Student Affairs at the University of Southern California works to provide its 50,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students the opportunity to reach their educational, personal, and professional aspirations. The mission of USC Student Affairs is to strengthen a culture driven by student well-being. To do this, Student Affairs:

• Supports the individual student and student communities through the development of environments, services, and policies that reinforce shared strengths.
• Educates students to discover a deeper understanding of themselves and become change agents in the world.
• Engages students in transformative experiences to challenge their perspectives and become global citizens.

The Assistant Vice Provost, Community Expectations, is a new position and is a member of the senior leadership team for the Vice President for Student Affairs, reporting directly to the Senior Associate Vice Provost. With delegated authority from the Board of Trustees through the Vice President for Student Affairs, this position is responsible for oversight of student conduct review proceedings that ensure proper administration of the university’s rules and regulations. This is accomplished through direct oversight of the director of the Office of Community Expectations (OCE, supported by seven additional professional staff) and indirect supervision (in partnership with the Office of the Provost) of the director of the Office of Academic Integrity (OAI, with five additional professional staff). This also includes oversight of the staff who manage the disciplinary appeals process (one professional staff). Additionally this position shepherds all aspects of student related policy. Future plans for this position may include an expanded portfolio of additional departments under the umbrella of student support and advocacy.   

Job Responsibilities

• Oversee administrative, budgetary, personnel, and programmatic efforts of the Office of Community Expectations, and Appeals; serve as a dotted line manager of the Office of Academic Integrity.
• Interpret policies to comply with pertinent federal, state, local laws, and regulations. Administer policies and procedures as outlined in the Student Handbook and work with faculty and campus constituencies on the development or revisions of policies as needed.
• Engage and collaborate with internal and external constituencies to ensure transparency of the disciplinary process, enhance knowledge of its operation, and increase confidence and trust in its implementation.
• Ensure the integrity of the university’s disciplinary process through effective oversight of all disciplinary policies and procedures. Reduce institutional risk by identifying and mitigating potential liabilities in implementation of the university’s disciplinary process.
• Serve as the in-house expert on student disciplinary matters across the institution, consulting with and advising campus partners who have student disciplinary responsibilities within USC’s schools to ensure consistent application of the university’s disciplinary philosophy and process.
• Create a strategic vision of student advocacy and support within this position that includes student accountability, resilency development, interpersonal skill enhancement, responsibility to the community, and other potential areas that facilitate student growth.
• Serve as the division’s primary contact with the Office of Professionalism and Ethics (OPE), Office for Equity, Equal Opportunity, and Title IX (EEO-TIX), Department of Public Safety (DPS) and other offices as designated.
• Serve on campus committees, task forces, and other groups as appointed.
• Represent Student Affairs on behalf of the Vice President for Student Affairs, as needed.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, or other related discipline is required. Ph.D. preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in higher education with seven years of progressive leadership experience in student life in a university setting is required.
• Experience in crisis intervention and conflict resolution engaging students, faculty, staff, and parents, and families is desired.
• Strong knowledge of higher education law and compliance requirements, including Title IX, the Jeanne Clery Act, Violence Against Women Act, and regulations and policies governing student conduct, privacy, health, and mental health is required.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically to address emerging trends and issues in higher education while meeting student interests and needs, and providing direction for a large and complex mix of programs and service operations is essential.
• Effective interpersonal skills, collaborative/teambuilding skills, and ability to build positive and effective relationships across the campus and community are critical attributes.
• Strong written communication skills and attention to detail are vital.
• Demonstrated experience in and commitment to effectively working with a diverse student body, faculty, staff, and public is essential.

Additional Preferred Skills:

• Intricate knowledge of Advocate by Symplicity database for student conduct management.
• Experience in identifying workflows and strategies for efficient and effective operations.
• Political astuteness and deftness in managing in and navigating through a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Minimum Education: 
Master's degree

Minimum Experience: 
10 years

Minimum Skills: 
Master’s degree in higher education or other related fields. Ten years’ experience in higher education, with at least seven years of progressive leadership in student life at university settings.  Thorough knowledge of higher education law and compliance requirements (e.g., Title IX, Clery Act, Violence Against Women Act) and policies/regulations governing student conduct, privacy, health and mental health.  Demonstrated strategic skills and experience providing direction for large, complex programs and service operations.
Excellent interpersonal and collaborative/team-building skills, able to build positive and effective relationships across the university.  Exemplary written and oral communication skills.  Demonstrated experience in and commitment to effectively working with a diverse student body, faculty, staff and community.
Ability to exercise discretion with confidential information.

Preferred Education: 
Doctorate

Preferred Skills: 
Doctorate in education. Experience in crisis intervention and conflict resolution, engaging students, faculty, staff, parents and families.  Intricate knowledge of database management software (e.g., Advocate by Symplicity).  Experience identifying workflows and strategies for efficient and effective operations.  Exemplary political acumen for deftly managing and navigating through fast-paced, evolving environments.  Multilingual communication skills, fluent in Mandarin, Spanish, Korean and/or other languages beyond English.