University of California, Irvine. Office of Innovation in Student Life.

The Office of Innovation in Student Life at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) was formed in 1967 when Jack F. Little was hired as Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs for Co-Curricular Learning.

The position of Ombudsman was created within the Office of Innovation and Student Life, and Little served in this role as student advocate and counselor at large. The name of the office was changed in 1973 to Office of the Ombudsman.

From the description of Office of Innovation in Student Life records, 1967-1973. (University of California, Irvine). WorldCat record id: 48646822

Organizational History

The Office of Innovation in Student Life began in May 1967 when Dr. Jack Little was hired as Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs for Co-Curricular Learning. The position of Ombudsman was created within the Office of Innovation in Student Life, and Little served in this role as student advocate and counsellor at large on the campus, and to work to resolve grievances. The name of the office was changed in 1973 to Office of the Ombudsman.

The cases handled by the ombudsman and the Office of Innovation in Student Life ranged from personal problems such as with the selective service to academic and administrative problems. Little was given a free hand, but at first, no office, so he met with students in their territory-generally the snack bar. He was eventually assigned an office, and a part-time student work force. The position of ombudsman was a new one in schools, cities and organizations at this time and Little, with support of ombudsmen at San Diego State, hosted the first meeting of what became an ongoing association of practicing campus ombudsmen in California. At the University of California, Irvine, Little encouraged students to be apprentice ombudsmen. Volunteer ombudsmen were trained and served with token pay. In 1970, a formal course for ombudsmen was sponsored in the Program in Social Ecology.

Chronology

• 1967: · In May, Dr. Jack Little is hired as Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs for Co-Curricular Learning.
• 1973: · Name of the office is changed to Office of the Ombudsman.
• 1973: · Ernestine Ransom becomes Acting Ombudsman.
• 1978: · R. Ronald Wilson is appointed Ombudsman, reporting to the Assistant Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs.
• 1982: · University hierarchy is restructured, and Wilson reports to the Vice Chancellor (called the Executive Vice Chancellor after 1985).
• 1999: · Kathleen H. Canul is named University Ombudsman.

From the guide to the Office of Innovation in Student Life records, University of California, Irvine, 1967-1973, (University of California, Irvine. Library. Special Collections and Archives.)