What IS an ombuds and how can they help me "get unstuck" with challenges and conflicts I face at UT?

The Office of Ombuds Services helps to empower graduate students, staff, and faculty to navigate challenges related to their experiences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In this interactive session, participants will be introduced to a range of free services from the Office of Ombuds Services, our perspectives on conflict as a tool for innovation, and our key approaches to navigating challenging situations.

No problem is too small or too big - we are here to help!

This presentation will also include scenarios of typical challenges brought to the Ombuds, the standards & ethics we follow, and how to access our consultation, mediation, and educational services. 15 minutes reserved for Q&A in this session.

Zoom link will be e-mailed to registrants the morning of the event.

REGISTER ONLINE VIA THIS LINK >> All Training activities take place from May 3 - June 8th, with pre-work mailed on May 3rd. >> Synchronous meetings (Zoom) are scheduled for May 10, 17. 24, & June 1 from 2-3:30 pm. >> Registration deadline April 24th. A Crucial Conversation is a discussion between two or more people where the stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong. When conversations turn crucial, people tend to follow one of two ineffective paths: they either speak directly and abrasively to get the results they want but harm relationships, or they remain silent with the hope of preserving relationships only to sacrifice results. This 12 hour virtual hybrid training builds skills for constructively engaging in conflict —rather than stepping over or around it— turning disagreement into dialogue. • Held over 5 weeks, this training consists of 5-6 hours of asynchronous online learning from Crucial Learning paired with Ombuds-facilitated discussion and application activities over four 90-minute Zoom meetings (1 per week) for 12 total PD hours. More about CCMD training content. • Materials Cost: $300 online materials access fee per person. Consult with your unit/department/college for funding – this is typically paid via internal transfer through Campus Shared Services. • A limited number of materials fee scholarships are available for $100, $150, or $300 if full funding is not available to registrants. Contact ombuds@utk.edu for more information. You are not fully registered for this training until you complete the registration form linked above.

Both giving and receiving workplace feedback can be uncomfortable for graduate students, staff, & faculty alike. Does giving and receiving constructive feedback pose challenges for you? Do you worry that feedback discussions can lead to conflict? You are not alone! In this session, you will build understanding of feedback discussions as a dialogue with both parties giving and receiving. With a particular focus on effective communication when receiving feedback within these dialogues, topics include types of feedback, common pitfalls in communication, and useful strategies for delivering and processing feedback in a range of scenarios specific to UT Graduate Students.

This workshop provides in-depth information as well as participant engagement and group discussion activities. While staff and faculty may register for this session, graduate students will be given priority.

Have you ever felt stuck in conversations with others because they said or did something that caused you pain or made you hesitate to speak up? Understanding dignity as an inherent value and vulnerability that we are all born with and then examining it as the core of how we find a sense of belonging in a community will help you overcome these challenging situations.

In this session, you will explore the concept of dignity and what happens to you, as well as others, when experiencing dignity violations. You will learn communication strategies to protect dignity and reduce harm to yourself and others. Topics include: dignity, psychological safety, positionality, and strategies for creating an inclusive organizational culture with dignity-conscious leaders and members. This workshop provides in-depth information as well as participant engagement and group discussion activities.

Have you felt uncomfortable in conflict? Feel like you want to lash out or avoid the situation altogether? Most people would say yes, and that is absolutely normal. Did you know that not all conflicts lead to destructive outcomes? Instead, many conflicts—when managed well—can lead you and others to growth, innovation, and improvement.

This workshop is designed to enhance your personal ability to navigate conflict. You will learn about both helpful and unhelpful behaviors in conflict as well specific “hot buttons” that tend to draw out unhelpful behaviors. This 90-minute workshop provides both in-depth information as well as an interactive debriefing of overall results of your CDP survey.

After registration, you will receive an email invitation to take the Conflict Dynamics Profile (CDP) survey for free. Completion of this 20-25 minute online survey will be due at least 3 days BEFORE the workshop. (You will receive your survey profile report during the session).

Questions? Email us at ombuds@utk.edu.

Have you ever felt afraid to speak up or share your ideas for fear of conflict? Do you tend to feel responsible for "fixing it" when conflict occurs? Are you often unsure of what you can do to more constructively manage conflict? You are not alone!

In this virtual session, you will gain an understanding of these fears and concerns and while learning strategies for reducing stress before, during, and after potentially conflict-laden workplace communication. Topics include psychological safety, understanding conflict, and communication strategies for addressing conflict. This workshop provides in-depth information as well as participant engagement and group discussion activities.

Zoom link for Today's Session: https://tennessee.zoom.us/j/93846407643