The Office of the Ombudsperson follows the principles of impartiality, independence, and confidentiality in all its dealings.

Impartiality:
The ombudsperson does not act as an advocate for either side in a dispute, but strives to consider and fairly present all sides of a situation.

Independence:
The office is separate from Oberlin's other administrative and judicial functions. Operationally, the ombudsperson is under the Office of College Relations and reports to the president of the College on trends.

Confidentiality:
The ombudsperson keeps no formal written records. The ombudsperson does not discuss complaints without the consent of the complainant, nor does the ombudsperson offer information about people who have or have not visited the office. All dealings are completely confidential, except in cases where there is imminent harm to the visitor, to others, or to the welfare of the institution, or in situations where the law requires the matter to be reported.

Because the ombudsperson's services are informal, they are a supplement to, and not a replacement for, the College's formal processes.