Price Spratlen honored by national colleagues as Ombudsman of the Year

Lois Price Spratlen, UW Ombudsman

The award for Outstanding Ombudsman of the Year isn’t an annual one.

In fact in its 15-year history it’s been given only six times—reserved for those in the nation whose work and contributions to the profession are deemed exemplary.

University Ombudsman Lois Price Spratlen is the most recent recipient of the “Pete Small Award,” named after a former ombudsman at the University of California, Berkeley.

The California Caucus of College and University Ombuds gave the award during its annual conference. Price Spratlen is the first University of Washington Ombudsman to win the award.

“She adds vitality to our profession and exemplifies an ombudsman with significant knowledge, abilities and creativity,” Ron Wilson, director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity at University of California, Irvine, wrote to UW President Richard L. McCormick.

The caucus first honored Price Spratlen and her work as an ombudsman in 1991 with a “Service Excellence Award.”

But the latest honor from her colleagues nationwide came after she served as co-convener for the Caucus’ 1998 conference and created the group’s first peer-reviewed journal for ombudsmen, for which she will be editor until 2001. She wants The Journal to “promote who we are, what we do and why we do what we do.”

The University appointed Price Spratlen, professor of psychosocial nursing, to Ombudsman of Sexual Harassment in 1982. She became University Ombudsman in 1988, and continues to teach one nursing class a year.

Price Spratlen said it’s the constant unknown that keeps her thriving in her post of trusted confidant on campus.

“You never know what the day will bring,” she said.

The Ombudsman’s Office averages more than 500 cases each year, with more than 95 percent being resolved. About 30 percent of all cases go through mediation.

Although help is available to anyone who deals with the University, staff, faculty and students primarily contact Price Spratlen. Issues addressed range from quality of instruction and grades to merit review and harassment.

In her ombudsman roles, Price Spratlen has developed her own, self-named model of service that is client-centered and preventive.

The model has three steps. Those who seek her help are first asked to write a summary of the problem, conflict or situation that brought about the complaint. Clients then meet with Price Spratlen to talk about the problem and the options for solving it. The final step is resolution, which requires a signed agreement by all parties and a reminder that retaliation cannot be taken against the client.

Price Spratlen said her role is to educate people—helping people to help themselves.

This help, she said, contributes to the quality of the academic work environment. As people become more competent and confident, they can protect themselves and prevent similar conflicts in the future, she said. ¶

Molly O’Connor