Ombudspersons programs can save higher education institutions time, money and their reputations, according to a report released this month by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.
The 60-page report called for the creation of a central office or program to handle disputes that arise among students, faculty and staff. Many universities in the U.S., including UGA, have begun using independent mediation and institution-wide resolution programs as a more cost-efficient approach to solving disputes.