Mission

Mission Statement

Ombuds serve employees, empowering them to constructively navigate challenges related to their experiences at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga.

• We build the community’s capacity to constructively manage current and future challenges, through individual consultations, mediations, and educational programming.
• We support organizational improvement by surfacing emerging concerns and systemic issues within the University.
• We contribute to the advancement of the Ombuds profession through leadership, research, and service to the International Ombuds community.

We Envision:

A MOC community who views conflict as a natural part of working with others and are empowered to constructively navigate challenges towards desired & innovative outcomes.

Our Values

In addition to following the International Ombudsman Association Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, which includes independence, impartiality, confidentiality, and informality, we are guided by the following:

We Believe

• Conflict and challenges are hard – no matter the size.
• Asking for help is a sign of strength.
• Stories are rarely simple & organized.
• There are many constructive ways to manage conflict.
• We’re comfortable with strong emotions & complexity.

We Believe

• In meeting people where they are.
• You are the expert of your own life.
• No one who comes to us needs fixing, just some help in getting unstuck.

We empower you to act in alignment with your goals & interests.

Our Charter

The Office of the Ombudsperson provides services to the campus community following the Office of Ombuds Charter, in which we explain how we work with ombuds visitors and how we strive to meet the International Ombuds Association Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

*The Office of Ombuds Services is not an office of notice and is not an office of record.  Communication to the Office will not constitute formal notice to the University of any alleged violations of law, regulations, or policies.  Although visitors to the Office may make such allegations, the Office is not a “campus security authority” as defined by the Clery Act or an “official . . . who has authority to institute corrective measures” under Title IX, nor is it required to report these allegations to the University.