Based on its experience
helping faculty, staff, and students resolve complaints,
the Office of the
Ombudsperson recommends a University-wide climate
study to gauge impressions about what it’s
like to work and study at the University.
The office’s annual report notes that such
studies at other universities have provided valuable
information about academic climate, diversity issues,
and civility in the workplace, all of which address
concerns brought to the ombudsperson in the last
year.
“The budget cuts have led to fewer people
doing more work, our diversity numbers have fallen
off a bit, and we continue to hear about serious
incidents of incivility,” says Maile Sagen,
University ombudsperson. “It’s a good
time for us to take a step back and address the climate
on campus and how it affects our academic and work
lives.”
Continuing a trend from last year, faculty, staff,
and students are concerned about the economy and
its effect on the University budget, the report indicates.
But overall anxiety seems to be diminishing as the
office reports a return to a more average number
of cases in 2002-03 after a record high in 2001-02.
The office reports 303 new cases this year, down
from 393 a year ago. The largest volume of cases
was among staff members (168), followed by students
(82) and faculty (48).
Among staff, complaints from merit staff increased
to 77 this year, up from 57 last year. P&S staff
complaints decreased to 91 from 101 last year. Both
merit and P&S staff expressed a great deal of
concern about budget cuts and future employment and
noted increased workloads due to an overall reduction
in the workforce.
The number of faculty cases did not change significantly
from a year ago and most dealt with conflicts between
colleagues and department chairs, tenure and promotion
issues, posttenure review, and leave policies.
The number of student cases was down significantly
from a high of 175 last year, mostly as a result
of a decrease in the number of complaints filed by
large numbers of undergraduate or graduate students
in the same department or academic program, the report
says. The majority of student concerns have to do
with academic issues such as grades and grade appeals,
changes in curriculum and graduation requirements,
drop/add questions, and conflicts with individual
faculty members or advisers.
The report praises the College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences for its 2003 Chautauqua series, which provided
a framework for a campuswide discussion about the
economic difficulties faced by public universities
today. Also singled out for praise was the May 2003
special edition of University Hospitals and Clinics’ Compass,
which features the “I CARE Principles for Working
Together.”
The Office of the Ombudsperson serves faculty,
staff, and students by offering a confidential, neutral,
and independent dispute resolution service.
The full text of the report is available online
at www.uiowa.edu/~ooombuds.
by Mary Geraghty Kenyon
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