UMass Amherst Ombuds Office Relaunches Through New Partnership with MWI

The UMass Amherst Ombuds Office, a unique place where all UMass Amherst students, faculty, and staff can talk confidentially and “off the record” about any campus concern, issue, or conflict, has relaunched with services provided in partnership with MWI, a nationally recognized dispute resolution provider.

The primary mission of the Ombuds Office is to provide a confidential space where people can share their concerns, explore possible next steps toward resolution and become better equipped to move forward productively. Ombuds team members can share relevant university resources and policies, talk through ways to raise an issue informally or formally, coach people through how to have difficult conversations, mediate between two or more people, work with groups in conflict, and more. The ombuds services operate independently of the Administration.

The UMass Amherst Ombuds office is currently staffed by a team of three independent and impartial professionals – Birthe Reimers, Derrick Johnson and Larry Hunt – who are available to listen and help find solutions to a variety of challenges. Those seeking ombuds services are welcome to contact them directly by visiting umass.edu/ombuds.

The Ombuds team then shares trends and concerns (without attribution) directly with the Chancellor’s Office in an effort to help leadership solve problems facing the UMass Amherst community.