The Office of Student Ombudsman was started in 1989 as part of a three year pilot project. The first ombudsman office at a college was established at Eastern Montana College in 1966. The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) created a similar office to: help students in the process of resolving problems with RIT; and identify areas where problems seem to recur and communicate that information to appropriate personnel who can remedy the problem. The term "ombudsman" means "representative" in Swedish. The office was set-up to act as a neutral party to help resolves disputes, conflicts, and other situations students might face on campus. The first Student Ombudsman at RIT was Dr. Barry R. Culhane. The office was deemed a success and by 1993 the Policy Council decided to permanently establish the office on RIT's campus. The Office of Student Ombudsman remained an important part of the RIT community until it was replaced by the Ombuds Office in 2006. This office was similar, but served faculty and staff as well as students.
From the description of RIT Office of Student Ombudsman records, 1989-1997. (RIT Library). WorldCat record id: 769359260
