Director, Student Rights and Responsibilities

Central Washington University is recruiting a Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities to join our Student Rights and Responsibilities team in Ellensburg, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We're offering a salary, depending on experience, from $71,634-$89,542.50 annually plus the awesome CWU benefits.

Who we are:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students' Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.

Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You'll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~10,000 students.

Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition, for the seventh time in eight years, CWU is a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.

Tour our campus in Ellensburg here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjdhOegDa9A

What we offer:

Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more: Benefits, Perks, and Leave.

The Role:

The Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities will have oversight, strategic direction, and supervision of the staff and operations of the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities ensuring a fair and equitable process for all students. This position involves leadership in promoting and upholding the standards of student behavior as outlined in the university's code of conduct, fostering a community of respect and responsibility, and supporting the holistic development of students. The Director serves as a senior hearing officer and primary appellate officer for non-residential and non-Title IX student behavioral cases, provides oversight and leadership of student conduct processes, and is a key partner in contributing to the development of behavioral intervention, and threat assessment processes at all CWU Locations, in consultation with the Associate Vice President of Student Engagement and Success. The Director impacts the vision, mission, and values of Central Washington University by creating a culture of welcoming and belonging and by promoting access and opportunity for all students. All employees are expected to support CWU's commitment to diversity and to bring and support inclusion into the university environment.

Student Rights and ResponsibilitiesStudent Rights and Responsibilities
- Serve as Chief Conduct Officer for the university by providing oversight of the student conduct system, including academic misconduct, and all other non-residential student behavioral misconduct, for all CWU locations in conjunction with the Associate Vice President of Student Engagement and Success.
- Responsible for administration and review of Student Conduct Code and other behavioral policies related to students.
- Provide mediation, problem solving and referral of individuals or groups of students regarding personal concerns, academic needs, or residence hall policies.
- Provide support, guidance, and training to staff who are intervening in behavioral incidents and conducting student behavioral interventions directly.
- Authorized to interpret university policy in determining educational sanctions for policy and behavioral infractions that best meet student needs, university needs, and contractual obligations of the university.
- Conduct prompt, thorough, and equitable investigations and adjudications into allegations of student violations of university policy and determine appropriate sanctions and follow up.
- Assess need for and coordinate interim measures as necessary, including no-contact orders, university trespasses, adjustment to work/class schedules, and temporary housing assignments.
- Handle complex situations, including responding to victims of trauma in a sensitive and informed manner, manage multiple cases, meet various deadlines, maintain neutrality, and work under stress, and observe impartiality and FERPA-protected information throughout the investigation process.
- Investigate and resolve issues which do not rise to a level of a code violation but require educational conversation and follow up.
- Interact with students through one-on-one meetings and conduct case meetings.
- Facilitate parent and student meetings when parental notification is required
- Oversight of the Student Conduct Council and student disciplinary appellate process.
- Meets with institutional stakeholders including Human Resources, Civil Rights Compliance & Title IX, Office of Case Management, Academic Affairs, Student Counseling Services, Student Health Services, Police Services, Office of Health Promotion, Residence Life, Disability Services, Athletics, other departments with SES and University Centers, to discuss issues and trends and follow up with identified needs.
- Assess and measure the conduct process outcomes and prepare reports and presentations.

Student Discrimination Grievance and Title IX Support
- Responsible for oversight and administration of adjudication for student discriminatory harassment or sex-based harassment.
- Following investigation by Civil Rights Compliance & Title IX, OSRR adjudicate allegations of Title IX sex-based harassment or other discriminatory harassment violations against student respondents, provides appropriate supportive measures to any involved party, and ensure the student conduct process meets statutory requirements for all parties.
- In collaboration with the OSRR staff, review and process investigative reports conducted by the Civil Rights Compliance & Title IX related to potential discriminatory harassment and sex-based harassment policy violations involving students, including potential to serve as the student conduct officer or student conduct council chair/decisionmaker.
- Oversee and, when appropriate, administer appellate process for discriminatory harassment and sex-based harassment cases involving students, including potential to serve as conduct review officer.
- Support Title IX Coordinator in responding to Title IX and civil rights discrimination cases by coordinating on reports received.
- Assist Title IX Coordinator in monitoring complaints for patterns and systemic problems.
- Assists in implementation of supportive measures, takes actions to prevent retaliation, coordinates violations of no-contact orders, issue no trespass order, and monitors complaint activity for students.
- Designated responsible employee under Title IX, required reporter for potential student hazing behaviors, and mandatory reporter for the university.

