1. be under the general charge of a Director who shall report to the Board of Governors and Senate at least annually on the activities of the Office and to the Vice-Provost (Student Affairs) for routine financial, logistic and administrative matters;

2. serve as a general information unit for students, or those who have applied to become students, and will provide them with information on their rights, responsibilities, and the procedures to follow to resolve problems or concerns resulting from actions or decisions taken by the University that may be unfair, unjust, discriminatory or create undue hardship; and,

a) in carrying out its information function, shall establish and be responsible for a Special Student Services Referral Centre which will receive student complaints and refer complainants, as appropriate, to other University officers or staff, including, without limitation, the Director, Office of Student Advocacy; the Sexual Harassment Officer; the Human Rights Officer; Mediation Services; faculty members and academic or support service administrators;

3. investigate or facilitate the investigation of any complaint or grievance brought by a student or former student against the University or against anyone in the University exercising authority;

4. review policies, procedures, regulations, rules and criteria and recommend any changes thereto that are necessary or desirable to ensure prompt decision making, appropriate procedures and protection of the rights of students;

5. subject to clause 5(b) hereof, provide assistance or representation to students who are appealing an academic or disciplinary action and are appearing before a residence, faculty, Senate or University committee; and,

a) in discharging its representational function, be responsible for the recruitment, selection, training and assigning of "advocates" recruited from the student body or from the members of the academic or support staff to assist and work with students who are appealing an action;

b) withhold or withdraw representation if, in the opinion of the Director of the Office, the case has no merit; the student is not co-operative; the student has retained legal counsel; and/or the circumstances indicate that such involvement would be counterproductive;

6. have access to such information as is appropriate having regard to the representational functions of the Office, while at all times respecting confidentiality and only releasing confidential information after written permission is given by the affected parties for such release;

7. keep suitable records of complaints, findings and recommendations as may be necessary and such records shall be accessible only to members of the Office.