The Faculty Senate maintains policies and procedures governing the role and responsibilities of the Faculty Ombudsperson. In general, Faculty Ombudsperson duties include the following:
The Faculty Senate Executive Council appoints the Ombudsperson for non-unionized faculty for a one-year term.
Antonio Cepeda-Benito, Professor in the Department of Psychological Science (CAS), is the Faculty Ombudsperson for the 2022-2023 Academic Year. He can be reached by email at Antonio.Cepeda-Benito@uvm.edu
The Ombudsperson holds all communications with those seeking assistance in strict confidence and does not disclose confidential communications unless given permission to do so except in the following three circumstances: 1) the Faculty Ombudsperson is a witness to a crime; 2) there appears to be imminent threat of serious harm; or 3) the Ombudsperson is required to release information by legal subpoena (valid court order) and attempts to protect the Ombudsperson from disclosure fail.
The Ombudsperson maintains no formal case files, and takes all reasonable steps to protect records from inspection by all other persons. Informal notes taken in the course of consideration of a matter are destroyed at its conclusion. In addition, the Ombudsperson will not disclose whether or not you contacted the Ombudsperson without your permission to do so. This promise of confidentiality ensures that you are safe in contacting the Ombudsperson.
If a problem is eventually taken to a formal grievance process, the Ombudsperson will not testify for or against anyone in that process.
The Faculty Ombudsperson is a designated neutral party and approaches each case impartially and without prejudice. The Ombudsperson is committed to fairness, equity, and the humane treatment of all parties.
The Faculty Ombudsperson is appointed by the Faculty Senate but is independent of that office. The Ombudsperson reports summary information about Ombuds activities that is not individually identifiable to the Faculty Senate, for example numbers of contacts and types of situations considered, and may bring general suggestions regarding changes in policies and procedures. The Faculty Ombudsperson does not act as an agent of notice for the University of Vermont, and does not accept formal complaints or notice for UVM. The University of Vermont resources for reporting crime on campus and instances of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct involving a member of the campus community, are detailed in both the University's Campus Security Authority Operating Procedure and the Sexual Harassment and Misconduct - Interim Policy.
For faculty covered under the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Univeristy of Vermont and United Academics (AAUP/AFT), your first contact should be with the UA at (802)489-0964, or info@unitedacademics.org.
For more information about the University's responsibilities under the Clery Act and Title IX, including who at UVM is a madatory reporter under federal law, how to report incidents of crime for inclusion in annual statistics, and what options are available if you've experienced harassment or discrimination, please see:
Sexual Conduct and Education Website
Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Policy
Campus Safety and Security: Clery Act Policy
Campus Security Authorities (CSA) University Operating Procedure
You may also contact the following individuals with questions:
Emily McCarthy
Title IX Coordinator and Investigator
(802) 656-3368
emily.mccarthy@uvm.edu
Kelly Riel
UVM Police Services
(802)656-3052
kriel@uvm.edu