Overview
Chancellor Carlos Santiago has created a campus Ombuds Council to help enhance the campus work force climate. Formation of the Ombuds Council resulted from the Chancellor’s commitment to enhancing a supportive workplace environment for faculty and staff, and from the advisory recommendations from the Chancellor’s Council on Inclusion, as well as the recommendations of the Task Force on Women and the Task Force on Race and Ethnicity. The council will provide a neutral and confidential resource that will serve as a first step for individuals with an unresolved issue before they move to a more formal discussion, says Dr. Joan Prince, vice chancellor for Partnerships and Innovation, who is the executive staff member chairing the council. “This Ombuds program is another important development on our campus in support of the goals of the Chancellor’s Council for Inclusion,” said Chancellor Carlos E. Santiago. “I appreciate the willingness of all those now involved in this process to further improve UWM.” The Council, which consists of 14 members, is representative of faculty, academic staff, and classified employees, says Prince. The Council also includes the chairs of university governance committees and the Provost as ex-officio members. Individuals will be able to contact the council directly to set up appointments to talk. Council members will begin their duties on October 22, 2007.