What is an Ombudsman?
What is the Role?
What Services are Provided?
When Might I Want to Talk to the Ombudsman?
Standards of Practice
How Can I Contact the Ombudsman?

What is the Ombuds' Role?

Ombuds strive to foster equitable treatment of all faculty, graduate students, post docs, undergraduate students and staff within the University system. Ombuds provide an independent, neutral point of view in an informal and confidential environment. All Ombuds at Clemson adhere to the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the International Ombudsman Association, as explained below. We are not part of any administrative structure at Clemson, and refrain from making policy, administrative decisions, or conducting formal investigations.

Confidential
Private confidential meetings can be arranged at your convenience. All communications will be treated with strict confidentiality. Ombuds will not identify you or discuss your personal concerns with anyone unless, within the course of your conversations with the Ombudsman, you and the Ombudsman both deem it appropriate to do so. The only exception to confidentiality is when an Ombudsman determines that there is risk of imminent harm. Matters discussed with an Ombudsman are considered confidential, “off the record,” and do not constitute formal notice of any claims to Clemson University. The Ombuds Office is made available to visitors with the express understanding that it provides them with a confidential, independent, neutral and alternate channel of communication. Use of the Ombuds Office constitutes an agreement not to seek to compel an ombudsman to reveal confidential communications in formal or legal proceedings.

Independent, Fair and Impartial
Ombuds work toward resolutions based on principles of fairness. Ombuds are neither advocates for faculty, administration, students or staff, nor agents of the University, but are advocates of fair processes.