Associate Director of Student Accountability and Group Conduct

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Salary Range: $86,000 - $92,000

Position Summary

University Life is a central division that works with Columbia's 17 schools and colleges and serves as a student life hub. We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive campus culture where students can thrive in all dimensions of their lives. We focus on connecting students to each other, to the broader University and surrounding community, and to opportunities beyond their schools.

University Life was created to develop and enhance the student experience at Columbia University. Working in collaboration with students, faculty, and staff, University Life focuses on enhancing the student experience by strengthening resources, policies, and conversations, and building community outside of the classroom. Our efforts all connect to core values for the Columbia community:

• Inclusion and belonging
• Health and well-being
• Sexual respect
• Community citizenship

The Center for Student Success and Intervention (CSSI), under the University Life umbrella, uses a 360-degree lens to approach student support work, including individual and student group conduct, intervention case management, and student support initiatives. CSSI incorporates supportive measures for students with more significant needs, including students managing academic and behavioral issues, students of concern, and students with unmet basic needs. CSSI is responsible for connecting students to the support they need to overcome challenging situations, and it oversees the university's student conduct investigation and adjudication processes. Student Support and Intervention, in accordance with the expectations of students at Columbia University, upholds the highest standards of respect, integrity, and civility.

The Associate Director reports to the Director of Student Accountability and Group Conduct in the Center for Student Success and Intervention. The Associate Director is responsible for supporting students in maintaining a safe, honest, and responsible campus community by responding to all reports of alleged Student Group violations of University and/or school policy. The Associate Director, along with other members of the team, thoroughly advises the Student Group Accountability Review Board meetings in a manner that holds student groups accountable and supports learning and development. The Associate Director regularly communicates and collaborates with staff members across the Columbia University community on the Morningside, Manhattanville and CUIMC campuses. In addition to investigating and advising SGARB cases, the incumbent is responsible for special projects or assignments, committee involvement, trainings, faculty outreach.

Responsibilities

Student Group Conduct Case Adjudication:

• 
  

  Respond to allegations of University and/or school policy misconduct through the Student Group Accountability Review Board (SGARB) process, which emphasizes accountability and education.

  
  
• 
  

  Review of reports received, any necessary investigative measures, advising accountability board hearings, documentation, and, as necessary, implementation of sanctions ranging from disciplinary warning through derecognition of the group from the University.

  
  
• 
  

  Case dependent, the Associate Director may also communicate regarding case outcomes to other University staff, including the Dean of a student's college.

  
  

Determination of Charges and Board Composition:

• 
  

  In consultation with the Director of Student Accountability and Group Conduct, and after conducting a full investigation, the Associate Director will determine if the violation should move forward through the process to an SGARB hearing or should be handled through an informal resolution.

  
  
• 
  

  If the determination is made to move the violation through to an SGARB hearing, the Associate Director will assist in determining the make-up of the committee and work with the Student Accountability and Group Conduct team to schedule the hearing and gather the board members.

  
  

Collaboration and communication.

• 
  

  Serve as one of the Student Accountability and Group Conduct departmental liaisons for Schools on the CUIMC Campus, as well as Columbia Morningside and Manhattanville Graduate and Professional Schools to ensure successful implementation of the SGARB process for their respective schools.

  
  
• 
  

  Assist with the implementation of the SGARB process for the undergraduate community through collaboration with various departments including but not limited to Undergraduate Student Life, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Columbia Athletics, and University Life to address student group conduct issues within the undergraduate community, consulting with the Director as needed.

  
  
• 
  

  Serve as departmental representative for University Committees as needed.

  
  

Education, program development & training.

• 
  

  Through professional organization involvement and independent research, responsible for staying current on trends and issues related to the field of student accountability and group conduct.

  
  
• 
  

  Apply or integrate new theories and practices to related services and programs.

  
  
• 
  

  Provide information and training using case statistics to educate administrators, student groups, and student leaders on student group conduct trends and issues, as well as topics including, but not limited to: Dean's Discipline, student group accountability, conflict resolution, incident reporting and documentation, policies and sanctioning.

  
  

Annual Training:

• 
  

  Develop and facilitate annual training for all parties involved in the Student Group Accountability Review Board, working at the direction of the Director. Topics to be covered will include best practices surrounding investigative processes, development of a student organization findings report, how to engage witnesses during a hearing, how to measure evidence through a preponderance framework, and how to make a determination of findings, outcome, and sanctions (including consideration of precedent).

  
  
• 
  

  Bias training will also be an annual requirement and the Associate Director will play an active role in the development and implementation of said training.

  
  

Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required and a minimum of 4-6 years of related experience in the areas of student conduct, residence life and/or alcohol and other drug education.
• Must demonstrate dedication to the principles and values of the field of Student Conduct and have an understanding of FERPA, Clery and other laws pertaining to student conduct.
• Must be comfortable working in a dynamic, urban, fast-paced, detail-oriented environment.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to exercise superior judgment and discretion are required.
• Proven ability to handle multiple priorities while maintaining a high level of professionalism and attention to detail must be shown.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree preferred in Higher Education, Student Personnel Administration, Counseling, Law or related field.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.