History

Appointment of the University Ombudsman at USC: In August of 2006, a new part-time University ombudsman position was created by Provost Becker.  Following an internal search, Jim Augustine, a School of Medicine professor and former chair of the Faculty Senate, was appointed as the first University ombudsman.  The University ombudsman deals with problems and concerns that are outside the faculty grievance process and other formal channels. Somewhat similar positions exist for dealing with staff and student concerns at the University of South Carolina.

In December 2006, Jim Augustine became an Associate Member in good standing of theInternational Ombudsman Association. The University ombudsman adheres to the Code of Ethics and the Standards of Practice of the International Ombudsman Association and serves as a confidential, neutral, informal and independent resource for faculty concerns and conflicts. 

A website for the University ombudsman was launched in September of 2006 http://www.sc.edu/ombuds/ providing information about the office, the ombudsman, annual reports, the IOA Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics as well as links to other ombuds-related resources.