Complaints and Appeals University of British Columbia (5:VIII)
This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by the Law Students' Legal Advice Program on July 22, 2024. |
Often, issues with the University of British Columbia cannot be solved via legal action, but can be resolved through formal or informal appeals processes. This applies equally to other educational institutions. There are various resources to assist UBC students and faculty with complaints and appeals related to UBC. Even when an individual may have legal recourse, it is generally prudent to exhaust internal appeals before proceeding with legal action. The following resources may be helpful for individuals with issues relating to UBC.
A. The UBC Ombuds Office
The Office of the Ombudsperson for Students (the Ombuds Office) provides general resource information to students, makes appropriate referrals, and identifies and explains relevant university processes and policies. The Ombuds Office can facilitate discussions and use informal channels to seek the resolution of issues.
The Ombuds Office can be contacted at:
Office of the Ombudsperson for Students
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B. The AMS Advocacy Office
In situations where a student needs to appeal a final decision made by a department, faculty, or University representative, the AMS Advocacy Office can provide assistance by giving the student advice on their rights and responsibilities, assisting them with drafting letters and documents and representing students who must go before formal hearings at the University. Some of the specific issues the Advocacy Office helps with are:
- Academic misconduct and other student disciplinary issues;
- Academic appeals;
- Decisions made by academic advising, enrolment services and other bodies;
- UBC student housing issues;
- Off-campus housing issues;
- Accessibility: disputes with the CFA and discrimination complaints;
- Parking and library fines; and
- Non-academic misconduct issues.
The Advocacy Coordinator can be contacted at:
The AMS Advocacy Office
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C. The AMS Ombuds Office
The AMS Ombudsperson is independent of any administrative body including both the AMS and UBC. Its jurisdiction and mandate are limited to AMS issues. The Ombuds office offers the following services to students and AMS staff:
- Conflict management services to AMS clubs and constituencies undergoing internal conflicts; and
- Receiving and investigating complaints about the AMS.
Appeals may be filed at the office or online. The Ombuds Office is staffed 30 hours per week and may be contacted at:
The AMS Ombuds Office
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D. UBC Equity & Inclusion Office
For students and faculty with concerns relating to discrimination, the Equity & Inclusion Office’s human rights advising team can:
- Consult on human-rights related discrimination and provide information and advice;
- Work with relevant parties to resolve concerns informally, where possible; and
- Assist with filing a formal complaint, as appropriate.
More information, and a form to request an appointment, is available at the following link: https://equity.ubc.ca/how-we-can-help/human-rights-advising/
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