Welcome!

Your concerns are very important to us and we are committed to working with you. We will schedule an appointment for you as soon as we can, which may be within several days or up to a week.  Thank you for your patience.

Please call or email to make an appointment with an Ombudsperson. 

The Office of the Ombudsperson offers appointments by Zoom, Phone, or In-Person. To schedule an appointment with an ombudsperson, please call 319-335-3608 or email us at ombudsperson@uiowa.edu. 

No problem too big or too small.  Let's talk!

The Office of the Ombudsperson is a resource for any member of the university community -- including students, faculty, staff, postdocs, residents and fellow-- with a problem or concern. We provide informal conflict resolution, mediation services and advocacy for fair treatment and fair process.  Our services are:

• Confidential
• Impartial 
• Informal, and
• Independent

We offer a safe place to discuss conflicts or any concerns you might have about the university or its policies or procedures, and we will answer your questions, help you figure out your options, refer you to other offices if necessary, and help you resolve your concerns (see How We Can Help).  The University of Iowa Operations Manual prohibits retaliation against staff, faculty and students for contacting the Ombuds Office  (see Job Security and Protection of Students).

• “Outstanding Resource! Open and honest communication process with excellent advice moving forward. ~ Anonymous Visitor
• “The Ombuds listened carefully to concerns and had great feedback for our group.” ~ Anonymous Visitor
• “The person I talked to was very understanding. It gave me hope that things would get better at work.” ~ Anonymous Visitor

This video provides an overview of the Ombuds profession:

We look forward to working with you.  Our contact information is located in the About Us section of our website.

Note to Our Visitors:

The Office of the Ombudsperson is based on the principles of confidentiality, impartiality, informality and independence.  By deciding to speak with an ombudsperson, you understand that we will abide by these principles.  This means that you understand that the Ombuds Office does not keep records of or disclose confidential information; the Ombuds will not participate in or testify in any formal proceeding, even if asked; and talking with an ombudsperson does not mean that you are notifying The University of Iowa about your concerns. Please be aware that the Office of the Ombudsperson cannot guarantee the security of confidential information via email. Phone contact is encouraged for the submission of information.