Office of the Student Ombudsperson
The Office of the Student Ombudsperson provides a place where your concerns can be heard. The Ombudsperson acts as an independent, impartial resource without any authority to make decisions or enact policy. If a matter cannot be resolved through this office, a referral will be made.
- The student ombudsperson provides the opportunity for you to appeal decisions related to access to courses and credit granted toward a degree. You are expected to have first met with the appropriate program director or other appropriate administrator to seek resolution of a concern.
- The Office of the Ombudsperson offers an alternative opportunity to resolve complaints, concerns or problems in a timely and private manner.
- Users of the office are provided a confidential place to explore options to make informed decisions.
The Ombudsperson
- Listens and discuss questions, issues, and concerns.
- Is an advocate for fairness.
- Helps develop and evaluate options to address concerns.
- Answers questions and helps find others who can develop and evaluate various options to address concerns.
- Explains College policies and procedures.
- Facilitates communication between and among individuals.
- Advises individuals regarding steps that may be taken to resolve problems informally.
- Advises individuals regarding formal administrative options to address issues.
- Mediate disputes, seeking "win-win" solutions to problems.
- Makes appropriate referrals when informal options do not work.
- Identifies patterns of problems/complaints and seeks to identify ways of avoiding same in the future.
- Provides semester by semester reports of the number of students contacted, the nature of complaints and issues, and activities undertaken to resolve same.
The Ombudsperson does not
- Replace or circumvent existing channels.
- Direct any College office to change a decision.
- Make decisions for the student.
- Set aside rules and regulations.
- Participate in formal grievance, complaint or conduct procedures.
- Make decisions for College faculty/administrators.
- Determine "guilt" or "innocence" of those accused of wrong-doing.
- Assign sanctions to students.
- Give legal advice.
FSW Student Ombudsperson Dr. April Palmer, Assistant Vice President, Student Life
Phone 239-489-9067 Email April.Palmer@fsw.edu