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PRIVACY AGREEMENT

Before you begin your= work with the Ombuds/Dispute Resolution Services For Staff Department, you should understand that any and all conversations or anything that transpires in the course of your work will be kept strictly confidential by the Ombuds/Dispute Resolution Services For Staff Department. The contents of your work will not be discussed with anyone without = your oral or written permission.

The only exceptions t= o the above agreement occur in the following circumstances:

1. If there is reason to believe that an individual’s safety, health and/or welfa= re would be harmed by a failure to disclose otherwise confidential information= to appropriate officials’ or if issues of abuse or neglect should arise;<= /o:p>

2. If the allegations involve Civil Rights issues, relevant information will be relea= sed to the University’s Office of Equal Opportunity.

3. If information about criminal beh= avior is revealed.

4. If it becomes necessary to defend a claim against the Ombuds/Dispute Resolution Services For Staff Department; and/or

5. If, after opposing efforts by other parties to obtain this information, we are ordered by a court to release such information.

6. If by your own actions you reveal confidential information to persons outside the dispute resolution process through written or verbal communication.

7. Mediation at the University of New Mexico are voluntary and are subject to the confidential provisions of the Mediation Procedures Act, Section 44-7B-1, N= MSA 1978 et seq.

You should understand= that with the above exceptions, the contents of your interactions with the Ombuds/Dispute Resolution Services For Staff Department are private and that none of the information discussed in the course of this work may be disclos= ed to others. You agree not to call t= he Ombuds staff as witnesses in any judicial or administrative proceedings exc= ept for t he purpose of testifying as to the number of meetings which occurred.

By mutual agreement, = no audio or video tapes will be taken of any meetings without the consent of all parties. In addition, whatever the outcome of your work at ODR all documentation will be destroyed with the exception of the ODR Privacy Agreement, contact and release logs, and the initial intake form.

_____________________= _________________________ = ______________________________= ____

Employee = Date

_____________________= _________________________ = __________________________________

Witness = Date