The University of Hawai'i-Manoa will close its Office of the Ombuds on Sept. 30 because of current and future budget cuts, UH-Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw announced in an e-mail yesterday.

The office was established in 2006 to help students, staff and faculty resolve problems and complaints with the university. The most common issues the office handled involved housing, registration, grading, advising and employment, according to Manoa Ombudsman Neil Milner's annual report.

The Ombuds office Web site will include contact information for other conflict-resolution resources, including the UH Alternative Dispute Resolution Program, Manoa Mediation and Peace Club, the Advocacy Office, Gender Equity office and the Counseling and Student Development Center. Go to http://manoa.hawaii.edu/ombuds.