Director of Student Conduct

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $115,000 - $125,000

Position Summary

University Life is a central division that supports all Columbia students by fostering an inclusive, connected University community across Columbia’s 17 schools and all campuses. We serve as a hub for student engagement, cross-school collaboration, and coordinated University-wide initiatives that strengthen the student experience. Our work is grounded in building trusted relationships across the institution so that students can access the resources, opportunities, and support systems they need to succeed.

We advance student well-being, belonging, and personal development through programs, policies, and partnerships that encourage connection, leadership, and dialogue across diverse experiences and perspectives. Guided by our core values of connection, integrity, respect, service, and continuous learning, we are committed to creating environments where students feel welcomed, supported, and empowered throughout their academic journey.

Through close collaboration with students, faculty, and staff, University Life champions a Columbia defined by inclusion, community citizenship, and holistic support;one where every student can participate fully in campus life and contribute meaningfully to our shared University community.

The Center for Student Success & Intervention (CSSI) provides a comprehensive, 360° model integrating Student Conduct, Student Support Management, and Operations/Training. CSSI partners with all Columbia schools to triage referrals, provide clear process guidance, and remove barriers to student persistence through basic-needs support and developmentally focused interventions. Grounded in evidence-based practice and its core values of student success, integrity, accountability, and community engagement, CSSI upholds community standards while advancing equitable student outcomes.

Reporting directly to the Executive Director for Community Standards and Accountability, the Director of Student Conduct provides day-to-day leadership and operational management for the student conduct function within Community Standards and Accountability. The Director supervises a team of Associate Directors and a Student Conduct Specialist, ensuring effective case management, timely resolution of matters, consistent application of established procedures, and strong internal accountability across academic and non-academic student conduct processes.

The Director is responsible for managing the daily administration of the Dean’s Discipline process for individual student behavioral and academic integrity matters, including alternative resolutions. In this capacity, the Director supports staff in case assignment, process coordination, documentation, communication, and resolution practices, helping to ensure that conduct matters are handled fairly, efficiently, and in alignment with University policies and applicable standards across all 17 schools of the University.

 The Director helps translate institutional expectations into consistent operational practice while serving as a practical resource for staff, faculty, and campus partners on student conduct procedures, academic integrity concerns, and available resolution pathways.

The Director assists with maintaining conduct-related systems, tracking data, preparing reports, and supporting compliance-related documentation. In collaboration with the Executive Director and the Director of Student Accountability and Group Conduct, the Director contributes to operational planning, process improvement, staff development, and the continued effectiveness of the student conduct function within CSSI.

Responsibilities

Student Conduct Operations and Campus Coordination

• Manage the daily operations of the student conduct function, ensuring timely, fair, and consistent administration of academic and non-academic conduct matters. 

• Coordinate regularly with CSSI counterparts, Deans of Students and Student Life offices, University Life, Residential Life, Academic Affairs, the Office of the General Counsel, the Registrar, Public Safety, Athletics, faculty, and other campus partners to support effective case resolution, clarify procedures, and promote consistent implementation of established policies. 

• Serve as an operational liaison to undergraduate and graduate schools on student conduct procedures, case coordination, and process-related questions.

Case Oversight and Adjudication

• Lead and manage the Dean’s Discipline process for individual student conduct matters, with an emphasis on education, accountability, personal responsibility, and community impact. 

• Responsibilities include coordination of investigations and hearings, preparing notices, file review materials, outcome letters, and related correspondence, and implementation of sanctions in accordance with University policy. 

• Refer students to appropriate  CSSI or campus resources as needed and follow up to ensure support is provided. 

• For appealed cases, ensure relevant case materials are compiled and ready for review by the appropriate appellate officer.

Case Review and Referral

• Review reports of alleged misconduct and determine appropriate handling, including referral to or coordination with Student Group Conduct, Student Support, and partner offices such as Title VI, Title IX, Rules of University Conduct, and other University policy offices. 

• Ensure appropriate communication and coordination on overlapping matters while maintaining clear boundaries between conduct processes and partner-office responsibilities.

Records, Compliance, and Data Management

• Oversee accurate and consistent record-keeping for student conduct matters, including appropriate internal and external release of records on a need-to-know basis and in accordance with applicable laws, policies, and regulations. 

• Support compliance with FERPA, Clery, Anti-Hazing, ADA Section 504, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and other relevant requirements as they relate to Dean’s Discipline matters. 

• Work with Health Services, Disability Services, Housing and Dining, and other offices to support students with disabilities involved in the conduct process. Provide guidance to staff on best practices in compliance, record keeping, data management, and use of Maxient.

Policy Implementation and Process Improvement

• Work with the Executive Director for Community Standards and Accountability to review student conduct-related policies, protocols, and operational practices and recommend process improvements. 

• Areas of focus may include appeal management, parental notification, sanctioning practices, coordination with Student Support for return following a suspension, and related procedural matters.

Training and Educational Outreach

• Develop and deliver training for administrators, faculty, graduate student instructors, staff, and campus partners on student conduct procedures and related topics, including Dean’s Discipline, FERPA as it pertains to the conduct process, incident reporting and documentation, sanctioning, academic integrity policies, appeals, collaborations with campus partners, and other assigned areas. 

• Partner with stakeholders to develop and support student-facing education and outreach related to conduct expectations, academic integrity policy, and community standards.

Staff Supervision and Development

• Report to the Executive Director for Community Standards and Accountability and provide direct supervision to the Student Conduct team. 

• Oversee daily case file management practices, performance expectations, professional development, and performance appraisals. 

• Ensure Associate Directors are supported in the consistent implementation of the Dean’s Discipline process and related student conduct procedures.

Committees and Assessment

• Represent student conduct on University Life, CSSI, or University-wide committees as assigned. 

• Lead assessment projects related to student conduct operations, case processes, training, and campus partnerships, using findings and best practices to support continuous improvement and effective service delivery.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 5 -7 years of related experience in the areas of student conduct, residence life and/or alcohol and other drug education. 
• Must demonstrate dedication and commitment to the principles and values of the field of Student Conduct, including student development, character formation and community building and have an understanding of FERPA, Clery, and other laws pertaining to student conduct.
• Ability to handle sensitive cases and emergency situations and to make sound judgments regarding immediate priorities
• 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.
• Strong analytical and writing skills and ability to express complex ideas to a variety of audiences 
• Ability to interact effectively and collaboratively with a diverse community of students, parents and family members, faculty/staff, partner offices, external constituents, and the neighboring community

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree preferred in Higher Education, Student Personnel Administration, Counseling, Law or related field.
• Prior supervisory experience in a higher education environment is strongly preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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