Compliance
- Serves as a member of the university's Threat Assessment Team and the Behavioral Intervention Team.
- Assists in the development, review, and administration of policies that further compliance with Title IX, Title VII, Clery Act, Washington State Administrative Procedures Act, and other statutory or related laws.
- Designated as a campus security authority under Clery Act reporting and assists in institutional Campus Clery Reporting requirements.
- Oversight and administration of the Student Sexual Offender Review Protocol and Process.
- Administrative responsibility for responding to disciplinary clearance forms for study abroad, graduate school applications, CWU student employment and transfer paperwork.

Student Success
- Assist in operations of special functions including website, marketing, orientation, welcome weekend activities, etc.
- Work directly with students, faculty, Residence Life staff, and various other university and community resources to meet the educational and developmental needs of students.
- Assist in review and development of institutional and departmental policies and procedures.

Supervisor Duties
- Supervises the Assistant Director and Coordinator of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
- Actively engages in recruitment and hiring new employees.
- Clearly defines performance expectations, ensures accountability, and provides ongoing informal feedback, coaching, training, and mentoring; conducts formal performance evaluations.
- Ensures employees have necessary resources.
- Oversees and directs the work of staff; serves as mentor, coach and leader, and resolves complaints or issues.
- Promotes professional development opportunities.
- Develops and fosters supportive working relationships, motivation and engagement.
- Communicates information to staff on an ongoing basis to influence staff engagement and to be a part of a larger community.
- Takes corrective action in a timely manner.
- Recognizes and rewards employees for good performance.
- Schedules employee work hours/shifts; monitor hours worked; approve payable time and absence requests.
- Adjusts leadership style as needed to achieve results.
- Recognizes value of and promotes diverse workforce; values and encourages diverse perspectives, creativity and teamwork.

Other Duties
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Serve on university-wide and/or departmental committees.

• Master's degree or equivalent in higher education or closely related field of study and seven years of professional University experience in student conduct, behavioral intervention, or related work OR any combination of education and experience which clearly demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Experience adjudicating high-level student conduct cases.
• Experience in managing student involved campus crises with relevant conduct components and risk management.
• Experience in student development, program development and outcomes assessment.
• Excellent investigative, research, and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated judgment and ability to manage highly sensitive and FERPA-protected information.
• Familiarity with laws, regulations, and policies pertaining to student conduct, crisis management, due process, free speech and demonstrations, and higher education.
• Experience working with a university conduct system and software.
• Well-developed interpersonal communication and conflict resolution skills, including oral and written communication.
• Experience working with technology, including data entry experience.
• Demonstrated ability and/or experience working with students and/or co-workers from a wide range of abilities, backgrounds and experiences.
• OR applicable combination of education and/or experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with restorative justice practices.
• Experience in a leadership and/or supervisory role.
• Experience or certification with university behavioral intervention and/or threat assessment.
• Experience or certification in civil rights and/or Title IX adjudications/processes.
• Knowledge of trauma informed investigative techniques.
• Experience or interest in mentoring students from all backgrounds.
• Ability to incorporate multicultural perspectives and issues into everyday conversations.

Competencies

• Accountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of own work; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Shows up on time, meets standards, deadlines and work schedules.
• Judgement: Makes timely, informed decisions. Analyzes options and determines appropriate course of action.
• Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals. Encourages participation and mutual support.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing business needs and responsibilities. Adapts approach and methods to achieve results; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternatives.
• Commitment to Diversity: Recognizes the value of diversity and helps create environment that supports and embraces diversity.

Don't meet every single requirement? At CWU we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. This may be the job for you!

Salary: This position has a minimum annual salary of $71,634 and maximum annual salary of $107,451. The Hiring Department's expected hiring range is $71,634 - $89,542.50. In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the hiring range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Schedule/Appointment: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm (1 hour lunch)

Working Conditions: Work is performed in an indoor office setting with frequent in-person interactions. It is essential to be able to remain at a desk/computer workstation for prolonged periods of time, perform extensive data entry and other computer-related tasks and create/maintain filing systems for departmental records. Some evening or weekend work and/or occasional travel will be required.

Benefits: CWU offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, life and disability insurance, along with vacation and sick leave plans depending on employment classification. For additional information please visit Benefits, Perks, and Leave.

An employee of CWU may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program if the employee has student loans. To learn more, visit: https://ofm.wa.gov/state-human-resources/public-service-loan-forgiveness-program.