This research focuses on identifying successful approaches used by university ombuds offices to enact change regarding dispute resolution options within their academic institute. The field of Ombuds has grown steadily in North America since the 1970s and is widely used by private industry, academia, and government organizations to deploy…

The role of the ombudsman on California college campuses is analyzed by the ombudsman at San Jose State College. (LR)

This report of the Ombudsman at Cornell University discusses: the composition of the staff; the volume of work; the sources of the complaints (the office serves the whole University community); the classification of complaints by subject, and source of complaints by College or Agency; the procedures used in handling the complaints; the types of…

The purposes of the study were: (1) to define the campus Ombudsman; (2) to review the circumstances leading to his appearance on the academic scene, (3) to describe his activities, and (4) to analyze the effects of his activities. Campus Ombudsmen were interviewed at six institutions including: the University of California at Berkeley, Columbia…

After briefly reviewing the history and characteristics of the office of the Ombudsman, the author discusses the establishment of that office at Michigan State University. The functions of the Ombudsman, who is to be appointed by the President from among the senior faculty are to establish procedures for receiving requests, complaints, and…

Parents who do not recognize problems their youngsters have often become defensive, thus making it difficult for schools and others to offer assistance to them and their children. Outlines a program that involves the use of community ombudsmen to help at levels where their assistance is most needed. (Editor/RK)

This report by the campus ombudsman at San Diego State College discusses in the preface some ways of approaching the position and the elements to be included in prospective job descriptions. The report begins with a description of the kind of person needed for such a position, how to establish the office and choose the man, the type of office…

The office of Ombudsman at San Jose State College was created as a response to a series of demonstrations by the black community protesting discrimination experienced on and around campus. The Ombudsman was to "search out and facilitate the removal of discrimination of the basis of race, creed, or national origin" wherever it occurred.…

Mediation, in which a neutral third party helps two people come up with their own solutions, is being used to settle faculty and staff grievances. Experiences at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Duke University, Emory University, and the University of Cincinnati are described. (MLW)

Aspects of an ombudsman's conduct that may effect his impact on an organization are illustrated. Daily activities are partitioned into three phases: appearance, problem definition, and resolution. Judith W. Harvey's commentary on the paper is included, as is Stewart's reply to her comments. (Author/LBH)

This document analyzes the responses to a survey conducted in 1997 on the role of the Ombuds Office in higher education, and also considers the characteristics of professional neutrality needed for successful conflict resolution. Of 178 institutions surveyed, 109 responses include 54 institutions with ombudsmen, 7 without such a position but with…

Traces New Zealand's introduction to school mediation, reviewing underlying goals of nonpunitive dispute resolution in the United States and highlighting significant initiatives. The establishment of the Hagley School Mediation Service is described and compared with Hawaii's Dispute Management in the Schools Project. Recommendations for school…

This report examines issues relevant to establishing an Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) ombudsman office within the Department of Education. The OSFA ombudsman office came out of the need to improve student lending program services and to mitigate the impact of loan default on students. It was determined that students involved in…

The key elements necessary to establish an ombudsman office on the college campus are outlined. The central responsibility of the ombudsman is to represent the individual, not as an advocate, but as a neutral problem solver. Among the reasons for the creation of the campus ombudsman is a desire to counteract the futility felt by many students in…