• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $120,000 - $130,000

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) falls under the University Life umbrella and 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 Director of Student Accountability and Group Conduct reports to the Executive Director,  Community Standards and Accountability. The Director is responsible for overseeing the process of supporting students in maintaining a safe, honest, and responsible campus community by responding to all reports of Student Group violations of University and/or school policy.  The Director supervises the Associate Director of Student Accountability and Group Conduct and advises Student Group Accountability Review Board (SGARB) meetings in a manner that provides a fair, consistent, and transparent review process when holding student groups accountable with the goal of supporting learning and development. The 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 trained to also support as a student conduct officer for Standards and Discipline in times of high volume. The Director is responsible for special projects or assignments, committee involvement, trainings, faculty outreach.

Responsibilities

Student Group Conduct Case Adjudication: 

• Lead and manage the response workflow to allegations of University and/or school policy misconduct through the Student Group Accountability Review Board (SGARB) process, which emphasizes accountability and education, ensuring that the Associate Directors are responding in a timely manner. Respond to allegations alongside the Accountability team, providing guidance as necessary. 

• Daily review of incident reports received, implementation of 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. Provides guidance to the Accountability team in review of daily reports as necessary.

• Communicate case outcomes to other University staff, including the Dean of Students for the student group’s college, when applicable.

Determination of Charges and Board Composition: 

• Oversee the investigation process working closely with the appropriate Dean of Students/University administrator and their supervisor as needed to determine if the violation should move forward through the process to an SGARB hearing or should be handled through an informal resolution. Provide guidance to the Accountability team as needed. 

• If the determination is made to move the violation through to an SGARB hearing, the Director will determine 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. 

• Build strong relationships with colleagues serving student groups at each of the 17 schools and central departments within the University.  

• Oversee the Associate Directors who serve as a liaison for CUIMC, Columbia Morningside and Manhattanville Graduate and Professional Schools to ensure successful implementation of the SGARB process for their respective schools.

• Implement 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 allegations within the undergraduate community. 

• Serve as departmental representative for University Committees as needed. 

Supervision: 

• Supervise the Associate Directors of Student Accountability and Group Conduct, overseeing their professional development and performance appraisals. 

• Provide oversight to the Associate Directors in their implementation of the SGARB Process. 

Education, program development & training. 

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

• Responsible for applying or integrating new theories and practices to related services and programs. 

• Collaborate with the Operations team within CSSI to gather relevant data and 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: Standards and Discipline, student group accountability, conflict resolution, incident reporting and documentation, policies and sanctioning. 

Annual Training:  

• Responsible for overseeing the development and facilitation of annual training for all parties involved in the Student Group Accountability Review Board. 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 Director will play a lead role in the development and implementation of said training.  

Other duties as assigned 

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required and a minimum of 5-7 years of related experience in the areas of student group conduct, residence life and/or alcohol and other drug education.
• Must demonstrate dedication to the principles and values of the field of Student Conduct, Student Group Accountability, 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.
• Prior supervisory experience in a higher education environment is strongly preferred.
• 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.