‘A quasi-independent person’, is how former Executive Board chairman dr.ir. Henk de Wilt in 1999 described the ombudsman requested by the university council at the time. On Tuesday March 23 a delegation of the university council met with the CvB in order once again to discuss the appointment of an ombudsman after eleven years.

At present a student or a staff member can turn to various authorities for filing complaints, such as the student advisor, the Examinations Committee, the Department board or the confidential advisor. The arrival of an ombudsman would give students and staff one entry for all issues, is the reasoning adopted by the university council. This will lead to a considerable improvement of the accessibility.
That person must be able to function independently, i.e. should not come under any department and should not be charged with other tasks that may jeopardize his or her impartiality. It is someone who holds all the reins, who can act as mediator and who can refer people. Once established, such a person would also bring about a clearer registration of complaints, which will in turn have a positive effect on quality care at TU/e, according to the university council.

Policy officer mr. drs. Ben Donders says that the CvB is studying the changes that will be prescribed by the amendment to the Act. “It is clear that there will be one complaints authority for students. This should also be included in the university’s Control and Management Regulations (BBR). The proposal that has now been proffered by the university council will be taken on board in the elaboration of this matter. One element about which the CvB has mixed feelings, is the fact that this person will be active for two different target groups: students as well as staff members. There are already counselors active for staff members who want to file complaints. An amendment to the BBR will finally be subject to approval by the university council, so there is no doubt that we shall have further consultations on this matter with the council.” (HK)/.