Advocacy & Ombudsperson
Campus Ombudsperson
Penn State University Policy
HR 76 - Faculty Rights and Responsibilities indicates
that colleges and campuses should have a person or group to
serve in the role of ombudsperson. The objective is to
enhance communication and clarify possible misunderstandings
in situations which involve potential disputes, to advise
faculty members and administrators as to appropriate courses
of action, and to help settle matters before they become
hardened into serious disputes. Formal functions of the
ombudsperson include:
- Clarification of misunderstandings;
- Advising faculty and administrators as to appropriate
courses of action;
- Assisting in the informal resolution of differences;
- Assuring that appropriate department, college and/or
campus procedures are exhausted before referring the case to
higher levels;
- Informing the Office of the President and appropriate
college or campus officials if a matter cannot be resolved
at the lower level and the case is to be referred to the
Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities.
Faculty Ombudsperson include:
Ralph Norgren, Ph.D. (effective
7/1/09)
| Department:
|
NEURAL & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE |
| Email: |
rxn5@psu.edu |
| Primary Phone:
|
717 531 6921 |
| Mail Code: |
H181 |
| Building: |
Main Building |
Beth Ann Magnifico, M.D. (effective 7/1/09)
| Department:
|
General Internal Medicine |
| Email: |
bmagnifico@psu.edu |
| Primary Phone:
|
717 531 8161 |
| Alternate Phone:
|
717 531 6263 |
| Pager: |
8522 |
| FAX: |
717 531 7726 |
| Mail Code: |
HU15 |
| Building: |
University Physicians Center 2 |
| Other Information: |
Alternate fax 531 4328 |
The College of Medicine is committed
to upholding the Penn State policy of providing a responsive
environment free of intolerance, discrimination, harassment, and
coercion. Included in unacceptable behavior is sexual
harassment, which is covered under
Policy AD-41. It is defined
as unwelcome sexual advances requests for sexual favors, and
other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when
submission to such conduct: is a condition for grades, academic
status, promotion, or employment is used as a basis for
academic/employment decisions affecting an individual interferes
unreasonably with the individual's academic/work performance or
creates an offensive, hostile, or intimidating learning/working
environment.
Any member of the College of
Medicine Community who experiences sexual harassment,
discrimination, or inappropriate behavior that interferes with
the learning environment should contact the following
individual at this campus for confidential assistance:
Denise Burkholder, MPA
Manager of COM Human Resources
x4371, Academic Support Building
Students may also contact the
Affirmative Action Office at University Park at (814) 863-0471.
The resource person does not
pressure students into decisions about handling the encounters -
they provide support and empower students with information about
choices for handling the situation and provide protection
against retaliation. An appropriate warning, sometimes in the
form of a letter, often terminates the problem without the need
to file formal charges with the Affirmative Action Office. The
resource person provides assistance if the student decides to
file a formal charge with the Affirmative Action Office.
Drs. Frauenhoffer and Levine serve
as ombudspersons for medical and graduate students. In this
capacity, they investigate complaints brought forward by
students and work to achieve an equitable solution. The purpose
of an ombudsperson is to enhance communication and clarify
misunderstandings in any situation which involves potential
disputes, to provide information about possible courses of
action and to help resolve issues so that they do not grow into
more serious conflicts.
Elizabeth Frauenhoffer, M.D.
Associate Professor of Pathology and Orthopaedics &
Rehabilitation
X1673, C7864D (BMR)
Ombudsperson
Richard Levine, M.D.
Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry
X8006
Ombudsperson
The ombudsperson shall - "thoroughly investigate each incident
brought to his/her attention taking into account all sides of
the issue, counsel the involved parties or make referral for
such counseling, provide periodic reports of such incidents and
their outcomes/resolution to the appropriate Vice Dean and seek
appropriate advice from senior academic or administrative
faculty when necessary to assist in resolving issues of
concern."
Information on
ombudsperson for
residents is available at
http://www.hmc.psu.edu/residency/links/index.htm or you may
contact Graduate Medical Education at 531-1692.
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