{"id":79418,"date":"2013-06-19T08:43:40","date_gmt":"2013-06-19T12:43:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=79418"},"modified":"2013-06-24T09:58:26","modified_gmt":"2013-06-24T13:58:26","slug":"a-conversation-with-jim-wohl-uconns-new-university-ombuds-officer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2013\/06\/a-conversation-with-jim-wohl-uconns-new-university-ombuds-officer\/","title":{"rendered":"A Conversation With Jim Wohl, UConn\u2019s New University Ombuds Officer"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Jim<\/a>
Jim Wohl, University Ombuds, at his office in Homer Babbidge Library. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jim Wohl recently joined UConn as its new University Ombuds, coming to Storrs from his previous position as University Ombudsperson and professor of veterinary medicine at Auburn University.<\/p>\n

Wohl<\/a>, a native of Schenectady, N.Y., was a practicing veterinarian and Auburn faculty member when he started exploring his growing interest in conflict management several years ago. It led him to roles in workplace mediation in higher education and the power industry, and also a stint as interim University Ombudsperson at Louisiana State.<\/p>\n

He became Auburn\u2019s founding Ombudsperson in 2008, and joined UConn this spring when President Susan Herbst revived<\/a> the Ombuds Office that was previously in place from 1970 to 1991. The University has also updated the office\u2019s charter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

An ombuds office helps workers find strategies and solutions to workplace difficulties, improving their on-the-job experiences and the efficiency and operations of the institution as a whole.<\/p>\n

The UConn Ombuds Office is located on the second floor of the Homer Babbidge Library<\/a>, in rooms 2-189 and 2-191 of the Jausz Family Reading Room of the Art and Design Library.<\/p>\n

Wohl invites University employees and graduate students to call him at 860-486-5143<\/b> to learn more about how his services can help or to schedule an appointment to talk in person.<\/p>\n

Undergraduate students are asked to continue to contact the Office of Student Services and Advocacy<\/a> in the Division of Student Affairs with questions or concerns that may be affecting their educational or personal goals.<\/p>\n

Wohl sat down recently with UConn Today\u2019s Stephanie Reitz to answer some of the questions that may be on people\u2019s minds.<\/p>\n

———<\/p>\n

Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 First, the basics. What does an ombuds officer do and not do, and what services does your office provide?<\/i>
\n<\/b>A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The office is designed for faculty and non-faculty employees, administrators, and graduate students at Storrs and the regional campuses<\/a>. It\u2019s an off-the-record, informal resource for people to address any concerns that are affecting their work experiences at UConn. It\u2019s important to understand that it doesn\u2019t replace other offices<\/a> that are set up to address specific concerns, but is a supplement to them.<\/p>\n

Ideally, it\u2019s a resource for conflict management at the very earliest phase of a problem when it can be identified and addressed, rather than being allowed to ripen over a period of time. We\u2019ll end up talking about different options and strategies \u2013 they can range from finding coping strategies to, on the other end of the spectrum, identifying the formal offices where they can report a concern for follow-up. Options in between might include helping them prepare for a conversation they believe may be difficult, or helping identify signals that a situation has the potential to get better.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what an ombuds officer doesn\u2019t do: I have no authority to force anyone to make any decisions, and I can\u2019t overturn any decisions. I don\u2019t have reporting lines that give me authority over anyone else. From a neutral position, I assist people to try to find mutually agreeable solutions.<\/p>\n

Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It can be difficult for people to talk about conflicts they have with another person, given that even acknowledging those conflicts can exacerbate the tension. Do both sides of a dispute need to participate in the ombuds process?<\/i>
\n<\/b>A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Absolutely not. The whole idea is to preserve confidentiality to the strictest extent permitted by law so people know that when they\u2019re coming here, it\u2019s a safe place to have a candid conversation without fear of retaliation.<\/p>\n

That being said, there may be times when each party wants to come together and discuss the issue, and doing that with an ombuds to help guide the conversation and consider the options can be very productive. They would need to be mutually agreeable to that, though \u2013 I won\u2019t speak to anyone else without the person\u2019s permission, even to the extent of confirming that a conversation with me took place.<\/p>\n

