CREDIT: STEPHANIE LAI
Visit Fanshawe's Ombudsperson Greg Hessian, who is here to help students with academic policies.

Here at the Office of the Ombuds, we hope that everyone is settling into their academic calendars and we wish you the all the best as you start your fall midterm. Many students are unfamiliar with a key person at Fanshawe College, Greg Hessian, also known as your Ombudsperson.

The Office of the Ombuds plays an important role in the lives of students throughout their academic careers, yet many students are unaware that this office exists on their very own college campuses.

The few Office of the Ombuds across North America have an appointed individual who promotes an impartial, confidential and unbiased support to assist students in seeking resolution on matters ranging from academic grade appeals to educating students on how to approach academic tribunal matters, in the event their concerns are brought to a higher judicial platform.

The few Ombuds offices across North America have an appointed individual who promotes an impartial, confidential and unbiased support to assist students in seeking resolution on matters ranging from academic grade appeals to educating students on how to approach academic tribunal matters, in the event their concerns are brought to a higher judicial platform.

Some students may think, “If the Ombudsperson does not act on my behalf, what benefit is there for me in a (insert pressing matter)?”

The intention of the Ombuds Office is to act as a resource for students seeking support when it’s most needed.

Instead of digging through the overwhelming paragraphs of policy students can go online to www. fanshawec.ca/ombuds and fill out an Online Intake Form to set up a meeting with Greg. If your issue surrounding an Academic Appeal has fair grounds for an appeal, this office can inform you of the necessary steps to resolve your issue(s).

The Ombuds office can be valuable to students and less than 20 per cent of Canadian post-secondary institutions provide their students with an Office of the Ombuds.

Ontario has nearly 60 combined universities and colleges and out of these, only 18 Ombuds offices are active.

Luckily, for the students of Fanshawe College, the one out of 18 active offices in Ontario, is here at this institution.

Your Ombudsperson acts with your best interest in mind, and given the right circumstances, the aforementioned oversight would not have gone unnoticed while supporting you along the appeal process.

Greg is your acting Ombudsperson who sees fairness when it needs to be recognized, and students when they need to be heard.

The academic semester is in full swing; if you have any issues or concerns, feel free to visit Greg, your Ombudsperson, in T3016.