Section 18: Matters which may be investigated: universities
The NIPSO is given a new power to investigate students’ complaints of alleged maladministration through action taken by universities in the exercise of administrative functions. This relates to students enrolled in courses provided or validated by the University of Ulster and Queen’s University Belfast. This supersedes the existing power of the visitor of a university to investigate complaints by students. If the NIPSO doesn’t have jurisdiction in a matter relating to universities, the jurisdiction of the visitor is unaffected. This section also contains a transitional provision in subsection (6) to deal with complaints made to the visitor but unresolved before this Act becomes law.