Following a thorough, campus-wide program review of UC Santa Cruz’s student conduct program, the Division of Student Affairs and Success is creating a new Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Education (OSSCE). With plans in motion to open OSSCE by Fall 2023, the division is currently conducting a nationwide search for the office’s first Associate Dean of Students and Director of Student Conduct and Conflict Education.
Under the general direction of the Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students, the Associate Dean of Students and Director of Student Conduct and Conflict Education will manage and provide visionary leadership for the campus wide non-academic student conduct and conflict education systems. Responsibilities will include:
- Developing the long term organizational goals and strategic plans of the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Education
- Directing supervisors and/or managers that report into the role
- Overseeing program analysis and evaluation
- Managing the OSCCE budget and human resources
- Representing OSCCE and the Dean of Students Office with external organizations
- Formulating and developing policies
- Educating the campus community about OSCCE programs
- Serving as a resource and consultant to students, faculty, staff, and external constituencies
Student Conduct and Conflict Education will serve as the campus office of record for non-academic student conduct and related files, maintaining confidential records, and ensuring institutional compliance and reporting. The incumbent will serve as the "responsible official" for specifically designated conduct cases, advise the AVC/DOS on a variety of complex policies and campus climate issues, serve as a member of the Dean of Students leadership team, and may act as operational backup to the AVC/DOS.
The creation of OSSCE is a direct outcome of the student, staff, and faculty task force commissioned by Chancellor Larive in February 2021 to review UC Santa Cruz’s student conduct program. With equity at the forefront, the ultimate goal of this task force was to recommend newer, more just, equitable, and student-centered approaches in the administration of student conduct. The task force’s efforts spanned the 2021 winter and spring quarters and included a self study as well as an external review by noted experts in the field of student conduct and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
As part of the task force’s recommendations, OSCCE will have two wings: 1.) student rights and responsibilities and 2.) conflict education and healing. Formal and informal adjudication will take place within the student rights and responsibilities wing while new positions are being created in conflict education and healing to both augment UC Santa Cruz’s restorative justice program and add and expand methods for resolving student conduct and conflict concerns. New and expanded methods could include shuttle diplomacy, conflict coaching, and educational interventions around alcohol and drug use.
Once fully established, DSAS projects approximately two-thirds of all student conduct referrals will be handled within the conflict education and healing wing while the most serious cases will be reserved for adjudication. This approach will reduce the number of disciplinary records created for less serious concerns. OSCCE also plans to develop an array of peer-facilitated programs staffed by paid student employees in both wings of the office.
Ultimately, an advisory board of students, staff, and faculty will be established to partner with OSCCE and will serve as an institutionalized mechanism for providing regular guidance and recommendations regarding policies, processes, and practices. The Division of Student Affairs and Success will soon be in touch with the Academic Senate, Student Union Assembly, Graduate Student Association, and Staff Advisory Board to request nominations for this new advisory board.
While recruitment for the Associate Dean of Students and Director of Student Conduct and Conflict Education represents the first hire for this newly minted office, it certainly will not be the last. The Division of Student Affairs and Success anticipates creating new positions in the coming months and will initiate recruitments for them accordingly.
The initial review date for the Associate Dean of Students and Director of Student Conduct and Conflict Education is November 30, 2022. Stay tuned for updates about finalists’ on-campus interviews and how you can attend.
