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IOA Foundations of the Organizational Ombuds CourseOur Most Popular Course, Designed For New OmbudsThe Foundations of Organizational Ombuds Practice course is offered multiple times each year virtually and in person. ![]() About the CourseThe IOA Foundations Course is designed for new practicing organizational ombuds and covers the fundamentals of the organizational ombuds role based on the principles of confidentiality, impartiality, independence, and informality. A limited number of scholarships are available to help IOA members take part in this course. This fundamental course is packed with information on how to work with visitors, how to act as a change agent within an organization, and how to practice the key ombuds skills of listening, asking questions, clarifying, generating options, and moving to actions throughout the ombuds process. The course is taught by an experienced and highly committed faculty of ombuds who will share best practices around running an effective office as well as evaluating and communicating the effectiveness of that office. Each in-person course is three full days. Each online course is segmented into four days. To ensure a meaningful and connected experience, each course is limited to 24 participants. In the Fall of 2020, IOA launched a virtual version of the Foundations Course. This four-day online opportunity offers attendees the chance to learn from the comfort of their own homes or office. Attendees engage in group learning via Zoom as well as self-driven online learning hosted on IOA’s Online Learning Center. Foundations Registration Information
Course payment is due at least four weeks before the course starts. Please review all payment, registration, and attendance policies prior to registering for a course. View Course PoliciesFoundations ScholarshipsIOA offers annual scholarships for the Foundations Course. The scholarship application window generally runs November-December of the year prior to the applicant's desired course year. Eligibility criteria and scholarship requirements involve financial needs, professional references, and a written summary of the recipient's experience from the course. This scholarship covers the course fee for either a virtual or in-person Foundations course. If the scholarship applicant elects to attend an in-person Foundations course, travel and lodging will not be covered by the scholarship. 2023 Eligibility Criteria & Scholarship Requirements
After the application deadline, all applications will be reviewed by a committee and recipients will be selected. All applicants will be notified around February 2023. Applications for 2023 Foundations Course scholarships are closed. Applications for next year will open in the fall. 2023 IOA Foundations Course ScheduleDue to the popularity of this course, priority registration is offered to those currently practicing in an ombuds role, or starting in an ombuds role within three months of the course date. If space remains as we approach the dates of each course, we may be able to release some spaces to aspiring ombuds. Want to know when registration opens, or if a space becomes available in a sold-out course? Join the 2023 Virtual Foundations Course Interest List. 2023 Course Dates
Join 2023 Course Interest ListView the IOA Calendar for Courses
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