The Director of Community Standards provides leadership for the University student conduct process as a learning-centered and developmental function within Student Affairs that promotes student learning, development, belonging, well-being, personal responsibility, and a respectful academic community. Reporting to the Assistant Dean of Students, the Director leads fair, equitable, inclusive, and student-centered responses to alleged behavioral and academic misconduct, helping students understand their rights and responsibilities, reflect on the impact of their choices, take responsibility for their actions, engage in restorative approaches when appropriate, and build the skills needed to participate and succeed as engaged members of the University community. The Director serves as a Campus Security Authority as defined by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act).
In this role, the Director partners with faculty and academic, administrative, and student support units to strengthen understanding of the student conduct process, respond to academic integrity and classroom concerns, and advance community standards, collaborative learning, and student success. The Director works closely with Student Affairs Leadership; oversees conduct operations, assessment, prevention education, outreach, staff supervision, policy stewardship; serves as a member of UTEP’s Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment Team; and advises divisional and University leadership on student conduct trends, case implications, policy considerations, and best practices in alignment with University and System rules, applicable law, and institutional expectations. Occasional evening and weekend obligations may be required for student meetings, workshops, hearings, or University events.
Statement of Duties and Responsibilities:
Leads the University student conduct process for alleged behavioral and academic misconduct involving individual students and, as assigned, student organizations, ensuring fair, equitable, student-centered, and educational resolution in alignment with Regents’ Rules and Regulations, University and System rules, applicable law, and matters arising on or off campus when subject to University jurisdiction.
Provides oversight of intake, review, investigation, adjudication, sanctioning, records management, appeals support, and, as assigned, student complaints and grievance processes; ensures students receive clear information about their rights, responsibilities, resolution options, and opportunities for reflection, learning, and accountability; and manages communication regarding student conduct matters with students, faculty, staff, and, when appropriate and permissible under FERPA and University policy, family members or other authorized individuals.
Develops, implements, and continuously improves procedures, forms, workflows, and case management practices that support fair, student-centered, and timely resolution, clear communication, consistency, and meaningful documentation.
Reviews student conduct policies, procedures, and practices on an ongoing basis to promote equity, fairness, accessibility, and consistency; identifies opportunities for improvement and recommends updates in response to assessment findings, legal or policy changes, and evolving student and campus needs.
Serves as a member of UTEP’s Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment Team and partners with the Dean of Students Office, Residence Life, Campus Police, Academic Affairs, Title IX, CARE, Accessibility, Counseling, and other campus offices to coordinate responses to student behavior concerns, elevated-risk situations, and crises and advance holistic, coordinated, and culturally responsive interventions that promote access, equity, inclusion, belonging, student well-being, and student success within the role’s assigned authority.
Coordinates with the University’s designated Title IX office and other campus partners on matters involving alleged sex discrimination, sex-based harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, dating or domestic violence, pregnancy-related matters, or retaliation, as applicable; helps ensure reports are routed through the appropriate process and supports coordinated communication, student support, and implementation of interim or supportive measures within the role’s assigned authority.
Serves as a campus resource on student conduct, academic integrity, student rights and responsibilities, conflict resolution, and behavior intervention; interprets and applies Regents’ Rules and Regulations, The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at El Paso rules and regulations, and the UTEP Handbook of Operating Procedures in ways that support student learning and community standards.
Provides oversight for the recruitment, training, and support of hearing officers, conduct boards, or other decision-makers involved in student conduct processes; coordinates hearings as assigned; and fosters leadership development, ethical decision-making, and collaborative learning among participants in the conduct process.
Designs and delivers educational outreach, training, and presentations for students, faculty, staff, and student organizations on community standards, academic integrity, decision-making, and prevention in support of a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative campus community; consults with faculty on the student conduct process, reporting options, classroom concerns, and academic integrity matters.
Utilizes restorative justice, developmental, and conflict resolution approaches, when appropriate, to support inclusive, multi-partial, and learning-centered resolution; addresses harm and accountability through educational responses that are not solely punitive; and promotes participation, repair, reduced repeat misconduct, and responsible reintegration into the campus community.
Supervises professional and support staff; establishes performance expectations, provides training and coaching, evaluates performance, and plans staffing and operational needs for the Office of Community Standards.
Leads assessment, annual reporting, and review of student conduct data, including incident trends, student learning outcomes, operational metrics, and required institutional reporting; serves as the campus subject matter expert on the Maxient software system by overseeing conduct records, maintaining documentation practices, and providing consultation, training, troubleshooting, and functional support for campus users across offices such as Title IX, Human Resources, the Dean of Students Office, the Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment Team, and other University partners; and prepares and presents reports and recommendations to leadership and administration to support accuracy, confidentiality, informed decision-making, and continuous improvement in practice, education, and community standards efforts.
Represents the office on institutional committees and in cross-functional initiatives; works closely with Student Affairs Leadership and maintains effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders; and participates in professional development to remain current on higher education conduct practice, emerging legal issues, regulatory developments, and professional best practices in student conduct, student affairs, and higher education law.
Knowledge of all Microsoft Office software and able to learn and use institutional software systems.
Complies with all State and University policies.
Other duties may be assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s objectives, policies, and applicable laws. Provides direct supervision of professional and support staff assigned to the office, including hiring and onboarding, assigning and reviewing work, establishing performance expectations, providing training and coaching, completing performance evaluations, addressing performance issues in accordance with University policy, and planning staffing and operational needs to support effective case management and community standards work.
