Ä¢¹½AV

Skip to main content

Ombudsperson

A confidential and impartial resource for students

The Ombudsperson Office is available to all Ä¢¹½AV 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.

  • Student and supervisor/instructor/professor relationships

  • Abuse of power, bullying, or unfair treatment

  • Advice about which rules, policies, or procedures applicable to your situation

  • Concern that a particular rule or policy has been applied unfairly

  • Facilitate communication between you and a university administrator, or other students

  • Provides general resource information and makes appropriate referrals

  • Identifies and explains relevant university processes and 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 advice

  • Listens to your complaint or concern and provides an objective perspective

  • Act as an advocate; an Ombudsperson must remain impartial

  • Provide counselling or legal advice

  • Decide who is right or wrong

  • Replace existing resources or channels for resolution 

  • Intervene where a formal process (appeal, grievance, legal proceeding) has been commenced or overturn/influence decisions

  • Change decisions, policies, or regulations; an Ombudsperson can only make recommendations

  • Receive complaints, intervene, or assist in matters unrelated to the university

  • Act as an advocate; an Ombudsperson must remain impartial

  • Provide counselling or legal advice

  • Decide who is right or wrong

  • Replace existing resources or channels for resolution 

  • Intervene where a formal process (appeal, grievance, legal proceeding) has been commenced or overturn/influence decisions

  • Change decisions, policies, or regulations; an Ombudsperson can only make recommendations

  • Receive complaints, intervene, or assist in matters unrelated to the university

First steps to resolving your issue

If you've been accused of violating academic integrity

  1. Review and understand the process and procedures for situations of academic integrity.

  2. For advocacy support and help navigating the process, connect with the .

  3. Contact the Ombudsperson Office if you need help understanding the process and policy.

If you've been accused of non-academic misconduct

  1. Review and understand the process and procedures for situations of non-academic misconduct, found in the Code of Student Conduct [PDF - 355 KB].

  2. Contact the Student Support Team if you have any questions about an experience that falls under the Code of Student Conduct.

  3. For advocacy support and help navigating the process, connect with the .

  4. Contact the Ombudsperson Office if you need help understanding the process and policy.

If you feel you've been given an unfair grade

  1. Speak with your instructor to discuss your concerns and get some understanding and clarification.

  2. Review the formal process for appealing a final grade.

  3. Contact the Ombudsperson Office if you need help understanding the process.

If you're having a problem with your graduate supervisor

  1. Speak with your supervisor (by yourself or with support). You can also reach out to the graduate coordinator, department chair, or associate dean for support.

  2. can support you at any stage throughout your academic experience and attend meetings with you.

If you need help arranging academic accommodations

  1. Connect with an advisor at the Student Accessibility Centre in Halifax or Truro.

If you're an international student and are unsure what is fair in Canada

  1. Contact the Ombudsperson Office if you have questions about fairness.

  2. The International Centre advisors are excellent resources to help you navigate campus life, working, and finances, immigration, insurance, etc.

Advice on policies and procedures

The Ombudsperson also 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 Ä¢¹½AV.

Learn more about Ä¢¹½AV's policies

Presentation requests for faculty and staff

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

Email ombuds@dal.ca to request a presentation

Contact info

The Ombudsperson is available for in-person, phone, or virtual Microsoft Teams appointments.

Student Union Building, rm. 452, Halifax

Agricultural Campus
Virtual appointments available

Sexton Campus (Melda Engineering Student Centre, Halifax)
Every Wednesday, 9 a.m. – noon

International Centre (LeMarchant Place, Halifax)
Every Tuesday, 9 a.m. – noon