Office of the Ombuds

: Welcome

About Ombuds

Here to Hear You

Amy Sereday, our Springfield College Ombuds, provides conflict resolution services and problem-solving support to our students, faculty, and staff. She serves as a confidential resource, a safe place to talk about whatever is on your mind.  As a Confidential Resource Provider, Amy is an informal alternative to using a formal process or report.  In addition, the ombuds elevates systemic concerns to the attention of College leadership, while keeping visitor information confidential, so that the voices of our community may be heard.

What's an ombuds (ahm-budz)? The ombuds office is a confidential and judgment-free place to talk, get support, solve problems, or report any issues on campus. Think of me as your personal coach for any issue, problem, conflict, decision, or other situation.

An ombuds or ombudsperson is a unique role that serves in many organizations such as colleges and universities. The Springfield College Ombuds assists individuals and groups on campus through voluntary consultation and providing information, guidance, and assistance in developing options to address conflicts or concerns. The ombuds aims to build trust, enhance relationships, and improve communication within the Springfield College community. Together we can continue to foster a culture that values kindness, integrity, and inclusivity.

Amy Sereday, CO-OP

Amy Sereday is Springfield College's first ombuds.  A peacemaker and problem-solver by nature, it’s no surprise Amy found a career as a conflict resolution practitioner. Conflict may be a fact of life, but it doesn’t have to be destructive. Amy is guided by the belief that conflict can be a good thing—if we view it as an opportunity to make life better. As a mediator and paralegal, she has helped countless individuals resolve and prevent disputes. Prior to joining Springfield College, Sereday served as the faculty and staff ombuds at Connecticut College. In addition to serving as the Springfield College ombuds, she is an adjunct professor in the Negotiation and Conflict Resolution program at Columbia University where she teaches conflict analysis, CMM, and ombuds practice.

  • Master of Science, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution, Columbia University, New York, N.Y., 2015
  • Post-baccalaureate Certificate, Legal Studies, University of Hartford, Hartford, Conn., 2012
  • Bachelor of Arts, Communication, Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, Conn., 2000
  • Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner (CO-OP) Member of the International Ombuds Association
  • Member of the International Ombuds Association

  • Services Offered

    Individual support

    • Assistance with a problem, decision, issue, conflict, ethical question, or policy inquiry
    • Confidential reporting or feedback to the College
    • Conflict coaching: strategy and support with difficult conversations, negotiations, and interpersonal relationships
    • Management and leadership coaching
    • Bias and discrimination reporting (anonymous)
    • Confidential information and assistance with sexual and gender-based misconduct (Confidential Resource Provider)

    Group and Team support

    • Mediation
    • Facilitated group dialogue or problem solving
    • Workshop or retreat facilitation

  • 4 Pillars of Ombuds'

    The Office of the Ombuds adheres to the standards of practice of the International Ombuds Association through its four pillars:

    Independence. The ombuds operates independently and is separate from the organizational structure of the College to the greatest degree possible. The ombuds holds no other position within the organization that might give rise to an actual or perceived conflict of interest. For administrative and budgetary purposes only, the ombuds reports to the President of the College with a dotted line report to the Audit and Compliance Committee of the Board of Trustees. The ombuds is not an administrator of the College.

    Impartiality. The ombuds is an advocate for equity and fair process but is not an advocate for any specific individual or group. The ombuds serves everyone equally.

    Confidentiality*. All communications with the ombuds are confidential* and will not be disclosed without the permission of the individual who has confided in the office. The ombuds may report only anonymized data trends to the organization. The ombuds is a 'confidential resource' under Title IX and Title VI.

    *The only exception to this commitment to confidentiality is in the event that the ombuds learns of an imminent risk of serious harm to any person (self or other), or to the safety of the College community, and there is no other reasonable option but to disclose the confidence.

    Informality. The ombuds serves as an off-the-record resource, and has no authority to make binding decisions, mandate policies, effect discipline, conduct formal investigations, or adjudicate issues for the organization. Visiting with the ombuds does not initiate any formal action. The ombuds is not an agent of notice for the College.