The Office of the Ombudsperson is available to provide advice and information to members of the Western community who may have a question about a university policy or procedure, or who would like some suggestions on handling a situation with a student. The Ombudsperson works in confidence and can offer support and guidance without ever becoming directly involved in a particular situation.

A valuable resource for information about fairness issues and the principles of conflict resolution, the Ombudsperson can help a staff or faculty member to clarify a problem or issue, develop a list of problem-solving strategies, and evaluate the merits of each approach. In certain circumstances the Ombudsperson may also be called upon to act as a mediator between parties in conflict to create opportunities for constructive communication.