Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

8-1979

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Major

Educational Administration and Supervision

Major Professor

Frederick P. Venditti

Committee Members

Earl Ramer, Francis Trust, Gerald Ubben

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to review the literature related to the historical development of the civil and campus ombudsman, and to describe the current status of the campus ombudsman in American higher education. The research procedures were designed to provide answers to three specific questions;

1. How many higher education campuses are currently continuing the office of campus ombudsman, and how many have discontinued it?

2. For what reasons have some higher education institutions decided to discontinue the office of ombudsman?

3. What is the current attitude regarding the position of campus ombudsman on the part of administration, faculty, students and ombudsmen?

A survey questionnaire designed to gather data regarding the above questions was distributed to chief executive officers, faculty organization heads, student government heads and ombudsmen on 185 American higher education campuses which were reported to have an ombudsman office. Of the 343 responses received from 140 campuses, 118 came from chief executive officers, 94 from faculty organization heads, 80 from student government heads and 51 from ombudsmen. Categorizing the responses in relation to the status of the ombudsman revealed that 169 responses came from 55 campuses which never had an ombudsman, 30 responses came from 20 campuses which had terminated the ombudsman, and 144 responses came from 65 campuses which were continuing the ombudsman.

The four reasons described as most influential in the decision of twenty campuses to discontinue the ombudsman position, in descending order, were: (1) other personnel can more effectively hear and resolve personal grievances; (2) regular systems were operating adequately; (3) lack of adequate funds; and (4) caseload did not justify the position.

Chief campus executive officers, faculty organization heads, student government heads and ombudsmen on the 140 responding campuses represented in this study had a favorable attitude toward the campus ombudsman. This finding reflects the results of responses to a semantic differential composed of 20 adjective sets which were value rated by respondents from campuses which were continuing or had discontinued the ombudsman position. Of the 3,538 responses 2,524 indicated clearly a generally favorable attitude toward the ombudsman. Of the 153 respondents from the 65 campuses which were continuing the ombudsman position, 110 indicated that the position would be continued indefinitely.

Analysis and interpretation of the data supported the following conclusions:

1. There is general satisfaction with the position of campus ombudsman where it remains.

2. The increase in the number of ombudsmen in American higher education was slowed.

3. On campuses which had terminated the ombudsman there was the general attitude that others could better, or at least adequately, fulfill the function.

4. Ombudsmen viewed their position as being much more valuable to the campus than did any other group.

5. The exact number of campus ombudsmen currently in service is not absolutely established.

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