Our Principles

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Ombuds Office follows the code of ethics and standards of practice of The International Ombuds Association.

Our office charter provides additional information about these principles and the University’s commitment to the Ombuds Office.

We are Confidential

We are committed to providing a space in which individuals feel they can speak candidly and openly about anything that is important to them, no matter how challenging, sensitive, or complex.

The principle of confidentiality is foundational to our work and supports this commitment. We will not identify you or discuss your concerns with anyone without your permission, unless we believe disclosure is necessary to address an imminent risk of serious harm, we suspect abuse or neglect of a child or disabled adult, we are defending against a formal claim of professional misconduct, or we are otherwise required by law to make the disclosure.

We do not keep permanent, identifying records on behalf of the University and we take all reasonable steps to safeguard both the fact that a person has visited the ombuds office, and the content of their conversations with an ombuds.

We are Informal

The Ombuds Office provides you with a unique opportunity to informally explore a range of approaches and options for improving a situation or addressing a concern.

We adhere to this principle of informality by serving as an “off the record” resource. This means your communications with our office do not put the University “on notice” – or make the University aware – of a problem. It also means we don’t maintain records on behalf of the University, conduct investigations, adjudicate complaints, or take part in formal processes such as grievances or other administrative actions.

Informality supports individual agency and informed decision-making, providing you with the freedom to fully explore options, both formal and informal, without us imposing a specific path. As an informal and voluntary resource, the Ombuds Office is not a substitute for, nor a required step in, any formal on-campus or external process or other opportunity available to you.

We are Impartial

We are unaligned and impartial. In practice, that means we aren’t here to represent, or advocate for, any person, group, entity, or outcome, including the University. We advocate for fair policies, processes, and practices, and for fully informed decision-making. The responsibility and authority for making judgements about who is right and who is wrong rests with others on campus. We work hard to remain impartial and are careful to avoid or disclose any potential conflict of interest.

We are Independent

The Ombuds Office reports directly to the Chancellor and is not budgetarily or operationally aligned with any other campus department or unit. University leadership respects and honors the independence of the Ombuds Office and has affirmed the importance of the principles of autonomy and independence outlined in the office Charter. In turn, we endeavor to be a trustworthy resource, deserving of the trust placed in us by the University community.