Q. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What principles guide you and the ombuds process?
\n<\/i><\/b>A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There are four of them<\/a>, and they\u2019re very clear-cut.<\/p>\n

The first is confidentiality, and that\u2019s the cornerstone. Our discussions are always confidential to the extent permitted by law, with the only limitation being if something is discussed that includes the imminent risk of serious harm. Beyond that, it\u2019s important that people feel safe that it\u2019s a private conversation.<\/p>\n

The second principle is informality, by which we mean that the Ombuds Office isn\u2019t considered a formal \u201coffice of notice\u201d for the University and doesn\u2019t participate in formal compliance and personnel matters or investigations. There may be times when people attempt to seek a solution through the Ombuds Office and a solution isn\u2019t reached, and it goes to a grievance process \u2013 but I don\u2019t participate in that. There are no official records kept at the office beyond non-confidential annual reports I would prepare on its overall operations.<\/p>\n

Another important principle is neutrality. I don\u2019t serve as an advocate for the University nor for any individual who visits the office. Instead, my energy is focused on surfacing the interests of everyone involved. That can often be the best way to find a workable and mutually agreeable solution.<\/p>\n

The final principle is independence. It\u2019s a common and fair question to be asked how someone in the ombuds role can be independent when you\u2019re being paid by the University like everyone else and working under the same rules. But one of the benefits of being among the workforce is that it gives the ombuds officer a good understanding of the rules, being that I have to live by them like everyone else.<\/p>\n

The independence is also affirmed by the way the office is structured. I report directly to President Herbst, but she doesn\u2019t regulate my day-to-day activities. Since the position isn\u2019t pulled into the reporting structure of another office on campus, I can remain independent of those offices. At the same time, I also have access to the people on the management side of the institution to look for solutions to meet everyone\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n

Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Can I email you about my problem?
\n<\/i><\/b>A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I won\u2019t communicate anything substantive over email, largely because email is never a safe place to discuss sensitive issues. It is not a confidential medium, and as I said, privacy is critical to this process. It\u2019s OK to reach out by email to set up a time to talk, but the telephone or face to face is the much more preferred method of discussing an issue.<\/p>\n

I also do discourage people from spontaneously dropping by the office because I like to be able to manage by appointment as people are coming and going. That\u2019s another way to help ensure everyone\u2019s confidentiality and comfort in the privacy of the process.<\/p>\n

Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 My schedule can make it difficult for me to meet with you during business hours, especially if I\u2019m generally at another campus and don\u2019t get to Storrs often. Am I out of luck?
\n<\/i><\/b>A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This office is a resource to the entire University and its workforce and graduate students, and that\u2019s not limited by geography. I\u2019m visiting the five regional campuses this summer and starting the process of getting to know as many people as I can, and getting the word out that the office is available.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll travel, I\u2019ll meet with people on weekends and after hours. I know it can be difficult for people to get away and meet during office hours or get to my office, so I\u2019ll do all that I can to be flexible. I\u2019ll meet with people wherever and whenever they\u2019re most comfortable.<\/p>\n

Though the Health Center and Law School have personnel systems that are unique to their campuses, I’m still available to employees and graduate students there if I can be helpful.<\/p>\n

Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What were your first impressions of UConn? Do you have any favorite spots on campus yet? Have you settled on a favorite ice cream at the <\/i><\/b>Dairy Bar<\/i><\/b><\/a>?
\n<\/i><\/b>A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I had a really positive feeling right away when I visited for the interview. There was a really palpable sense of excitement about the future and a commitment to finding quality solutions to workplace problems. The enthusiasm was contagious, and every day that I\u2019ve been here has been satisfying and fascinating, in all sincerity.<\/p>\n

One of my favorite spots is the shaded space behind The Benton<\/a>. It\u2019s so beautiful and peaceful. But I think my very favorite spot has to be the [Albert E. Waugh] sundial garden \u2013 I\u2019ve been able to see spring blossom there and all around campus and it\u2019s been amazing.<\/p>\n

And at the Dairy Bar, it\u2019s Husky Tracks for me, definitely. It\u2019s fantastic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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