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Ombudsperson displaced by international office

November 29, 2011
By Megan Devlin

The office of the ombudsperson is going to be relocated to accommodate space for international education in the Student Services Building. The office will be moving down the hall from the spacious rooms 3100 B and C to a smaller space in the building.

The office of the ombudsperson is a service used by students to resolve academic issues, as well as other problems on campus. According to the mission statement, “The office is a safe, confidential environment in which students can discuss a university related problem or concern. It also suggests strategies for approaching these conflicts. Often, it acts as a mediator between students and the university, such as cases of appealing a grade.”

Jennifer Meister, the current ombudsperson, thinks the move could be detrimental to her service. “The [new] offices end up being nine feet by nine feet. Once you get furniture in there, it’s difficult to meet with a group of students, or with a student and a parent or with anyone in a wheelchair in that small a space,” Meister explained.

For Marissa Joffre, vice-president of campus issues for the University Students’ Council, the move also presents a concern. The office of the ombudsperson will lose its common waiting area, which Joffre said is crucial for maintaining client confidentiality.

“The proposal is two smaller offices where they’d only have space to meet with one person at a time. There wouldn’t be much of a waiting area at all,” Joffre explained.  “Waiting outside in the hall it would be pretty clear that you are going to the ombudsperson.”

Janice Deakin, provost and vice-president academic, justified the move, citing the importance of internationalization. “The international education office has an important mandate that includes enhancing the services we offer to support the success of the growing number of international students who are choosing to study at Western,” Deakin said. “We are pursuing these priorities because we believe that helping our students develop a broader global perspective is an increasingly important part of a world-class education.”

She added, in her view, neither the services nor accessibility of the ombudsperson were going to be compromised by the relocation.

However, Meister is concerned the increased student population will necessitate more service from her office, whose use is already increasing. She also said the office is important for helping international students adjust because they might be somewhat vulnerable.

“We’re concerned because the office of the ombudsperson is a model for accessibility on campus, and we need space that is not only accessible, but also where we can meet with groups of students, or students and parents in the office,” Meister said.

Joffre expressed concern that higher-level administration is not aware of the issues surrounding the move. She also said she is disappointed that student stakeholders who finance the ombudsperson’s office, like the USC, were not consulted in the process.

“One of my goals is to really communicate around campus to all students, undergraduate and graduate, that we are here to help them and to serve them. I want to make sure we have the space that is adequate, that reinforces that message,” Meister concluded.

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