For Staff/Faculty
Explore these categories of tips and resources for additional support
University Ombuds Services
The ombuds offers staff and faculty approaches to address conflicts, disputes, complaints, and concerns in a direct, respectful and professional way. The ombuds can be a sounding board for any work-related challenge, including academic or administrative concerns, interpersonal misunderstandings or conflict. The ombuds can also discuss approaches to elevating your concerns. The ombuds is impartial, so unlike most resources they can offer an objective perspective while adhering to the strictest levels of confidentiality. It is not the practice of the office to intervene or advocate in matters. Rather, we empower visitors to resolve issues themselves. Discussions help visitors identify options for fair and equitable outcomes.
You aren’t required to prepare anything before you meet with an ombuds, but it may be helpful to gather your thoughts—in writing or otherwise—so you can best express your concerns. Some questions that may help you focus your thoughts:
- What is the situation you want to address or improve?
- Who else is impacted by this situation?
- Bring in any documentation that you would like to share. The ombuds will not keep this material.
- What outcomes are you hoping for?
- Is there anything you have already done to address this situation?
- What internal or external barriers are preventing you from moving forward?
Common concerns
• Workplace mistreatment
• Discriminatory treatment
• Performance Reviews
• Benefits
• Conflicts with colleagues
• Understanding resources
• Concerns regarding employees
• Navigating bureaucracy
• Discipline
• Power Imbalances
• Authorship Disputes
Mediation is a voluntary and informal process where two or more individuals come together to work out their differences with the help of an impartial mediator. Participants develop their own solutions that fit the circumstances. Our process is to meet with each visitor individually beforehand to gain a general understanding of the situation before the mediation takes place.
If appropriate, multiple parties can be involved in the conversation. When the University Ombuds Office facilitates a conversation, the ombuds manages the process of the meeting, allowing the group to focus on the core issues. The ombuds empowers participants and enables leaders to participate fully in the matter at hand and work toward solutions or decisions. They are available at any stage of a discussion to help a department or individuals manage the conversation, whether a standard annual retreat or when dealing with difficult decisions or events.
The University Ombuds Office provides a range of workshops to help people improve communication and effectively address conflict. The ombuds also develops customized trainings for departments depending on the request.
Resources
Oregon State University has an array of resources to help you navigate issues. If you aren’t sure which resource to go to, you can make an appointment with our office to discuss your options.
Accountability and Integrity Hotline
The Accountability and Integrity hotline can be used to report suspected wrongdoing or breaches of ethical conduct within Oregon State University. OSU has contracted with EthicsPoint – an independent, third-party vendor – to provide a confidential and anonymous telephone and internet system for reporting any concerns. All reports made through this system will be reviewed by the Office of Audit, Risk and Compliance and then investigated by the appropriate office.
- Phone: 855-388-4971
- Website link to report concerns: www.oregonstate.ethicspoint.com
The Center for Advocacy, Prevention & Education
Survivor Advocacy Services at CAPE are confidential & legally privileged support services for survivors of interpersonal & gender based violence, and their allies. Confidential Advocates provide information about rights and choices along with resources and referrals to other services. Survivors can meet with CAPE advocates to personally discuss their options and what resources are available to them.
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 541-737-2030
The Department of Public Safety provides emergency and public safety services at OSU’s campuses in Corvallis and Bend, and supports public safety at OSU facilities throughout Oregon. Services on the Corvallis campus include licensed law enforcement by trained sworn officers. Public safety services on the Corvallis and OSU-Cascades campuses include security checks of buildings and responding to fire and medical emergencies. The department also provides Clery Act reporting and emergency management for the university and dispatch services for the Corvallis campus.
In case of an emergency: call 911
Corvallis campus 24/7 business line: 541-737-3010
OSU-Cascades 24/7 business line: 541-322-3110
Environmental Health and Safety
The department of Environmental Health and Safety helps maintain a safe and healthy university environment for staff, faculty, students and visitors. The department provides training, consultation, and safety and health services to assure the university complies with local, state and federal regulatory requirements. For questions or to report workplace environmental health or safety concerns, contact:
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 541-737-8257
EOA is responsible for overseeing compliance with civil rights and affirmative action laws, regulations, and policies. If your concern is in one of these areas, EOA may be the appropriate office.
If you would like to file a complaint related to Concern of Discrimination, DIscriminatory Harassment, or Retaliation see below link. Complaints of this nature are not confidential. If you would like to discuss what the process looks like before filing a complaint, you may wish to contact the ombuds office.
https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?OregonStateUniv&layout_id=4
If you would like to open a complaint related to Sexual Misconduct, you can follow the link below. Complaints of this nature are not confidential once filed with EOA. If you would like to discuss what the process looks like before filing a complaint, you may wish to contact the ombuds office, which is able to maintain confidentiality on these issues.
https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?OregonStateUniv&layout_id=2
Faculty Senate leadership and staff manage Senate affairs and will assist you to obtain the information that you seek.
The OSU Office of Human Resources is the university’s central office for human resource services, including employee support and services; leave and benefits; employment policies and programs; accident and incident reporting and more.
Contact Information
541-737-3103
Lyra offers a full spectrum of care offerings, from preventive to severe. No matter what you're facing or where you are in your mental health journey, Lyra is here for you. Start by taking a short assessment to share what you're experiencing. Based on your needs, Lyra will match you with confidential care options and compassionate providers.
877-235-7812
Office of Institutional Diversity
The Office of Institutional Diversity (OID) plans, leads and collaboratively implements institutional change actions to advance Oregon State University's inclusive excellence mission. OID coordinates the university's Bias Response Team (BRT) which is responsible for applying the Reported Bias Incident Response Protocol.
You can learn about the process here. As a reporter, you may have question about what happens when you submit a report; you can watch this video to learn about the steps taken after a report is submitted.
While the bias response process is private, it is not confidential.
The Office of Research Integrity supports OSU’s commitment to exceptional research by collaborating with faculty, staff, and students to facilitate and ensure ethical research and regulatory compliance. ORI focus areas include research misconduct, research conflicts of interest, animal welfare, human research protections, scientific diving and boating safety, export control, international compliance, and research security.
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 541-737-0663