What the Ombudsperson Does
- Provides informal, confidential and neutral guidance to both internal and external constituents that are seeking to voice a complaint about the Maricopa County Community College District.
- Outlines options for internal constituents on the proper process to address grievances or seek resolution.
- Handles concerns with discretion.
- Provides assistance upon request of a college or District official in that official's efforts to address a constituent's concerns.
- Searches for a resolution to disputes and help resolve in conjunction with appropriate college or district designee.
- Offers feedback and provide information and resources on policies, procedures and services.
- Protects the parties’ right to privacy.
- Receives concerns from external constituents about some aspect of Maricopa's operations and forwards those concerns through the proper channels.
- Upon request from an external constituent, provides information about-and assistance in construing-Maricopa policies, regulations and procedures.
- Facilitates an external constituent's efforts to maneuver through what the constituent feels to be "bureaucratic red tape."
- Informs the individual(s) initiating the complaint of the review’s outcome and may offer advice as to an appropriate course of action.
- Attempts to guide parties toward options that are fair and conform to MCCCD policies.
- Delivers to proper individuals at Maricopa trend information compiled in the study of a constituent concerns that serve to protect public resources or otherwise improve operations.
What the Ombudsperson Does Not Do
- Serve as an office of notice on behalf of the institution.
- Give legal advice or guidance.
- Maintain permanent records regarding individual concerns or issues presented by constituents.
- Engage in lobbying activity of any kind.
- Investigate any complaint for which either law or Maricopa policy already provides an adequate remedy.
- Circumvent established processes for grievances that are outlined in employee job group policy manuals.
- Make the final determination as to the resolution of a matter, or overturn decisions already made by the appropriate authority through the proper execution of established processes and procedures.
- Resolve student complaints over grades.