The Pacific University Ombuds Resource
Independent, impartial, informal, and confidential support for staff and faculty navigating university-related concerns and conflict. A trusted place to talk through challenges, explore options, and find constructive ways forward.
Meet Your Ombuds
Derrick Johnson
Pacific Ombuds Team Member
Derrick is an ombuds with MWI who has served in education and counseling for over 15 years. He partners with employees and stakeholders to navigate workplace and academic conflicts and develop effective, equitable solutions.
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Birthe Reimers, Ph.D.
Pacific Ombuds Team Member
Birthe is an experienced ombuds, mediator, coach, and conflict scholar-practitioner with nearly two decades of experience helping organizations navigate conflict and strengthen workplace culture.
View full profile →What Is the Ombuds Resource?
The ombuds is an independent, informal resource for discussing university-related concerns, exploring options, and navigating difficult situations. You can bring questions, challenges, or conflicts of any kind and work through them in a thoughtful, low-risk way.
How the Ombuds Resource Can Help
How We Can Help
- Listen and provide a confidential space to talk
- Help you clarify concerns and explore options
- Prepare for and navigate difficult conversations
- Identify helpful resources and next steps
- Surface patterns and concerns anonymously to leadership
What We Do Not Do
- Conduct formal investigations
- Make decisions or enforce outcomes
- Advocate for any one person or the university
- Replace Human Resources or legal processes
- Receive official notice for the university
- Keep records that identify you
Ways We Can Support You
In addition to one-on-one support, the ombuds offers a range of services to help individuals, teams, and the university navigate conflict and work more effectively.
One-on-One Conversations
A confidential space to talk through concerns, clarify options, and prepare for next steps.
Facilitated Conversations
Support for constructive, forward-looking conversations between individuals.
Team and Group Support
Facilitation and support for teams working through challenges, communication issues, or conflict.
Workshops and Training
Practical sessions on communication, feedback, conflict management, and workplace skills.
Organizational Insight
Identifying patterns and trends to inform improvements in systems, practices, and workplace culture.
What Makes An Ombuds Different
The ombuds operates according to four core principles that help create a safe, fair, and trusted experience.
Confidential
The ombuds will not share what you discuss, or even that you met, without your permission, except in rare situations involving imminent risk of serious harm.
Impartial
The ombuds does not take sides for any individual or the university.
Informal
The ombuds is an off-the-record resource and does not participate in formal processes.
Independent
The ombuds operates outside management structures and is not part of formal reporting channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
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More Questions
What is the ombuds resource?
The ombuds is an independent, informal resource for discussing university-related concerns, exploring options, and navigating difficult situations in a confidential setting.
Are there limits to confidentiality?
Confidentiality is maintained except in rare situations involving imminent risk of serious harm or where required by law.
Do I need to prepare before reaching out?
No preparation is required. You can come as you are and talk through your situation.
Still have a question? Contact the ombuds team.
Connect with an Ombuds Team Member
Whether you have a question, want to think through a situation, or need help preparing for a conversation, the ombuds team is here to support you.
What People Are Saying
Feedback from individuals who have worked with an ombuds.
“[The ombuds] was great! I really enjoyed [their] insight into the situation.”
“The most valuable part of my experience with an ombuds was their skill, and automatic place of neutrality - just helping both sides get to a resolution.”
“My ombuds was reassuring while guiding me through the process and helped me sift through conflicting information. [They were] a fantastic resource!”
Contact an Ombuds Team Member
Submit a confidential request to connect with an ombuds. A member of the ombuds team will respond within one business day.
Your submission is confidential.
The ombuds resource operates under a charter approved by President Jennifer Coyle and follows the International Ombuds Association Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. View the charter →