Overview
Student Life supports dynamic co-curricular learning and engagement for all undergraduate and graduate students within the School of Arts & Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA@Tufts). As a central resource supporting the safety, engagement, and wellbeing of all Tufts AS&E students, the Dean of Students Office promulgates community standards; coordinates communication between campus constituencies and departments; supports programs and activities to advance student learning; facilitates the coordinated support of individual students, and; works cooperatively with members of the faculty and the colleges' senior leadership team to ensure the successful achievement of institutional and divisional goals, vision, and values.
The Office of Community Standards, part of Student Life, contributes to the holistic development of the student experience at Tufts by educating students about university expectations of behavior; enforcing university policy in a way that is fair, educational, and promotes safety; and by managing the student conduct program in a way helps students participating in the process learn from their life experience. The office partners closely with colleagues across the University (e.g., Residential Life & Learning, Campus Life, Tufts University Police Department, Office of Equal Opportunity, Career Center, Health Services, Counseling & Mental Health Services, Health Promotion, and Student Affairs at the SMFA) on a variety of related programs and initiatives.
What You'll Do
The Assistant Director of Community Standards is responsible for providing high quality educational and personal interventions to Tufts students who complain of, witness, or are accused of violations of University policies, and for providing support to the campus student conduct system. They use an educational ethos of student conduct practice, and are informed by principles of restorative justice and community building to achieve outcomes that are educational, just, and contribute to the shared community on campus. This position is expected to be on campus at least two days each week and for specific events or assignments as needed.
- Review assigned incident reports and complaints submitted to the Office of Community Standards, determine appropriate action in collaboration with partner offices throughout the University.
- Interview, maintain ongoing communication with, and provide appropriate educational intervention and resource referrals to complainants, respondents, witnesses, and others involved in the student conduct process.
Communicate with students verbally and in writing regarding issues related to student conduct cases. Work with students experiencing crisis, including family concerns, financial problems, mental health emergencies, academic challenges, and medical challenges. Use an ethic of care, knowledge of best practices and law, and strong helping skills to identify issues, construct a path toward a solution, ensure student safety, and increase student self-efficacy. - Develop and implement high quality and creative educational interventions that are individualized to the students involved in each case. As appropriate, use restorative justice principles and a community-centered approach to build interventions and outcomes that are effective and contribute to student's holistic growth.
- Maintain the highest standard of integrity and consistently act with good judgment, ethical sensibility, procedural and substantive fairness, equitable treatment of all, a nuanced understanding of and respect for the rights of students, and a recognition of the University's educational philosophy of student conduct. Role model appropriate behavior. Exercise sound decision making in complex situations.
- Maintain student conduct records of excellent quality, compose formal letters to students regarding complex and serious issues, and routinely compose detailed documentation on meetings with students, investigation progress, and other case-related information.
- Supervise graduate assistant(s) and/or part-time staff, who are responsible for investigating and adjudicating violations of the Student Code of Conduct.
- Participate in outreach initiatives and preventative opportunities related to student conduct. Write audience-driven content for the Community Standards website, conduct targeted outreach campaigns, and provide in-person and online outreach and training to the campus community on issues related to student conduct such as academic integrity, theft, and interpersonal conflict. Coordinate outreach efforts with observed trends and University priorities and collaborate with partner offices.
Coordinate high-quality training and provide on-going support to staff conduct officers, the faculty and student members of the Committee on Student Conduct and the Committee on Student Life, and all other individuals and groups who participate in the conduct processes. Interpret and ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations related to student conduct administration, including the Clery Act, FERPA, Title IX, Title VI, the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act, the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Stop Campus Hazing Act, and others.
What We're Looking For
Basic Requirements:
Knowledge and experience typically acquired by:
- Master's Degree in higher education, college student development, conflict resolution, counseling, psychology, or another closely related discipline, or the international equivalent
- A minimum of two years of experience adjudicating student conduct cases in a higher education setting.
- Experience investigating complex allegations of misconduct
- Experience successfully employing conflict management skills (e.g., de-escalation, assertive communication, conflict coaching, giving feedback, etc.)
- Experience working effectively with a wide range of diverse faculty, staff, and students
- Experience with the administration of a student conduct records system
- Current and extensive knowledge of laws, trends, and practices related to student conduct in the college and university environment
- Demonstrated success in starting up and implementing innovative programs
- Outstanding written and oral communication skills
- Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Strong helping skills (e.g., active and reflective listening, facilitated reflection, recognition of mental health concerns requiring referral, etc.), experience making referrals and providing case management to students in distress
- Proven ability to shape outcomes successfully in a cross-functional, fast-paced environment
- Integrity, forthrightness, and fair-mindedness are characteristics essential to success in this position
- Excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to build strong relationships with members of diverse constituencies, and a successful track record of collaboration in achieving objectives
- Ability to utilize technology in the delivery of student programs
- Personal computer, time management, and strong organizational skills
Preferred Qualifications:
- Completion of the ASCA Donald D Gehring Academy for Student Conduct Administration
- Training in bystander intervention and motivational interviewing
- Experience conducting student learning assessments and program assessments
- Experience formulating organizational policy
- Experience creating and assessing learning outcomes
- Membership in the Association of Student Conduct Administrators or other relevant professional associations
- Service to and leadership of professional organizations
- History of success supervising graduate students
- Training in bystander intervention and motivational interviewing
Pay Range
Minimum $60,000.00, Midpoint $75,000.00, Maximum $90,100.00
Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.
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Tufts University
Mar 30, 2026