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Ombuds Office

Ombuds Core Principles at the Medical College of Wisconsin

We are confidential
We will not identify you or discuss your concerns with anyone without your permission. The only exceptions to this pledge of confidentiality are when the Ombuds determines that there is an imminent threat of harm or in the rare instance that the Ombuds is legally compelled to report the situation.

We are independent
We are independent of central administration and are not aligned with any campus department or group. We work hard to merit the trust others place in us.

We are informal
Any communication with us is “off the record”. The Ombuds Office is not authorized to receive official notice for MCW, and speaking with the Ombuds Office does not satisfy or trigger any deadlines used for more formal complaint mechanisms.

We are impartial
We do not take sides. We consider the rights and interests of all parties. We are advocates for good communication and fair process.

MCW Ombuds Core Principles

Standards of Practice

The MCW Ombuds Office functions according to the International Ombudsman Association (IOA) Standards of Practice and the core values of independence, impartiality/neutrality, confidentiality and informality.

These Standards of Practice are based upon and derived from the ethical principles stated in the IOA Code of Ethics and govern the way in which our office receives complaints, works to resolve issues and provides feedback to MCW when trends, patterns, policies or procedures generate concerns or conflicts.

View our MCW Ombuds Office Policy (this is an internal link that requires a unique MCW user ID and password).

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Non-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment, and Legal Compliance Statement
The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, military status, or other legally protected classification. MCW maintains full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations in pursuit of our missions. Consistent with federal guidance, we affirm our commitment to individual merit, fairness, and equal treatment in all aspects of academic and institutional decision-making.

MCW's policies, federal and state laws, and regulations prohibit unlawful discrimination and harassment. Employees, learners, students, applicants, or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.