Manager, Student Life

at  British Columbia Institute of Technology BCIT

BCIT’s Student Life department is seeking a regular, full time (1.0 FTE) Manager, Student Life. This position is responsible for assessing, responding, and addressing student-related situations that have the potential to adversely impact the BCIT community. The incumbent will manage the response to students with varying degrees of distress which impact their academic pursuits. The incumbent implements the operational activities of the Institution-wide Early Alert program and coordinates the appropriate communication and response.
The incumbent supports the student code of conduct in accordance with Institute policies and procedures in a consistent and equitable manner. The incumbent also makes policy and procedural recommendations and ensures stakeholders are knowledgeable and trained in matters that impact student success. The incumbent develops and delivers training materials to the campus community regarding student academic and non-academic behaviours.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Student Case Management:

• Establishes protocols and procedures for early identification and response to students in distress. This includes coordinating with staff from all areas of the Student Services division to access services to support students who are having difficulties in academic, administrative, economic, family relationships, health, physical, psychological and social adjustment issues.
• Supports students with complex non-academic issues that are impacting their academic pursuits by providing timely and coordinated services with on- and off-campus resources. Provides assessment, response, and management for students in distress in an appropriate manner that is consistent with Institute policies and procedures.
• Works with Registrar, Associate Deans, Safety, Security and Emergency Management team, Student Services Managers and Coordinators, Faculty, and others to develop academic and Institutional accommodations to aid students in distress.
• Develops and implements processes that assess the student experience in order to provide guidance to student services departments.
• Coordinates the Early Alert Program, including setting up training, assisting with developing materials, assessing and handling Early Alert Reponse Committee activities.
• Reviews, assesses, and allocates Early Alert Reports in accordance with Early Alert Response Committee.
• Maintains centralized reporting database for student case management.
• Provides guidance and consultation for BCIT employees regarding student case management services.

Student Behaviour:

• Establishes procedures and forums for conducting investigations and hearings for allegations of non-academic student misconduct.
• Reviews and assesses incident reports and enacts appropriate response protocoals in partnership with Safety and Security department.
• Prepares and coordinates conduct process administration documents such as booking hearings, compiling records, and maintaining departmental records.
• Ensures that intervention and opportunities for correction are taken as early as possible, and when appropriate, for the benefit of all parties involved; makes referrals and/or consults with appropriate internal and external resources.
• Monitors the integrity of the process through consistency, equity, fairness, and adherence to Institute policies and procedures.
• Provides administrative and procedural guidance to Faculty in the review and investigation of Academic Integrity adjudications.
• Maintains all official records of academic and non-academic integrity violations and ensures investigations comply with Institutional policy and procedure.
• Serves as procedural advisor to Institutional administrative processes such as Decision Review Board and Academic Integrity investigations.
• Develops and delivers training for the BCIT community regarding academic and non-academic misconduct matters.

Administrative and Process Management:

• Conducts reviews and assessments of Institute academic and non-academic student conduct policies and procedures and makes recommendations for change as appropriate.
• Establishes and maintains internal liaison activities with Registrar’s Office, Admissions, Safety and Security, Student Services departments, and all academic Schools to maximize opportunities for timely intervention and/or to avoid escalation of misconduct and harm to the student and others.
• Develops and delivers training for Faculty and managers throughout BCIT on the policies and procedures of handling non-academic student misconduct.
• Establishes and maintains an effective working relationship with the Student Association Advocate such that a free flow of inquiry and information exists between the positions in order to maximize opportunities for resolutions available to students.
• Creates and maintains a database of all non-academic misconduct reports and case management files, including outcomes, referrals, actions taken, resolutions, and sanctions.
• Manages issues or projects assigned by the Associate Director, Student Life and/or Director, Student Success.
• Assumes the role and responsibilities of Associate Director, Student Life as required.

Decision Making:

• When incidents of inappropriate student behaviour are reported, makes decisions on next steps, assesses appropriate policies and protocols, enacts steps to mitigate imminent risk and harm, and monitors actions.
• Makes decisions regarding jurisdiction, safety, and relevance of policy interventions. Makes decisions in a manner that limits Institutional and community risk.
• Difficult or complicated cases are consulted with Associate Director, Student Life and/or Director, Student Success.
• In cases of complex student well-being, makes decisions of life safety by ensuring students are receiving appropriate medical and social support in a timely manner. Escalates life safety or complex cases and makes recommendations to the Institution for withdrawal and/or academic accommodation. Makes recommendations regarding changes to Institute policy.

Supervision Exercised:

• Number of employees reporting directly to the position: 0

Supervision Received:

• The incumbent is self-motivated and self-directed.
• The incumbent receives general guidance, case consultation, and supervision from the Associate Director, Student Life and/or Director, Student Success and may seek input and advice from senior academic managers.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Counselling, Social Work, or other relevant field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Three to six years of experience in a variety of positions encompassing student services and/or relevant administrative responsibilities in a post-secondary environment, including experience in adjudicating academic and non-academic matters, conflict resolution and/or mediation, and facilitation.
• Strong background in administrative process management in a post-secondary education environment, including types of sanctions typically levied for a variety of conduct violations.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to build and sustain effective relationships and rapport with individuals carrying instructional, support and administrative responsibilities throughout the Institute and with its external partners.
• Strong background in case management to resolve complex problems and manage high-profile, sensitive, and contentious issues.
• Familiarity and experience with student conduct policies and other relevant legislative requirements, policies and procedures such as the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), Mental Health Act, harassment and discrimination.
• Excellent needs assessment, organizational, communication, facilitation and project management skills.
• Demonstrated leadership ability and ability to work effectively with individuals in a culturally diverse environment.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with all internal stakeholders including senior management, Faculty, and students.
• Proven experience in policy writing and administration.
• Experience in developing and delivering training.
• Flexibility to be available on-call after-hours to asses responds to critical incidents related to students.
• May require to be on-call as assigned.