Ombuds are confidential to the fullest permissible by law. We are not mandatory reporters. We do not reveal the name of anyone who contacts the Ombuds Office unless you give us explicit permission to do so. We regularly dispose of any notes or correspondence related to our interactions with visitors.

Nothing – unless we’ve discussed and agreed upon a specific action you’d like us to take (for example, reaching out to an office to gather information on your behalf). Ombuds are an informal resource, and not an office of notice or an office of record. This means that you may share information with the ombuds without initiating any formal university process.

Ombuds do not keep records containing specific or identifiable information about those we meet with. We regularly dispose of anything containing such information (email correspondence, calendar appointments, notes, etc.). While the Office of Ombuds Services makes every effort to maintain information confidentially to the fullest extent of the law, we discourage disclosing sensitive information through email as e-mails to or from our office may be considered public records subject to disclosure under the Tennessee Public Records Act.

There is no wrong reason to contact the ombuds. We are here to assist you with any type of challenge, dilemma, or question you may have related to your life and work at the University. If, for some reason, an issue is outside of our scope of service, we may offer a referral to other resources.

Ombuds are comfortable with tears and strong emotions, recognizing they are a normal part of the human experience. We strive to create a space where you can feel safe expressing whatever feelings come up for you.

Our stories are rarely simple and organized. Simply sharing your experiences with an ombuds may help you find increased clarity. When there are long-standing issues or concerns, it may be helpful to meet with an ombuds more than once.