Advocacy vs. Ombuds

The Ombuds Office and the Advocacy Office work together to assist students in conflict with the University. Both offices deal with issues of academic misconduct, non-academic misconduct, academic standing, UBC Housing, and parking fines.

Generally, the Ombuds Office acts impartially and deals with student issues that require informal resolutions within faculties. The Advocacy Office operates from an entirely pro-student perspective and generally handles cases where students are involved in a formal University process such as a Senate Committee appeal or where students require representation at formal proceedings such as before the President’s Advisory Committee on Student Discipline.

The Ombuds Office is independent of any student or administrative body. Thus, the Ombuds Office is in a position to investigate student complaints against the AMS. The Advocacy Office is not independent of the AMS and is therefore not in a position to impartially investigate AMS practices.