UH Manoa Ombuds Office issues first annual report

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
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Posted: Feb 12, 2008

The University of Hawai‘i Mānoa Ombuds Office has issued its first annual report. The eight-page report analyzes the more than 350 cases the Ombuds Office dealt with between August 2006 and August 2007 and discusses the most serious issues, problems, and trends that these cases raise.

According to the Report,

· UHM students were the most likely to ask the Ombuds Office for help, but about 40% of the cases came from faculty, staff, and administrators.

· The most common issues involved housing, registration, grading, advising, and employment.

· A number of cases involved incivility and intimidation.

Overall, according to the Report:

· There is a pervasive sense that UH cannot make important and necessary changes.

· All too often, UH staff, faculty, and administrators fail to keep promises or make deadlines.

· Nasty and intimidating behavior is a frequent and serious enough occurrence to require action.

· Many UH conflicts involve people who have worked together for a long time and will likely continue to have to work together. These are especially hard disputes to resolve, but doing so is essential.

The report offers recommendations on how to deal with these issues.

Finally, according to the Report, there are many skilled and helpful problem-solvers at all levels of UHM.

The 2006-07 Report is available at www.manoa.hawaii.edu/ombuds or in hard copy.

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For more information, visit: http://www.manoa.hawaii.edu/ombuds