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University of Rochester
University Ombuds Office
Support services for faculty, staff, and students
Come with a problem, leave with a plan
The Ombuds is available as a resource for all URochester faculty, staff, and students, helping them resolve conflicts and figure out their options, while advocating for fairness across the entirety of URochester and URochester Medicine.
What is an ombuds?
The University Ombuds Office (formerly the University Intercessor) is a confidential, independent, impartial, and informal resource that is available to all faculty, staff, and students at URochester and URochester Medicine. The Ombuds can assist on any issue related to the University, including difficult interpersonal conflicts, systemic and process concerns, and developing options and next steps.
Building on over 40 years of support for the Ombuds resource at URochester, the University finalized its first University Ombuds Charter (pdf) on August 12, 2026, formally establishing the protections within the charter as university policy.
Appointed by and reporting to the Provost, the University Ombuds adheres to the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics of the International Ombuds Association, upon which the University Ombuds Charter is based.