CoED Faculty Ombuds
2025-27 Ombudspersons:
Terms begin July 1, 2025. If assistance is needed prior to July 1, please contact
Dr. Lisa Gatzke Kopp ([email protected]), University Ombuds.
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Ty Hollett, Associate Professor, Department of Learning and Performance Systems
Ashley Patterson, Associate Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Pia Smal, Associate Teaching Professor, Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education
The following resources offer additional information about role and functions of ombudspersons:
Frequently Asked Questions about Ombuds (University Faculty Senate website)
University Faculty Ombuds (University Faculty Senate website)
Policy AC76 Faculty Rights and Responsibilities (PSU Policy on Ombuds)
Functions for the ombudspersons are: 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 Executive Vice President and Provost 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.
Ombudspersons will be elected to carry out two-year terms (with the initial cohort working together to determine how to stagger their terms going forward).
As a group, the three ombudspersons should have academic homes in at least two different departments of the College. Article II of the Senate constitution defines University faculty as “all persons who hold full-time academic appointments, including instructors and all professorial ranks and equivalent ranks as defined in University Policy AC21.”
The Ombudsperson may be providing guidance to and overseeing conflicts between faculty in more senior roles and/or administration. It is recommended, but not required, that at least one ombudsperson be tenured.