Dear Faculty, Staff, and G&P Students,
I write to share two pieces of news related to strengthening the support system for our campus community.
First, Yale University is creating an ombudsperson position, and I have formed a search advisory committee to identify candidates. I am prioritizing this role—even during our period of restrained spending—because of the comments and suggestions I have received from all of you. In my first year as president, I heard wide and thoughtful community feedback on a broad range of issues, including our administrative and conflict resolution processes.
As requested by many of you, the ombudsperson will report directly to me and operate independently of existing formal or informal dispute resolution procedures and administrative offices. All faculty, staff, and graduate and professional school (G&P) students will be able to directly seek a meeting with the ombudsperson to discuss a wide array of concerns related to their academic or workplace environments. Meanwhile, undergraduate students will continue to be supported through Yale’s unique residential college system, their deans, and other offices that are dedicated to addressing their concerns.
The ombudsperson will serve as a neutral advocate for fair treatment and processes, operating under strict confidentiality and helping faculty, staff, and G&P students understand their rights and options based on all laws and university policies and procedures. They will also provide informal dispute resolution services and offer referrals to other support and conflict resolution resources. Ultimately, their broad scope in helping members of our community will open additional opportunities for resolving challenges and improving our academic environment.
The search advisory committee for the position is chaired by David Post, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, and Elizabeth Conklin, associate vice president for equity and accessibility and university Title IX coordinator. Its other members are Alex Rich, PhD candidate in the Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program; Robert Rohrbaugh, professor of psychiatry; and Stephanie Spangler, vice provost for health affairs. Over the course of its work, the committee will seek comments widely, including from you. If you have any suggestions, please share them with the committee and me.
Second, in addition to creating the ombudsperson role, I have formed a new council to review Yale’s faculty and staff employment policies and procedures. We will look broadly at Yale’s employment policies and procedures to ensure they continue to advance the university’s mission, support academic excellence, comply with all laws, and effectively support Yale’s faculty and staff.
The council will make recommendations to me, and its members are Sunil Amrith, Renu and Anand Dhawan Professor of History and vice provost for international affairs; Michael Bell, associate university librarian for IT and administrative services; Deborah Berke, Edward P. Bass Dean of the School of Architecture and J.M. Hoppin Professor of Architecture; John Mayes, associate vice president for administration; Prita Patel, executive director for finance & administration at Yale School of Medicine; Tony Koleske, Ensign Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry and of Neuroscience; John Whelan, vice president for human resources; and Steven Wilkinson, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and Nilekani Professor of Political Science. They will complete their work by the end of the spring semester. For more information about the council or to share your ideas, please visit the council’s webpage.
Sustaining a thriving academic environment requires purposeful effort and attention, and I’m grateful to do this work alongside you. I anticipate updating you on both of these topics by the end of this academic year. In the meantime, I look forward to receiving your comments and advice as we review Yale’s employment policies and procedures and find the university’s first ombudsperson.
Sincerely,
Maurie
Maurie McInnis
President
Professor of the History of Art