Standards of Practice

One of the cornerstones of our office is confidentiality. We don’t keep records of your visit, and any documents you share with us will be returned to you. However, it’s important to note that confidentiality has its limits. The Ombuds Office is confidential except in situations where there is an imminent risk of harm to yourself or others as well as situations that implicate Title IX (sex or gender-based harassment or discrimination). In these instances, we will explicitly describe our reporting obligation to you.

If a visitor wishes to create a record or put the University “on notice”, we can provide information on how to do so. However, because of the confidentiality inherent in Ombuds communications, communication with this office does not constitute notice to the University of Cincinnati.

The Ombuds Office is an informal resource. We do not facilitate or participate in any formal adjudicative or administrative procedures. However, we may discuss formal processes as an option if appropriate for your situation and frequently support individuals before, during, and after formal processes. Our role is to help you, and others, explore options and support you as you engage with the issue. 

As a designated neutral party, the ombuds remains unaligned and impartial. We do not take sides but rather take a multi-partial perspective and avoid engaging in any situation that could create a conflict of interest. Our goal is to facilitate fair and unbiased conversations, ensuring that everyone’s concerns are heard and considered.

The ombuds team operates independently in structure, function and appearance to the highest degree possible. This independence from other university departments and functions allows us to maintain impartial and provide support without external influence, ensuring that our services are as effective and unbiased as possible.