Ombudsperson

Presentation requests

The Ombudsperson Office is happy to provide presentations and meet with groups and committees. Presentations include but are not limited to:

Information session on Ombudsperson Office and Fairness
Fairness and Bias
Conflict Management

To request a presentation, please contact ombuds@dal.ca.

Ombudsperson Advisory Committee

The Ombuds Advisory Committee is composed of three appointees by the Provost and three appointees from the Dalhousie Student Union and will operate via consensus decision-making.

The Ombuds Advisory Committee has the following functions:

To assist with hiring of the Ombudsperson by participating in the University search process,
To approve the Ombudsperson’s annual priorities and deliverables, and provide direction where required,
To review, with the Ombudsperson, semester and annual reports to discuss statistics, trends, and themes, and to make any appropriate recommendations arising out of such reports,
To support the Ombudsperson with strategic planning for the office,
To find sustainable funding and set the budget for the operation of the Office of the Ombudsperson in consultation with the Ombudsperson,
To make arrangements for office space,
To advise the Provost regarding the operations of the Office of the Ombudsperson,
To review and report to the Provost on the operations and effectiveness of the office after the second Annual report,
Provide information about unfamiliar areas of the university and its community.

A confidential and impartial resource for students

The Ombudsperson Office recognizes that within Dalhousie there are different levels of power and privilege between us that influence how we work with one another. The Ombudsperson is committed to educating the community and will endeavour to find ways to work together that recognize and challenge inequalities.

The Ombudsperson Office is available to all Dalhousie students for free, confidential, impartial, and independent support to help resolve any university-related concerns. It does not advocate for individual students/groups, or the university involved in a disagreement. The office works with students, faculty, and staff to ensure just, fair, and equitable treatment of every student, and to support the reasonable resolution of complaints rather than assign blame to one party.

The Ombudsperson makes recommendations when trends, patterns, policies, or procedures of the university generate concerns or conflicts and promotes discussion on institution-wide concerns to support the interest of all parties and the experience of students at Dalhousie University.

What does the Ombudsperson do?

Provides general resource information and makes appropriate referrals
Identifies and explains relevant university processes/policies
Works with students to explore and strategize options for problem-solving
Empowers students to deal directly and effectively with their concerns
Facilitates discussions and makes inquiries for clarification to seek resolution
Gives sound and practical advising
Listens and provides an objective perspective

What the Ombudsperson does not do

Act as an advocate; an Ombudsperson must remain impartial
Replace existing resources or channels for resolution
Intervene where a formal process (appeal, grievance, legal proceeding) has been commenced or overturn/influence decisions
Provide counselling or legal advice
Decide who is right or wrong
Change decisions, policies, or regulations; Ombudsperson can only make recommendations
Receive complaints, intervene, or assist in matters unrelated to the University