Working with a student advocate

A student advocate can:

• offer support if you encounter a challenge or have a concern or complaint as a student at the University of Manitoba.
• inform you of your rights and responsibilities.
• provide you with information to help you understand your options and to assist you in the next steps.
• help you prepare written request or appeal letters, and attend subsequent meetings or hearings.
• help you understand what the decision made regarding your situation means and discuss what your options are.
• refer you to other support services, as needed (e.g. Student Counselling Centre, Academic Learning Centre, Human Rights and Advisory Services).

• It is your right to obtain advice and to have representation.
• You will be better prepared to respond to an allegation or appeal a decision made against you and to participate in the process than if you prepared and attended on your own.
• You will be supported before, during and after the process.
• We will work to ensure that you are treated fairly by the university and involved offices

Working with Student Advocacy

The Student Advocacy office provides confidential services to students. The information we request relates directly to and is needed by the university and this office to provide student(s) with the appropriate services. The information will also be used to evaluate the quality of our student programs and support services.

This personal information is being collected under the authority of The University of Manitoba Act. It is protected by the Protection of Privacy provisions of The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. If you have any questions about the collection, contact the Access & Privacy Coordinator's Office (204) 474-8339, 230B Elizabeth Dafoe Library, University of Manitoba, R3T 2N2. Or visit http://umanitoba.ca/admin/vp_admin/fippa 

A confidential file will be kept by the student advocate and access to this file will be strictly limited to personnel in the Student Advocacy office and is governed by FIPPA (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act) and PHIA (Personal Health Information Act).

With the student's specific permission, the Student Advocate may acquire files and/or speak to relevant professionals regarding their case.
The student advocate will act on my behalf in a manner which is consistent with Student Advocacy goals of successful conflict resolution and fair process.

File retention policy

Files are normally kept for a period of 3 years after which they are destroyed. Files may be kept longer if required for actual or potential legal or administrative proceedings.

Confidentiality statement

The Student Advocacy office provides confidential services to students. Information provided by students will not be shared with anyone outside the Student Advocacy office without the student's consent, with the exception of the following:

If we believe that a person is a danger to themselves or to someone else, or if information about child abuse, child neglect, or elder abuse is disclosed, we are legally obligated to alert the appropriate authorities to respond to the situation.
If there has been a formal access for information request through the Access and Privacy Office.

If our records are required by law to be disclosed or if our staff are asked by a court official to participate in a legal proceeding.
Under these circumstances our office will work to limit the amount of information disclosed to the minimum extent required by law.

If you have questions, please speak to your student advocate or the director of Student Advocacy and Case Management.