Who can visit the Office of the Ombuds?
The Office of the Ombuds is available to all faculty, staff, administrators, students, and affiliates of 91勛圖.
How can students or employees make an appointment?
Students should email ombuds@nvcc.edu, and employees may email employeeombuds@nvcc.edu to schedule an appointment either in person or virtually. Only include your name, preferred contact method, and options for meeting.
Who does the Office of the Ombuds report to?
Administratively, the Office of the Ombuds reports to the Associate Vice President of Human Resources.
Can I expect "complete" confidentiality during the visit?
"It depends." The Office of the Ombuds is the most confidential resource for employees and students at 91勛圖, but there are specific exceptions:
- Imminent threat of harm to self or others
- Abuse or neglect of a minor
The Ombuds is not designated as a "Responsible Employee" under VA Code § 23.1-806 or 91勛圖's Sexual Misconduct policy and does not have authority to act on or report allegations of sexual violence. Similarly, the Ombuds is not a Campus Security Authority for Clery Act reporting. Confiding such issues to the Ombuds does not constitute formal or official notice to the College. Confidentiality rests with the Ombuds Office but may be waived if required under its Charter or applicable law for Clery Act compliance.
What type of data will you collect?
Basic demographic information will be collected during the visit to report on conflict types and trends based on the International Ombudsman Association categories. At the start of a visit, the Ombuds will ask how long you have been with 91勛圖 and what type of visitor you are (student, faculty/staff, contractor).
All data is published in annual reports shared with the College President and Associate Vice President for Human Resources and made public to the 91勛圖 community. The Office of the Ombuds does not keep any personally identifiable information.
What should I expect when I visit the Office of the Ombuds?
All visits to the Office of the Ombuds are voluntary. The Ombuds, a trained neutral party, will:
- Explain their role and provide a confidentiality statement
- Ask initial intake questions
- Invite you to share your concerns
Visits are informal one-on-one conversations. You do not need to bring anything, but you may bring relevant documents (e.g., emails, performance evaluations) for context. The Ombuds will not retain copies of any documents. At the conclusion of the meeting, you will receive guidance on possible next steps or alternative options.
How does the Office of the Ombuds differ from HR Employee Relations?
The principal differences between HR Employee Relations (ER) and the Office of the Ombuds are confidentiality and informality. The Ombuds provides a safe, confidential space to surface concerns and is not an office of report or record. HR Employee Relations is an office of notice and record, obligated to report incidents and manage formal processes such as grievances or discipline.
Employee Relations (ER)
- Uses formal processes to represent the College and offers disciplinary or corrective action for misconduct
- Investigates claims of misconduct
- Manages the formal grievance and mediation processes of DHRM and VCCS
- Makes referrals to the Ombuds for conflicts outside policy guidelines
- Provides education and training on disciplinary/corrective action and conflict resolution
- Works with management on performance management issues
Office of the Ombuds
- Works informally with employees and students who voluntarily visit
- Analyzes conflicts and refers cases to ER as appropriate
- Provides education and training on conflict management
- Helps employees and students navigate formal processes
- Facilitates informal conflict resolution with no recordkeeping
Is the Ombuds an advocate?
No. The Ombuds is a neutral resource who adheres to the standards of the International Ombudsman Association. They help visitors clarify concerns, explore options, connect to resources, and feel empowered in their next steps.