment, and are given an opportunity to have an impartial assessment of a situation or concern.
The Ombudsperson is a member of, and subscribes to, the Standards of Practice and the Code of Ethics of The International Ombudsman Association.
Function of the Ombuds Office
The Ombuds Office operates on three basic principles: neutrality, independence and confidentiality. Reporting directly to the president, the ombudsperson provides a neutral and confidential resource for the handling of complaints, conflicts, or disputes outside of the normal management channels. The ombudsperson, as a designated neutral, has the responsibility of maintaining strict confidentiality concerning matters that are brought to her attention unless given permission by the visitor to do otherwise. The only exception, at the sole discretion of the ombudsperson, is where there appears to be imminent threat of serious harm to the visitor or to the Hampshire College community. The ombudsperson is charged with the responsibility of identifying harmful problems or trends to the administration, and suggests where attention should be directed to avoid those problems.
How Can the Ombuds Office Help Me?
The ombudsperson will help visitors find solutions, options and strategies for dealing with a particular concern or complaint, refer visitors to other resources and advocates, conduct informal investigations, and mediate or facilitate conversations between two or more people or groups. The ombudsperson's role is to provide a neutral and safe environment for these discussions.
The Ombuds Office cannot keep formal college records, perform formal investigations, advocate for either one party or another, or act on third-party complaints. The office does not have the power to make, change or set aside administrative decisions.
Examples of Concerns that may be Brought to the Ombuds Office
Safety problems
Discrimination
Unfair treatment
Discipline
Fear of retaliation
Working conditions
Performance evaluation
Harassment
Workplace disputes between employees
Policy interpretation
Supervisory issues
How Do I Reach the Ombudsperson?
You may e-mail or call the ombudsperson at anytime, or visit the office (Rm. 212 in the library) on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Ruth B. Thornton, Ombudsperson
Rm. 212 in the Library
Telephone (413) 559-6077
E-mail: rthornton@hampshire.edu
Please remember that e-mail is not appropriate for confidential communications. Due to the confidential, neutral, informal and independent function of the Ombuds Office, communication with the office does not constitute notice to the College.
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