Agent at the Senate Review Board Academic
The Ombudsperson acted as agent for only one student last year. The
case involved a request for a waiver of progression requirements. The
student's appeal was denied.
Service at Western
Frances served as a member of the Professional and Managerial Association
(PMA) Support Group, and sat on two committee, the Faculty of Graduate
Studies Subcommittee on International Graduate Students, and Western's
Ontarians With Disabilities Act Committee (WODAC, see Human Resources
website http://www.uwo.ca/humanresources/ for information and Annual
Accessibility Plan). In addition, she spoke to a number of campus groups
over the year, usually about the Ombuds Office, the academic appeal
process, or scholastic offences.
Memorandum of Agreement
The Memorandum of Agreement between The University of Western Ontario
and The University Students' Council regarding the Ombuds Office was
revised last year and signed by all signatories, effective April 17,
2003. It is posted on the Ombuds Office website (www.uwo.ca/ombuds/).
Coordinating Committee/Advisory Committee
The members of the Coordinating Committee last year were Debra Dawson,
Isabelle Giroux, Nicole Nelson, Mekielia Nehmbard, Mark Feltham and
Marty Westmacott. The new name for this Committee is the Advisory
Committee. Its functions are described in the Memorandum of Agreement.
Last year the Committee met in October, January and March. It discussed
such issues as the revisions to the Memorandum of Agreement, the Annual
Report, and the office budget.
Professional Contributions
Both Anita Pouliot and Frances Bauer made significant contributions to
the ombudsman profession in 2002-03. Anita continued to serve as Treasurer
of the Association of Canadian College and University Ombudspersons
(ACCUO/AOUCC). She helped with the organization and presentation of
the 2003 ACCUO Beginners' Workshop and, in addition, she provided
assistance with registration at the first conference of the fledgling
Forum of Canadian Ombudsman (FCO) (March 30 to April 2, Ottawa).
Frances served on the Board of Directors of FCO; co-chaired the FCO
Conference Planning Committee; and continues to chair the Education and
Training Committee. At the FCO Conference, Frances was a panelist on a
session entitled Ombudsman in Canada: A Changing Mosaic. Readers of
this report are encouraged to visit the association websites: www.uwo.ca/ombuds/assoc.htm
and www.ombudsmanforum.ca.
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