Does the Ombudsman advocate for students?
No. An advocate argues on someone else’s behalf. An ombudsman investigates complaints and mediates fair settlements. According to the UCOA Standards of Practice, “The Ombuds is neutral, impartial, unaligned and objective. The Ombuds is an advocate for good and fair process, not an advocate on behalf of individuals or the institution.” Although the Ombudsman will do everything possible to assist you through the process of resolving an issue you have with the University, the Ombudsman is required to always remain neutral in order to ensure that all parties to an issue feel the conflict can be resolved fairly.
