PROFESSIONAL POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position Title: Director of Community Standards and Mediation
Department: Student Affairs
Division: Enrollment Management & Student Affairs
Location: Gorham, Portland and Lewiston Campus, Office in Gorham
Schedule: Full-time, Flexible, 12 months, nights and weekends as needed
Reports to: Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs
STATEMENT OF JOB:
This position supports all USM locations in sustaining an environment that values and promotes integrity, tolerance, respect, and civility. It ensures that student conduct policies and procedures are implemented in a fair and consistent manner that encourages student development and accountability. This position also contributes to maintaining a safe campus environment. Consistent with USM’s reputation for providing a supportive educational environment, it assists students in resolving interpersonal or procedural differences.
The Director of Community Standards and Mediation will be responsible for the adjudication of cases involving violations of the UMS Student Conduct Code and will be responsible for the selection, training and evaluation of all conduct code board/committee members (faculty, students and staff). The Director will also design and implement educational programs and materials for all student groups, classes and residence halls regarding; academic integrity, student community standards and conduct, institutional policies and conflict resolution.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
1. Administers the UMS Student Conduct Code, USM Student Conduct Procedures and USM Academic Integrity Code governing all students within USM’s jurisdiction.
a. Arranges timely appointment and appropriate preparation for all Student Conduct Committee and Academic Integrity Board members, including initial, refresher and specialized training.
b. Receives reports of potential violations; initiates investigations; determines the appropriate disposition of cases; and maintains all necessary documentation.
c. Ensures mandatory distribution of relevant policies to all appropriate USM constituent groups.
d. Educates the campus community on issues related to community standards.
e. Serves as USM’s representative to meetings of the UMS Student Conduct Officers and the UMS Student Conduct Code Review Board.
f. Maintains accuracy and currency of all related policies.
g. Manages Maxient, electronic conduct database.
h. Ensures compliance with all relevant federal, state and university policies.
2. Serves as a USM representative to the UMS Special Case Admission Review (SCAR) Committee.
a. Assumes primary responsibility for the initial review of documentation from all USM applicants with prior criminal records.
b. Collects supplementary information, as needed.
c. Coordinates and consults with appropriate USM Director of Admissions in recommending an admission outcome.
d. Documents related USM recommendations and actions and conveys to the SCAR Committee Chair and Shared Processing Center.
e. Participates in SCAR Committee meetings and provides input into relevant UMS policies, procedures and practices.
3. Implements the University’s review and monitoring procedures for students listed with the Maine Sex Offender Registry.
4. Serves as Member of the USM Behavioral Intervention Team (ACT)
a. Attends routine and emergency meetings of the ACT Core Team.
b. Provides input on policies, procedures, educational initiatives and campus communication strategies related to the work of ACT.
c. Maintains necessary records.
d. Supports USM’s emergency preparedness plans.
5. Serve as initial contact to assist students in resolving concerns or complaints.
a. Educates students regarding relevant issues, policies, options, student rights and responsibilities and the rights and responsibilities of other community members.
b. Arranges mediation, as appropriate.
c. Forwards unresolved concerns or issues to the appropriate manager or administrator.
6. Administers USM’s Student Academic and Professional Grievance Procedures.
a. Counsels students on alternate conflict resolution strategies.
b. Explains the procedures to students opting to pursue these formal procedures.
c. Advises all parties to a grievance.
d. Maintains all necessary documentation.
7. Coordinates with campus Security to develop safety plans with students who report significant safety concerns.
8. Supervise, train and evaluate Community Standards Graduate Assistant.
9. Train and oversee the judicial work of the Residence Directors, including attending regular housing/residence life staff meetings.
10. Assists in maintaining compliance with federal Title IX guidelines.
11. Implements continuous program improvement based on a systematic assessment process.
12. Participates as a member of the Division of Enrollment Management & Student Affairs, contributing to both student success and retention efforts.
13. Functions as a student affairs generalist by representing student concerns, participating in the community development mission of the Division of Student Affairs and serving on USM committees.
14. Other reasonably related duties, as assigned.
SPECIAL ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES*:
· Control over, access to, or security of restricted levels of information technology systems that would allow the person to harm the IT systems or the information contained in them.
· Ability to drive colleagues, students or others and provide proof of a valid driver’s license.
· Ability to provide own transportation (fully-insured vehicle), provide proof of a valid driver’s license, and compliance with Maine law regarding vehicle insurance.
· Work on federally funded projects.
Budget Responsibilities:
· Manages the Student Community Standard & Conduct budget.
· Apprises supervisor of budget concerns and provides input into the budget development process.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
· Community Standards Graduate Assistant
· Judicial and Community Standards work of the Residence Directors
Public and Professional Activities Related to Job Performance:
· Attends staff and other appropriate meetings; participates in appropriate USM Committees and governance units; participates in appropriate UMS meetings.
· Maintains active involvement in appropriate professional development activities.
· Participates in appropriate community service activities that are in keeping with the mission of the University.
Internal and External Contacts:
Internal: Dean of Students, Housing/Residence Life Staff, Academic Deans, UMS Public Safety and Univsity Police, Athletics, Academic Advising and Student Activities. Contact with other departments along with individual faculty and staff occurs as needed when working on conduct cases, committees and/or projects.
External: Parents/Family members, UMS colleagues, attorneys, and other community members connected to students and/or student behavior/conduct.
Knowledge and Skill Qualifications
Required:
· A relevant master’s degree and/or the equivalent in education and related experience. Examples of related experience: student conduct, conflict or dispute resolution, campus safety, student behavioral or crisis intervention. Examples of relevant master’s degrees: higher education, student development, college student personnel, counseling, justice studies or similar
· A minimum of 3 years of related professional experience
· Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills
· Excellent organizational skills
· Ability to work effectively with all levels at the institution
· Competency with PC-based software, i.e. word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software
· Demonstrated commitment to the goals of an access-focused institution
Preferred:
· Experience as a student conduct officer or position that deals with legal issues in higher education
· Knowledge of contemporary practices in student judicial systems
· Experience in public higher education
· Familiarity with the criminal justice system
*NOTE: All individuals who are recommended to fill and subsequently offered a position with special essential responsibilities as checked above, or other licensure or certification, shall have the following additional applicable background screening completed (in addition to regular and standard background screening) based on the responsibilities of the position: Credit history screening, and/or Sex offender registry screening, and/or Federal criminal history screening and/or License/certification verification.
Date Approved: June 2017
Job Family: 19
Salary Band: 6
Unit: Non Rep
Employee: TBD
Position #: 00023606