Chancellor Archie Dykes announced in November 1971 that he would appoint a university ombudsman to help resolve individual student grievances and recommend ways to improve administrative and academic procedures. An advisory committee recommended names for the position, and Dr. Charles Cleland was appointed the first ombudsman, part time, in 1972. He was succeeded in 1987 by Dr. Suzanne Kurth and Dr. Fred Vendetti. Dr. Kurth subsequently became the sole ombuds officer, assisted by two part-time graduate assistants. The Ombuds Office was eliminated in a budget-cutting measure by Chancellor Bill Snyder in 1996, with responsibility for its functions being shared by the Dean of Students’ Office, Diversity Resources and Educational Services (now Equity and Diversity) Office, Undergraduate Academic Services, and the Conflict Resolution Center. The announcement of the closing came after the last day of classes when most students had already left campus.