Graduate Assistant for Student Conduct and Development, 2024 -2025

Office of Student Development, Conduct & Care

Overview of the Department
The purpose of Student Development as a functional area is to assist students in developing strategies to address and overcome barriers that prevent them from achieving their educational goals, as well as improve their overall well-being, through the lenses of student conduct. Some of the main aspects of our work include educating around decision-making, relationship building, and transition skills as students move through their college experience both in and outside of campus housing.

Objectives of the Position
The Student Conduct and Development Graduate Assistant will serve as a paraprofessional assisting with various projects within the Office of Student Development, Conduct, & Care. Projects may include data production and analysis, co-supervision of the Student Conduct Assistants, engaging with students to ensure compliance requirements, social media and marketing, and overall departmental support.

Duties and Responsibilities

Administrative

• Aid in the daily operations of the Office of Student Development, Conduct, and Care, including answering calls, emails, and speaking with students.

• Utilize electronic databases (The Housing Director and Symplicity Advocate) to assist with identifying student information and reports for project completion.

• With proper training and support, the Graduate Assistant will serve as a conduct hearing officer for low level cases and be able to host these meetings with care and empathy, providing referrals to university and community resources, as well as advocate for student concerns.

• Assist in creating monthly, semesterly, and annual data reports Develop a strong understanding of Advocate software, support the Assistant Director and Director in the development and expansion of Advocate services, reports, data management, and user interface.

• Research current trends in peer institution programs related to Student Conduct to provide benchmarking data to ensure practices remain current.

• Identify the population of students who reside off Bentleyâ™s campus to better understand our non-residential students, and to ensure compliance with the Local Address policy.

• Aid in the review and editing process of the Collegeâ™s policies and adjudication methods annually by coordinating research and benchmarking other institutions.

Student Staff Supervision

The Graduate Assistant will help co-supervise the Student Conduct Assistants (SCA). SCAs are student staff members who help staff the front desk in our open office, serve on the Student Conduct Board, and host pre-administrative meetings to explain the conduct process to students. The Graduate Assistant and the Assistant Director of Student Conduct & Development will split the responsibility of hosting bi-weekly one-on-one meetings with the SCAs. Supervision of the SCAs will include assisting them in programming efforts. SCA staff meetings are on Tuesdays from 2pm to 3pm.

Departmental Support

• Participate in weekly one-on-one meetings with the Assistant Director of Student Conduct & Development.

• Represent the Office of Student Development, Conduct and Care in Campus wide events such as Breakfast by Moonlight, Open House, Openings, and Closings.

• Attend Student Affairs divisional meetings.

• Assist the Assistant Director and Director with developing and delivering student conduct training for campus constituents including Resident Assistants, Peer Mentors, Fraternity and Sorority Life groups, athletes, incoming students and their families, and/or other student groups as needed.

• Assist with the development and management of content for the website and social media.

• Collaborate to support the Areaâ™s respective racial and social justice action plans and their educational, staff development, and policy related goals.

• Other duties as assigned based on interests of the graduate assistant and/or needs of the office.

Qualifications

Candidates must be enrolled in a masterâ™s program in higher education/student affairs administration, or related field, during time of employment. Candidates should have a strong interest in supporting students and the ability to reason logically, draw valid conclusions and make appropriate recommendations. Additionally, they should have a solid understanding and skills in engaging with various forms of documentation and data analysis.

Hours
This is a twenty hour per week position, running from late August through late May each year. Start/end dates for the 2024-2025 academic year will be August 19, 2024- May 16, 2025. Start/end dates are flexible based on the Internâ™s schedule and the needs of the department. Some weekend or late evenings hours may be factored into the graduate assistantâ™s schedule.

Compensation

The Graduate Assistant will receive $20 an hour for a maximum of 20 hours per week. The Graduate Assistant is eligible to receive financial support for professional development opportunities, including conference attendance. The Graduate Assistant will also have the opportunity to participate in a variety of on-campus professional development opportunities offered by the Division of Student Affairs.

Office Environment

The Graduate Assistant will have a designated workspace located in Suite 320 of the Student Centerâ™s open office, which allows for easy collaboration and communication. There may be the ability to complete some hours of work remotely as the position allows and with approval from the supervisor. Meetings for this role may continue to take place both in-person and virtually. Bentley University requires references checks and may conduct other pre-employment screening.

Student Affairs Graduate Assistant Cohort Experience
There may be additional Graduate Assistants within Bentley Universityâ™s Division of Student Affairs each year. This cohort of Graduate Assistants may receive additional professional development opportunities as a group and are encouraged to connect with one another through their time at Bentley. Specific professional development opportunities for this cohort may be requested by the Graduate Assistants, but may include lunch-and-learns, informational interviews, and discussions on current topics in higher education.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

Bentley University strives to create a campus community that welcomes the exchange of ideas, and fosters a culture that values differences and views them as a strength in our community.