Assistant Vice President

Working/Functional Title

Dean of Students and Assistant Vice President for Student Rights and Responsibilities

Position Summary

The Dean of Students Office supports student success by ensuring a civil and inclusive learning environment based on academic and personal integrity. All community members have a responsibility for establishing, maintaining, and fostering a commitment to our shared values, ethical decision-making, and personal and collective excellence. The Dean of Students Office engages in restorative and transformative processes designed to build more accountable communities. This office addresses conduct that harms individuals and/or communities and is inconsistent with the values of honesty, respect, and fairness included in our Spartan Code of Honor.

Reporting to the Vice President for Student Affairs and Services, the Dean of Students and Assistant Vice President for Student Rights and Responsibilities provides vision, leadership, and oversight of the University’s undergraduate academic integrity, student conduct, and medical leave and return processes.  As an educator, policy leader, and student conduct expert, the Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students will develop, lead, and manage an office dedicated to equitable educational processes that support community responsibilities while considering the particular needs of the individual student for their success.

The Dean of Students and Assistant Vice President will:

• Be directly responsible for the leadership, supervision, and administration of the following areas: undergraduate academic integrity, medical leave and return, and student conduct.  Will serve as the chief conduct officer for the University. Guide, oversee, and supervise all current services and programs.
• Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate (seven) professional staff members while supporting professional development and building capacity as a team.
• Ensure that University policies and procedures comply with federal, state and local laws. Work with University governance structure to update policies and procedures.
• Ensure a commitment to meeting the needs of the diverse student experience and community using a transformative and restorative approach to accountability.  Actively promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the work of the office, policies and procedures, and recruitment.
• Serve as member of University-wide committees including but not limited to: Behavioral Threat Assessment Team (BTAT), Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT), Title IX Coordinated Response Team, (TCRT), Undergraduate Assistant and Associate Deans (UGAAD), Medical Leave Committee, and Sexual Assault Response Team (SART).
• Oversee training and development for faculty, staff and students serving on university disciplinary boards and committees. Through outreach and education, develop and implement programs and practices that assist the community in an understanding of and adherence to the guidelines outlined in Students Rights and Responsibilities and the Student Honor Code.
• Oversee the ongoing management of comprehensive student conduct database system (Advocate). Prepare reports and provide ongoing assessment efforts. Provide metrics and analytical studies.
• Lead, and supervise office management functions including departmental budget, continuous process and policy improvement across the department, division, and University. Provide leadership and guidance for strategic planning efforts.
• Represent the Division of Student Affairs and Services and Dean of Students Office on University committees.
• Collaborate and partner with multiple constituents across the University community including but not limited to: Colleges, Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS), Student Health and Wellness, Center for Survivors, Office of General Counsel, Ombudsperson, Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Education and Compliance, Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives, Undergraduate Education, the Graduate School, University Physician, Michigan State University Police Department, Student Affairs and Services, and Residential and Hospitality Services.
• Serve as resource for students, faculty, staff, community partners, and families. Proactively inform the community about issues and concerns that may affect the learning environment for students.
• Represent the Vice President of Student Affairs and Services as directed to internal and external constituency groups.
• Provide leadership to other units within the Division of Student Affairs as determined by the Vice President of Student and Services.
• Attends regional and national conferences to identify trends and needs to better plan programming and assure optimum delivery to the university community.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Relationships

The AVP/DOS has regular interaction with University administration, Division staff students and families, faculty, governmental relations and committees regarding student conduct and life issues.

• Daily contact with members of own staff, immediate supervisor, members of other departments and student workers to plan, coordinate, problem solve, present information and suggestions related to mutual goals.
• Daily contact with students to support university goals and objectives. Issues often involve disagreements and controversial issues.
• Frequent contact with parents to support university goals and objectives. Issues often involve disagreements and controversial issues.
• Occasional contact with alumni, and general public to exchange factual information and explanation of rules, regulations, practices and functions.
• Position reports to the Vice President for Student Affairs and Services

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Masters

Desired Degree

Doctorate

Minimum Requirements

Successful candidate must have a master’s degree and a terminal degree is desired. The successful candidate will possess significant experience with student conduct and possess demonstrated supervision and leadership experiences within a University context.

Desired Qualifications

Among a broad array of desired qualities, the successful candidate will be a visionary and collaborative leader with the ability to strategically manage and facilitate organizational change; The AVP/DOS will demonstrate the ability to recruit, train, support, diverse staff; excellent oral and written communication skills and an engaging public presence; the ability to manage conflicts and crisis situations; an active commitment to diversity and inclusion; and the ability to work collaboratively with students, parents, faculty, and alumni.

The AVP/DOS will possess a passion for the profession and the talent to incorporate best practices into the organizational culture, and an engaging style that demonstrates intelligence, integrity, and adaptability. An understanding of student development and how to work effectively with university community; an understanding of legal issues and risk management; and media savvy with a level of comfort when approached/pressed by news organizations are also highly desired skills.

Required Application Materials

CV/resume

Cover letter

Special Instructions

R

Review of Applications Begins On

03/19/2021

Website

deanofstudents.msu.edu/

Department Statement

The Dean of Students Office supports student success by ensuring a civil and inclusive learning environment based on academic and personal integrity. All community members have a responsibility for establishing, maintaining, and fostering a commitment to our shared values, ethical decision-making, and personal and collective excellence. The Dean of Students Office supports personal and community accountability and addresses conduct inconsistent with the Spartan Code of Honor with honesty, respect, and fairness.

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.