top of page

Conference Guide: ACCUO 2025 Conference – “Moving Forward, Never Backwards”


Date: November 21, 2025 (online)

Theme: Resilience, innovation, equity, and the evolving role of ombudspersons in higher education.


1. Why Attend

This year’s ACCUO conference brings together higher-education ombudspersons, equity practitioners, student-advocacy professionals, and fairness-centred leaders from across Canada (and beyond). The programme features a keynote address by Jay Chalke followed by concurrent sessions on AI, integrity, EDI (equity, diversity, inclusion), systemic fairness, and new directions in ombuds work. Whether you’re a seasoned ombuds professional or new to the field, this is a great opportunity to engage, share practice, and build your network.


2. Conference Schedule & Registration


Make sure to mark your calendar, choose the concurrent sessions you want, and log in a little early for the virtual platform.


3. Speaker Line-up & Session Information

  • Meet the speakers → “Meet the Speakers: ACCUO 2025 Conference – Moving Forward, Never Backwards” This includes:

    • Keynote: Jay Chalke (Ombudsperson of BC)

    • Concurrent sessions on AI & integrity (Whitney Barrett, University of Waterloo)

    • “New Ombuds’ Perspectives” panel (Laurel Wilkie, Elizabeth Garofalo, Sam Vandekerckhove, Stephanie McFarland)

    • And more. It's a powerful and diverse line-up: spanning students, practitioners, newcomers, mid-career and senior ombuds professionals.


4. FAQs – Things to Know in Advance

What is the format?

The event is online (half-day) and live.

What time zone?

The schedule on the website is shared in EST, unless stated otherwise.

How do I join the virtual platform?

In the Schedule, you must select "Show More" and there is a virtual link that you can click to join the session.

Will sessions be recorded?

All sessions will be recorded unless you are in a session with breakout rooms, then it will not be recorded.

Can I ask questions or join breakout sessions / panels?

Yes, the conference is meant to be interactive, so, be ready to engage, submit questions and network virtually.

Technical requirements?

Make sure you have a stable internet connection, updated browser, working audio/video, and access to the virtual meeting tool (likely Google Meet). It’s also a good idea to join a few minutes early to test.

Who do I speak to about accessibility concerns?

You may reach out to conference@accuo.ca for any concerns regarding accessibility or to request accommodations.

How do I use Google Meet's caption & translation features?

Here's how attendees can enable captions and translated captions to support inclusive participation.


For computer (desktop/laptop):

  1. Join the meeting in Google Meet.

  2. Click More options (three-dots menu) → Settings → Captions.

  3. Under “Language of the meeting” choose the spoken language (e.g., English).

  4. Turn on Translated captions (if available on your account) and select your target language (e.g., French, Spanish, Portuguese, etc.).

  5. Optional: Customize caption appearance (font, size, colour, background) under “Customise your captions”.

For Android mobile device:

  1. In the meeting, tap the screen to bring up controls → tap More controls → Settings → Captions.

  2. Under “Translation Language”, pick your preferred language.

  3. Tap Save → Close to return to the meeting.


For more information please check out this Google Help page.


5. Your Pre-Conference Checklist

  • ☑ Register for the conference and save the meeting link.

  • ☑ Block the date/time in your calendar (convert to your local zone).

  • ☑ Review the schedule and pick which concurrent sessions you’ll attend.

  • ☑ Read the speaker bios ahead of time (linked above) and note any you especially want to connect with.

  • ☑ Test your device/connection, ensure Google Meet works (or whichever platform is used).

  • ☑ Enable captions & translation ahead of time if needed.

  • ☑ Prepare a notebook / questions / talking points for engagement.

  • ☑ Follow ACCUO social media (LinkedIn, Instagram) for any live updates or changes.


6. After the Conference – Making the Most of It

  • Reach out to new contacts you meet — this is a great professional network for Canadian higher-ed ombuds work.

  • Reflect on insights, and consider how you’ll apply or adapt them in your role (as Assistant Ombudsperson & Outreach Officer at your institution).

  • If recordings become available, archive them for future reference or share with colleagues.

  • If you were inspired by a session, consider writing a summary or sharing take-aways with your team or on your LinkedIn.

  • Give feedback to ACCUO if they ask — this improves future programmes.



 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page