Director of Community Standards, Policies, and Conflict Resolution

PURPOSE OF THIS POSITION: 
The Director of Community Standards, Policies, and Conflict Resolution is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining community standards, policies, and conflict resolution processes within the university.  This position plays a crucial role in fostering a safe and respectful campus environment by ensuring adherence to established guidelines, addressing violations, resolving disputes, and promoting a culture of personal responsibility, integrity, connections, and inclusivity.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
Responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining community standards, policies, and conflict resolution processes within the university.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Policy Development and Implementation:
  • Develop, review, and update university community standards, policies, and guidelines in in alignment with federal and state laws and university values and standards.
  • Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure policies are effectively communicated and consistently enforced.
• Student Conduct:
  • Oversee the student conduct process, ensuring fair and consistent procedures.
  • Conduct investigations and hearings for alleged violations of university policies, maintaining confidentiality and due process.
  • Administer sanctions as appropriate, focusing on educational outcomes and personal growth.
• Conflict Resolution and Mediation:
  • Establish and oversee a structured conflict resolution process that is fair, impartial, and effective.
  • Mediate and facilitate conflict resolution sessions when necessary, striving for mutually agreeable resolutions.
  • Provide guidance and support to students, staff and faculty members in conflict resolution efforts.
  • Develop and oversee a conflict resolution and mediation program to address disputes.
  • Provide mediation services when necessary and promote respectful resolution of conflicts.
• Compliance Monitoring:
  • Monitor compliance with community standards and policies, conducting regular audits and assessments.
  • Identify and report violations, trends, and areas for improvement and collaborate with relevant departments to address non-compliance issues.
  • Collaborate with appropriate departments to address non-compliance issues.
• Education and Training:
  • Ensure all stakeholders are aware of policies and standards through effective communication strategies.
  • Develop and deliver training programs and workshops for students, faculty, and staff on university policies, codes of conduct, and conflict resolution strategies.
  • Collaborate with academic units to integrate ethics and integrity education into the curriculum.
• Documentation and Reporting:
  • Maintain detailed records of policy violations, conflicts, outcomes and resolutions
  • Prepare regular reports and presentations, highlighting key metrics and areas of concern, and recommend improvements based on data analysis.
• Collaboration and Communication:
  • Will serve on call rotation as administrator on call.
  • Collaborate with various university departments to align policies and standards with university objectives.
  • Communicate policy changes and updates to all relevant stakeholders in a clear and timely manner.
• Risk Assessment and Mitigation:
  • Identify potential risks associated with community standards and policies and develop strategies to mitigate them.
  • Ensure that policies and conflict resolution processes comply with legal and professional requirements.
• Leadership and Management:
  • Supervise the team of hearing officers responsible for policy enforcement, conflict resolution, and education initiatives.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, professionalism, inclusivity, and continuous improvement.

MARGINAL DUTIES:

• Perform other relevant duties as assigned by the Associate Dean of Students, Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students, or Vice President.
• Assist other departments with divisional and university programs (e.g., orientations, homecoming weekend, family and friends' weekend, etc.)

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITIES:

• Master’s degree in higher education administration, student affairs, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in student conduct, community standards, or a related area.
• Demonstrated knowledge of higher education law, due process, and regulatory compliance related to student conduct. Experience with mediation or a Juris Doctorate would be considered an asset.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills (mediation training preferred).
• Ability to write and revise policies that are clear, easily understood, reflective of the university’s values, and compliant with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards.
• Strong leadership and team management abilities.
• Exceptional organizational and analytical skills.
• Commitment to promoting a diverse, inclusive, and respectful campus community.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Experience working in a diverse and inclusive environment.

ERGONOMIC REQUIREMENTS: 

This job requires a high level of mobility and visibility on campus (i.e., responding to crises).  Ability to lift no more than 25 pounds.  Ability to sit for periods of time in office setting.  Ability to manage routine administrative responsibilities, including data entry and a variety of software programs and more sophisticated web-based programs and processes.

Western New England University is committed to enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging by acknowledging and embracing diversity of thought, opinion, and approach with colleagues regardless of background, culture, and organizational level. WNE encourages diversity in our job applicants to ensure the best culture and work outcomes.