Mandate and responsibilities of the Ombudsperson

"Grievances cannot be redeemed unless they are known. And they cannot be known but through complaints. If these are deemed affronts and the messengers punished as offenders, who will henceforth send petitions? Where complaining is a crime, hope becomes despair."

— Benjamin Franklin

Mandate

The purpose of the Office of the Ombudsperson is to provide an independent, impartial and confidential process through which members of the University community may pursue just, fair and equitable solutions to disputes. In addition, the Ombudsperson may make recommendations, where appropriate, for changes to University policies and procedures and may promote discussion of institution-wide concerns.

Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee of the Ombudsperson consists of eight members, four of whom are appointed by the University and four by the student associations. The Ombudsperson is not a member of the Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee conducts an annual evaluation of the Ombudsperson. A member of the University community who believes that the Ombudsperson has violated her mandate or Terms of Reference may submit a written complaint, detailing the alleged violation, to the President of the Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee will investigate the allegation and inform the complainant of the results.

Members of the Advisory Committee:

  • Caitlin Campisi, Graduate Students Association (GSAÉD)
  • Alison Flynn, Department of Chemistry
  • Elizabeth Kessler, Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO)
  • John Manwaring, Faculty of Law, Common Law Section
  • Catherine Paquet, Office of Research Ethics and Integrity
  • Brenna Quigley, Graduate Students Association (GSAÉD)
  • Jozef Spiteri, Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO)
  • Timothy Stanley, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Annual report

The Ombudsperson must submit an annual report to the Senate, the Board of Governors and the student associations of the University of Ottawa and make the report public via the Ombudsperson’s website. The report must detail the activities of the Ombudsperson, including statistics on all complaints received, and make recommendations, as necessary.

Terms of Reference

For further details, refer to the Terms of Reference in their entirety.