660 Schermerhorn Extension Mail Code 5558
Telephone: (212) 854-1234
Fax: (212) 854-6046
101 Bard Hall, 50 Haven Avenue
Telephone: (212) 304-7026
E-mail: ombuds@columbia.edu
Web: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ombuds/
The Ombuds Offices offer confidential and neutral complaint handling, serving all campuses, seeking fair and equitable solutions to various problems through informal processes. They are available to the entire Columbia University community: students, faculty, and employees. Some types of issues brought to the Ombuds Offices include:
The Ombuds Offices will not report the names of visitors to the offices and will not act without permission, except in cases of serious threat to individual safety. The Ombuds Offices keep no records of specific complaints or individuals. However, the Ombuds Offices keep aggregate statistics of the types of complaints received by the office and—while maintaining individuals’ confidentiality—may periodically report problem areas to senior administrators and make recommendations for institutional improvements as appropriate. The Ombuds Offices also report directly to the President, not to any administrative office. The Ombuds Offices do not take sides and will not testify. The Ombuds Offices have no decision-making power and do not arbitrate or adjudicate.
A visitor to the Ombuds Offices can confidentially voice their concerns, evaluate their situation, and plan a particular course of action—if any. An ombuds officer will listen, offer information about Columbia University policies and procedures, and present a range of options for resolving a problem. The visitor selects the option they prefer. The Ombuds Offices also provide referrals to sources of expertise or decision making on particular issues or procedures. With permission, the Ombuds Offices may conduct informal and impartial investigations, facilitate communication, use shuttle diplomacy, conciliate, or mediate a dispute.