J.R.

15(S)5

TheGraduateStudentAssembly
TheUniversityofTexasatAustin

Resolution: J.R.15(S)5

Author(s):

FrankMale
Representative,Physics
VirginiaLuehrsen
SchoolofInformation

Sponsor(s): FrankMale
Representative,Physics

InSupportoffundingaFullTimeStudentOmbuds
Summary:AresolutioninsupportofthePresidentsofficefundingafulltime,professionally
certifiedombudspersonfortheUniversityStudentOmbudsoffice.

WHEREAS(1)
TheGraduateStudentAssemblyistheofficialvoiceofthe12,000
graduatestudentsattheUniversityofTexasatAustin.Student
GovernmentistheofficialvoiceofthestudentsoftheUniversityofTexas
onstudentaffairsand,

WHEREAS(2)
ThemissionoftheOfficeoftheStudentOmbudsistoprovideasafeand
confidentialenvironmentwherestudentscanvoiceconcernsrelatedtolife
attheUniversity 1 and,

WHEREAS(2)TheOfficeoftheStudentOmbudsserved1,400studentsin20132014,
includingbothundergraduate,aswellasgraduateandprofessional
studentsand,

WHEREAS(3)
TheOfficeoftheStudentOmbudswasstaffedbyonlyoneGraduate
AssistantandagraduatestudentOmbudspersonin20132014and
neededasecondGraduateAssistantin20142015toincreaseavailability
ofservices.Theofficeisoverloadedbydemandandlackstheassistance
ofafulltime,professionallycertifiedombudspersonand,

WHEREAS(4)
GrowthindemandfortheOfficeofStudentOmbudshasgreatlyoutpaced
thegrowthinstaffandservices,withFall2014studentsessionsincreasing

TheOfficeoftheStudentOmbuds,StudentServicesBudgetCommittee20132014Report

77%fromthepreviousFallsemesterand114%fromFall2012.Direct
studentcontactshaveincreased193%sinceFall2012and,

WHEREAS(5)

WHEREAS(6)

WHEREAS(6)

WHEREAS(7)

WHEREAS(8)

THEREFORE,
LETITBE
RESOLVED(1)

Thenumberofofficeoutreacheventshasincreasedfrom6inFall2012to
29inFall2014and,
Inordertomaintainthisgrowthinservicesandkeepqualityofservices
high,theOmbudsofficeneedsapermanentOmbudspositionproviding
servicesandtrainingforGraduateAssistantombudspersonsinorderto
maintaincontinuitythatisbeinglosteachtimeanewstudenttakesleadof
theoffice2 and,

Manyofourpeerinstitutions,includingUniversityofTexasatAustinpeer
institutionsTexasA&M,UniversityofCaliforniaLosAngeles,andOhio
StateUniversity,havecreatedfulltimestudentombudspositionsand,
TheInternationalOmbudsmanAssociationnowoffersaprofessional
certificationprogramforOmbudspersonsand,
TheOmbudspersonsReviewCommitteerecommendedthecreationofa
fulltimeprofessionalstudentombudspersonin2006,andneedshaveonly
increasedsincethattime.

Thatwesupportthecreationofafulltime,professionallycertified
Ombudspersonand,

BEITFURTHER
RESOLVED(2) Thatwesupportthecreationofacommitteetoreviewtheofficeofthe
studentombudsbudgetandmakefinancialrecommendationsto
accommodatethisnewpositionand,

BEITFURTHER
RESOLVED(3) ThatthisresolutionbesharedwithDr.SonciaReaginsLilly,Deanof
StudentsDr.GagePaine,VicePresidentforStudentAffairsDr.Gregory
Fenves,ProvostandPresidentSelectDr.CarolLongoria,Officeofthe
PresidentDr.JudithLanglois,DeanoftheGraduateSchoolDr.John

SSBCFinalReport20072008.https://www.utexas.edu/tuition/ssbc/docs/SSBCFinalReport0708.pdf

Dalton,AssociateDeanoftheGraduateSchoolDr.WilliamBeckner,
ChairoftheFacultyCouncil.