Policy Reviews
The Ombuds Office offers ad hoc policy review services to assist the university community in addressing concerns about specific policies that may be unclear, inequitable, or inconsistent with institutional values.
What We Do
When issues are brought to our attention, we:
- Evaluate Policies: Review specific university policies for clarity, fairness, consistency, and compliance.
- Review Concern Data: Analyze concern data from the Ombuds Office to identify patterns or recurring issues related to the policy.
- Make Recommendations: Provide actionable suggestions to university leadership from improvements or clarifications.
- Promote Accessibility: Ensure policies are clear and easy to understand for all members of the university community.
When to Request a Review
Consider reaching out to the Ombuds Office for a policy review if you've experienced:
- Confusion about how a policy applies in specific situations.
- A sense that a policy may unintentionally disadvantage certain groups.
- Repeated disputes or misunderstandings involving a particular policy.
How It Works
Our policy review process is collaborative and confidential. Here's how it typically unfolds:
- Identify Concerns: We meet with individuals or groups to understand the issue.
- Analyze the Policy: We review the language, implementation, and impact of the policy in question.
- Review Concern Data: We examine data from the Ombuds Office to identify recurring issues related to the policy.
- Make Recommendations: We propose revisions or improvements for university leadership to consider.
- Follow Up: We help ensure the updated policy is accessible and effectively communicated.
Our Commitment
The Ombuds Office is committed to fostering fairness, transparency, and conflict prevention across the university. By reviewing and improving policies, we help create an environment where everyone can thrive.
Contact Us
If you believe a university policy may benefit from a review, we encourage you to reach out to our office at ombuds@msu.edu or (517) 353-8830. Together, we can ensure our policies align with the values and goals of our community.
