Director, Center for Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution

Reporting to an Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, the Director of the Center for
Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution supports the mission of the department, the division of
student affairs, and RIT. The Director is responsible for administering the student conduct
process in a manner that ensures student development, consistent and fair application of University
policy, and respectful treatment of all participants. The Director is expected to forge productive
working partnerships with students, colleagues, and offices across the University to enhance
overall student safety across the larger University community.

The ideal candidate will be a skilled communicator, familiar with all methods of a student conduct
process centered on educational outcomes, as well as the issues, trends, and concerns for students
and institutions of higher education. The Director must be an independent worker and a
self-starter. The successful candidate will be a committed and experienced professional with a
collaborative disposition, ability to think critically and creatively, excellent interpersonal and
problem-solving skills, a service orientation, and a participatory leadership style.

The Director should be prepared to address complex areas including gender-based and sexual
misconduct, academic dishonesty, and bias-related incidents by applying traditional and restorative
justice approaches.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

Serve as chief conduct officer for the university.

• Assess and respond to incoming reports by analyzing and prioritizing cases, issuing interim and remedial actions for all behavioral discipline, oversee the distribution process for cases to all conduct and residence life conduct officers.
• Responsible for management of RIT’s behavioral disciplinary policies.
• Review all allegations of student discrimination and harassment to determine any that are appropriate for adjudication under the Student Gender-Based and Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Harassment Policies.
• Serve as a hearing officer for complex cases, including Title IX cases, and those that could result in suspension or expulsion.
• Determine appropriate responses to misconduct and follow up with students and colleagues as appropriate.
• Monitor, manage, and maintain information related to all student cases.
• Supervise the management of all educational seminars and work with campus partners to develop an appropriate curriculum for educational courses.
• Assist in training appeals board officers for the University Appeals Board.
• Assist the Title IX Director in determining trends for educational outreach and meet with students for cases that involve education, but do not involve a conduct hearing.
• Oversee the utilization of the Student Conduct technology systems.

Serve as director of Center, including supervision of staff

• Supervise the full-time department staff (associate/assistant directors) and the staff specialist
• Management of the budget for the Center, including the development of the annual budget proposal, which includes preparation of expense projections and capital needs and spending; approve and monitor procurement card spending for the Center.
• Oversee the updating of the Center’s website and social media presence.

Serve as divisional/university representative for key policies, processes and workgroups,
including:

• Oversee the disciplinary process for all Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)violations.
• Oversee and administer the Admissions provisional conduct review process.
• Oversee and administer the employer/educational conduct check process. Oversee the management of the student disciplinary data, including review and approval by third parties.
• Provide disciplinary history for numerous campus partners for student employment, leadership opportunities, and Study Abroad opportunities.

Serve as departmental representative, as assigned, on division and university committees, including
in leadership roles, such as Student Behavioral Consultation Team and Title IX Case Management
team.

• Represent the division with processes related to student safety on campus such as the Alcohol Use Policy committee.
• Participate in ongoing professional development, provide professional competency development for supervisees, and serve as a content expert and facilitator for training related to department work such as Student behavior/code of conduct, Title IX, and FERPA.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A master’s degree in higher education or related field is required.
• A minimum of six years of full-time professional experience with evidence of increasing levels of responsibilities for managing and administering the student conduct process or related work.

SPECIALIZED SKILLS

• Previous experience planning, organizing, leading, and evaluating performance and outcome measures of programs and services.
• Ability to manage and maintain confidential and private information; uses confidential, sensitive and/or private records and information, protects information appropriately.
• Strong fiscal planning and budget acumen.
• Experience and evidence in employing a data-driven approach to generating measurable (quantitative and qualitative) outcomes and guiding others in the process.
• Ability to establish, build and maintain effective working relationships based on respect, empathy and honesty with diverse groups and individuals.
• Knowledge of Deaf culture, American Sign Language (ASL), or willingness to learn.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and project management skills.
• Possess a deep understanding of a diverse student body and a demonstrated commitment to cross- cultural competency.
• Computer competence using software and systems appropriate for the complexities of the role.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to set own priorities to coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating and time-sensitive deadlines.