Judicial Affairs at McMaster An Integrated Approach

1. Judicial Affairs at McMaster An Integrated Approach Corinna Fitzgerald Judicial Affairs Coordinator

2. McMaster University • Primarily Medical/Research Institution • Campus Population: 18,900 Full Time Students • Residence Population: 3400 • Most Students Drawn from GTA • Some Commuter Students

3. McMaster cont’… • Close to Residential Area • On-Campus Pub run by Student Union • Campus Security are Sworn Peace Officers

4. Our System… • Authority for Student Conduct from Senate to AVP Student Affairs • 3 Codes of Conduct (Student Code, Residence Code and Athletic Code) • Non-academic Offences only • Preference for Informal Resolution • Formal Resolution Available

5. Our System… • 5 Full time Residence Managers: • Residence Managers are Full Time Professionals Responsible for Discipline in their Buildings • 1 part time Student Affairs Investigator • Student Affairs Investigating Officer also Executive Assistant to AVP

6. Our System cont’… • History of Student Involvement in the Judicial Process • Statement on Student Rights and Responsibilities • Result is a Highly Process and Student Oriented System

7. Our System… Intake/Incident Report Informal Resolution Formal Resolution Appeal to PCB JAC AVP PCB/JAC Appeal to AVPAppeal to Senate

8. History of Judicial Affairs at McMaster How things were done • Residence • Elected Residence System • Issue of Supervision • Student Affairs • Initially AVP Dealt with Cases • Increase in Caseload • SAIO Position (1996)

9. Opportunity to Restructure • Development of the Judicial Affairs Coordinator (JAC) position (2003) • Housing Restructuring • Academic Integrity Office

10. Student Affairs Organizational Chart

11. Housing & Conference Services Organizational Chart Assoc. VP Student Affairs Dir. of Housing & Conf. Services Conf. Services Residence Life Coor Facilities Admissions Judicial Affairs Cor.

12. Overview of Responsibilities of JAC • Adjudication • Training • Policy Revision • Liaising with Campus Partners • Educational Sanctions • Peer Conduct Board/Advisor Program • Evaluation and Assessment

13. Initial Changes • Centralized Training • Residence, Student Affairs, Athletics • Modifying the Codes • Integrate WW code • Look and feel, sanctions, process (2 options)

14. Applying Residence Life to Student Affairs • Education – what do you mean no one knows about the code? • Community Standards • Follow up • Educational? Sanctions

15. After Year One: Lessons • Administrative Hearing option (Student Affairs) • Role of the AVP in Hearings • Feedback Loop in Housing • Administrative expectations • Letters, records, hearing notes

16. Advantages of this Model • Internal Consistency • Response to Emerging Issues • Fairness to Students • Service Equity • Relationship with Campus Partners (Security Services, Ombuds, HRES, CSD, CHC)

17. Challenges of this Model • Perception of the ‘Department’ • The Balancing Act and Expectations of two areas • Reporting Structure • Learn as you go

18. Essentials • Communication • Flexibility • Adaptability • Focus on Service Delivery and Student Needs • Due Process

19. Future Directions • Addition of Full Time Position in SA • Focus on Off Campus Student Behaviour – without extending jurisdiction • Community Service • Centralizing Campus Database • Expanded Investigator Training

20. Residence Manager Experience • Investigations • Sanctions • Advisor Role • Follow-up • Pros and Cons

21. Questions you have…

22. What are you Doing at your School?

23. Current challenges?

24. Thank you!