by Wendy J. Allyn

After expressing dissatisfaction with its service to students,

Undergraduate Student Government members have agreed to work in cooperation with SIUC’s Office of the University Ombudsman.

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USG President Duane Sherman said he received comments from some students that the ombudsman office did not adequately help them with grievances they had against the University. He said he has since received a better idea of the function the ombudsman serves and plans to cooperate with the office.

Lynn Connley, acting director of the ombudsman office, said the ombudsman aids SIUC students, faculty and staff in resolving complaints and grievances members of the University community may have within or against the institution.

We are not part of any formal grievance process, Connley said. We try and keep things from becoming grievances. If that is not possible, the formal mechanisms are there, and we advise a client about what the process entails.

She said the ombudsman office has handled the majority of its cases successfully. According to the offices 1994 report, the ombudsman resolved 357 of 407 cases informally between the parties in conflict. The other 50 cases required appeals or further procedures.

Sherman said he intended to examine ways of improving ombudsman services to students, possibly by establishing a student-run ombudsman committee within USG.

Connely said the office already has an advisory panel of representatives from campus groups which USG can participate in.

The panel, which meets twice a year, allows campus constituency groups, such as USG and the Graduate and Professional Student Council, to address concerns of their student constituents regarding the ombudsman.

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Connley said USG could already be addressing its constituents concerns on the panel but has not yet participated in any panel meetings this year.

USG has not had an active part for some time, Connley said. Because they represent the largest body of persons, there’s a link in the chain that’s missing.

After meeting with ombudsman office personnel last week, Sherman said USG will serve on the advisory panel, and other cooperative efforts are being planned between USG and the ombudsman office.

Connley said Sherman may have had an incorrect perception of what the office provides because students frequently misinterpret the role of the ombudsman. She said because of its confidentiality policies, the office does not advertise and this can lead to confusion over the ombudsman’s function.

We’re a low profile organization, Connley said. We don’t shout from the rooftops what we do here. Students can be here two or three years before they know what the word ombudsman even is.

Sherman said he has learned that the ombudsman is a neutral problem solver and not an advocacy service for students. He said he suggested that the ombudsman create a service for students who are seeking individual advocacy to be referred to USG.

They can’t take sides, Sherman said. They can just mediate for reasons of fairness. We’re trying to set up a kind of referral service. Where they (the ombudsman) left off, USG could go the extra mile for students.

Sherman said because the ombudsman office gives out information, he also suggested USG assist the office in setting up a home page for the office through the Campus-Wide Information System. With the home page, Sherman said information would be available to students by computer and could save students having to make an office appointment to acquire names or numbers.

Connley said she is willing to explore working with Sherman’s suggestions.