Student Rights and Responsibility Advisor

at  University Canada West

Employment Category: Full-Time, Permanent
Location: Vancouver, BC (Hybrid)
Reports To: Manager, Student Advising and Support Services

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Competencies:

• Strong Inter-cultural communication skills.
• Understanding of the Canadian post-secondary education system and environment
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a member of the team.
• Excellent interpersonal and diplomacy skills.
• Resourceful and able to analyze problems, identify key information and issues, and propose effective solutions.
• Knowledge of policies and procedures governing student conduct within a post-secondary and preferably University environment.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise appropriate judgment independently to make important decisions on matters of varying complexity.
• Excellent organizational skills in managing competing tasks and working with minimal supervision.
• Ability to ensure inclusivity and to develop and cultivate relationships with students, faculty, staff, and members of the external community.
• Strong communication skills for delivering accurate information in one-on-one and diverse group situations, in both formal and informal settings.
• Demonstrated accuracy and attention to detail, especially when working under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse group of employees, students, and the general public, and to exercise good judgment, tact, and diplomacy when interacting with students who may require support with mental or physical health, social, economic, or other barriers to success.
• Excellent customer support skills in addressing user complaints and suggestions and resolving conflicts, ensuring that a high level of service is maintained.
• Adaptability to changing priorities and developments within the department, University, and post-secondary sector.
• Understanding of the requirements for confidentiality and privacy and freedom of information regulations, and how to address sensitive issues with tact and diplomacy.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree from a recognized post-secondary institution.
• 3 years experience or involvement in the student conduct process in post-secondary educational environments.
• Demonstrated credentials, coursework, or additional training in student affairs or services, investigations, or related training and education.
• Experience in adjudicating, investigating misconduct, student conduct cases and knowledge and practice of student development theory.
• Experience working with international populations and understanding of issues and barriers facing international students, intercultural communication, international education systems and cultures, and student development.
• Experience working in a multicultural environment.

Student Support:

• Meet with students to ascertain the nature and scope of their concerns and advise students on how to proceed under university policy.
• Provide advice, support, and information in a professional manner to students seeking information and guidance concerning student appeals (information about the process), complaints, and concerns and advise students of their right to advocacy support as required.
• Proactively respond to student requests, provide recommendations, and identify opportunities to enhance student resiliency and problem-solving skills.
• Redirect inquiries and refer to other on and off-campus services as necessary

PRIMARY PURPOSE

The Student Rights & Responsibilities Advisor will lead the university’s educational programming and responses related to student conduct and safety. Working closely with Student Affairs, Faculty, Human Resources, and other key stakeholders, the Advisor is responsible for the education, prevention, intervention, and investigations under related to student rights, student responsibility, sexual violence, and non-academic student misconduct.
The Advisor will investigate reported breaches of student policies, facilitate collaborative sanctioning, relevant committees, and alternative dispute resolution processes, and, if required, bring evidence to the Director of Student Affairs & Services for decision-making and sanctioning. The Advisor will also provide information and referral support to students who are appealing the decision of the institution under other policies (e.g., grade appeals) when requested.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

The Student Rights and Responsibility Advisor will, at various times, be responsible for the following as well as other related duties as assigned to support UCW’s business objectives, mission, and purpose:

• Investigate, evaluate, and adjudicate complaints and allegations of violations of the Student Rights & Responsibilities, Sexual violence and harassment, and other relevant policies.
• Initiate and facilitate the resolution of student conflict and/or other matters pertaining to students.
• Assist with the student disciplinary process related to non-academic matters in accordance with the Code of Conduct by adjudicating cases.
• Receive and document incident reports and prioritize them according to level the level of concern, contact all relevant stakeholders, and act appropriately to intervene.
• Prepare letters in matters of student conduct violations.
• Provide recommendations and support to all stakeholders for cases involving students facing suspension or expulsion.
• Recommend interim measures, including but not limited to no contact orders in advance of conduct outcomes when necessary, and advise other administrators throughout the process.
• Conduct disciplinary background checks concerning students.
• Meet with students to ascertain the nature and scope of their concerns and advise students on how to proceed under university policy
• Act as a resource to the University community on matters related to student services, including academic integrity policies, student conduct, appeals, and complaints resolution.
• Follow best practices and keep current with student development research and trends related to student safety and conduct.

Accountability:

• Collect & maintain the student issues database and files, track and assess patterns of non-academic conduct concerns, and design, to ensure the overall effectiveness of the program.
• Create and maintain an online system of reporting conduct incidents and complaints & monitor and maintain accurate data.
• Maintain an accurate record of student contacts and faculty concerns, both electronic and physical, within the guidelines set out in Student Affairs.
• Use database and track cases, including sanction recording and the necessary follow-up.
• Generate reports based on data concerning safety and conduct on campus and preventive programming offerings and participate in the preparation of various publications about student rights and responsibilities for students and staff as needed.
• Support, implement, distribute, interpret, and publicize reports based on data tracking.
• Ensure & maintain confidentiality and, administer the privacy and freedom of information privacy regulations, and handle sensitive issues with tact and diplomacy.
• Follow best practices and keep current with student development research and trends in student conduct

Student Support:

• Meet with students to ascertain the nature and scope of their concerns and advise students on how to proceed under university policy.
• Provide advice, support, and information in a professional manner to students seeking information and guidance concerning student appeals (information about the process), complaints, and concerns and advise students of their right to advocacy support as required.
• Proactively respond to student requests, provide recommendations, and identify opportunities to enhance student resiliency and problem-solving skills.
• Redirect inquiries and refer to other on and off-campus services as necessary.

Prevention and Awareness:

• Develop, plan and deliver culturally relevant presentations and undertake group and one-on-one advising, in person or via online channels.
• Proactively encourage positive student conduct choices and appropriate behavior via outreach efforts.
• Provide outreach to the campus community regarding student rights and responsibilities.
• Develop and provide preventative programs and resources for the campus community.
• Support efforts to prevent safety and conduct issues.
• Create and conduct student workshop sessions regarding the Student Rights & Responsibilities and topics related to non-academic student conduct.
• Collaborate and provide advice to faculty, staff, and other administrators in developing and implementing interventions and programs that reduce policy violations and meet the needs of students.
• Create and assist with workshops and training for university employees authorized to respond to conduct matters, including other Student Affairs staff.
• Facilitate the development and organization of events related to education and prevention of misconduct.
• Create and review annually the student handbook, policies applying to campus activities and students, and other policy/procedure-related materials pertaining to student safety and conduct.
• Work in collaboration with other program units and departments on issues involving civility and ethical decision-making in efforts to support and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equality

Department and University Service and Support:

• Represent Student Affairs on university-wide committees to ensure timely communication of student issues pertaining to student safety and conduct.
• Provide input into the development of departmental goals, objectives, strategies, operations, and procedures.
• Assist with student life activities and events, including student orientation, convocation, educational programs (e.g., academic integrity), and university transition as needed.
• Liaise with the student groups related to student safety and conduct.
• Sit on committees as appropriate or in the absence of the Director in relation to student safety and conduct.
• Perform other duties related to the qualifications and requirements of the position.
• Attend meetings and work in collaboration with student programs and/or committees on student-related activities and events on and off campus