Maureen Helt appointed as new ombudsperson for students
Maureen Helt of the Office of the Ombudsperson works with students to seek fair resolutions to issues, concerns and conflicts at the university.
Ryerson University is pleased to welcome Maureen Helt as the new Ombudsperson in the Office of the Ombudsperson as of January 18, 2022.
Helt has more than 25 years of legal experience, extensive dispute resolution skills and investigative experience. Over the last four years, Helt served as a vice-chair and adjudicator at Tribunals Ontario where she mediated and adjudicated matters at the Licence Appeal Tribunal, the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, the Ontario Parole Board, the Ontario Civilian Police Commission, the Social Benefits Tribunal and others.
Through her experience at Tribunals Ontario and her previous roles at both the Ontario Energy Board and the Law Society of Ontario, Helt has mastered issues related to procedural fairness and understands the importance of impartiality, independence and confidentiality, principles essential in this role of the ombudsperson.
“Particularly what drew me to the role of ombudsperson was the opportunity to advocate for fairness for students,” said Helt. “Fairness has always been something that I strongly believe in and strive for which I'm looking forward to bringing to my role here at Ryerson.”
A resource for students
The Office of the Ombudsperson is an independent resource for students seeking resolutions to issues, concerns or conflicts at the university. The office is primarily focused on ensuring that everyone involved in a dispute is treated with respect and that decisions affecting students are made promptly and fairly.
Students may contact The Office of the Ombudsperson if they feel that they have been treated unfairly or if they have tried to resolve an issue, but now are unsure of next steps or the options available to them. The Office of the Ombudsperson can help with academic appeals, academic misconduct, academic standing, reinstatement and complaints about faculty or staff members. More information can be found on their website.
The contacts for Ryerson staff and faculty with concerns continue to be the university’s Human Rights Services, Human Resources, Faculty Affairs, Office of the Vice-Provost Students, and the Office of the General Counsel which deals directly with the Ombudsman Ontario. Unionized employees may also seek assistance from their union representatives. These offices will continue to have a strong working relationship with the Ombudsman Ontario.
Working with Helt are assistant ombudspersons Gemma Kerr and Aeysha Adam.