JOB SUMMARY
The Student Welfare Specialist (SWS) is a full-time, 12-month live-in, professional staff member whose focus is the critical safety and well-being needs of the residential community. The Student Welfare Specialist is charged with developing a community that promotes engagement, civility, respect for diversity, and student success. The Student Welfare Specialist is responsible for guiding students through the Community Standards process with a lens of intentional educational development and managing individual student discipline utilizing The Student Code and Housing Contract. The Student Welfare Specialist manages time sensitive, confidential situations including, but not limited to, bias related cases, welfare check-ins following hospital transports, and community conflicts, and provides health and safety education to all residential students. The typical workday being 10:00am-6:00pm or 9:00am-5:00pm with additional evening and weekend commitments.
A live-in position is one where the individual maintains an on-campus apartment as their primary residence. The department provides an apartment so they are able to serve in the Hall Director duty rotation, respond to on-campus emergencies, be visible in the residential community, and attend meetings and events regularly. The Student Welfare Specialist must reside in an on-campus apartment throughout the term of their appointment.
The Student Welfare Specialist reports directly to an Assistant Director of Student Welfare.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Duties/essential functions may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Serve as an investigating student conduct officer for the Department of Residential Life.
- Serve as an Administrative Hearing Officer for the Office of Community Standards, including Title IX hearings.
- Assist students, faculty, and staff in reaching settlements of disputes/complaints regarding behavior. This includes all stages including information collection, fact-finding, and resolution development.
- Investigate and resolve potential violations of The Student Code and the On-Campus Housing Contract by individuals incorporating educational sanctioning for residential students.
- Promote the standards and expectations for behavior as part of the residential community.
- Assist community members in managing conflict between individuals and within groups to reach mutually negotiated resolutions.
- Assist in investigating serious allegations (assault, bias, drug distribution, and major disruption).
- Assume on-duty responsibilities, in a rotation with Residence Hall Directors, to respond to various student crises in and around the residence halls. This includes situations that occur after the typical work hours and are often in the evening.
- Assist the Assistant Director in providing training to all professionals and paraprofessionals in Residential Life. This includes assisting in managing the Shadow/Observation of all hearing officers.
- Assist with administrative tasks related to Student Welfare (may include managing HD Duty scheduling/switches, managing Fire, Health, and Safety processes, monthly auditing of investigating student conduct officer caseloads, complete conduct record checks for department search processes, managing sanction compliance with outside partners, etc.).
- Assist in answering questions from students and Residential Life staff regarding Student Welfare processes.
- Utilize Maxient to manage and maintain information related to student conduct cases.
- Assist in the development of sanction creation with a focus on the Residential Learning Model, which will include facilitation guide writing.
- Serve as a Bias Facilitator and Wellness Facilitator.
- Serve on department committees and task forces as needed.
- Serve as the department’s designee for campus groups when the Assistant Director is unable to attend.
- Other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s Degree and three years of professional residence hall experience or Master's Degree and two years of professional residence hall experience.
- Supervision of residence hall or other staff in college or university residence halls or student affairs settings.
- An understanding of, sensitivity to, and desire to live and work with a diverse student population.
- Experience enhancing students’ academic and personal development through advising student groups, providing leadership training, and program development.
- Experience addressing individual student and community behavioral matters.
- Ability to think critically and effectively plan and organize work.
- Experience working as a part of a multi-faceted student-oriented team including liaison work with offices such as Dining Services, Facilities, Public Safety, and Student Health Services.
- Experience with managing and resolving student conduct processes.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree in college student personnel, higher education, counseling, or at least five (5) years of professional residence hall experience.
- Two (2) years or more of post Master’s residence hall work experience.
- Current membership and/or active involvement in related professional organizations.
APPOINTMENT TERMS
This position requires working irregular and flexible hours. Salary is commensurate with experience and degree consistent with the current bargaining agreement salary schedule. The Student Welfare Specialist is a UC-003 position. Student Welfare Specialists live in a department-provided, furnished apartment. A significant other, partner, or spouse may reside with the Student Welfare Specialist in accordance with state and university guidelines. A tuition waiver is available for pre-approved coursework. The outstanding benefits package includes state health care.
TO APPLY
Please apply online at https://hr.uconn.edu/jobs, Staff Positions, Search #498636 to upload to upload a resume, cover letter, and list of three (3) references, including names, addresses, and telephone numbers. At least one of those references must be an immediate supervisor. Please indicate the professional relationship of each reference to the candidate. An official transcript will be required if an invitation for an on-campus interview is extended. Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled and review of applications will begin immediately.
Other rights, terms, and conditions of employment are contained in the collective bargaining agreement between the University of Connecticut and the University of Connecticut Professional Employees Association (UCPEA).
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.
This job posting is scheduled to be removed at 11:55 p.m. Eastern time on October 21, 2024.
All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.
All members of the University of Connecticut are expected to exhibit appreciation of, and contribute to, an inclusive, respectful, and diverse environment for the University community.
The University of Connecticut aspires to create a community built on collaboration and belonging and has actively sought to create an inclusive culture within the workforce. The success of the University is dependent on the willingness of our diverse employee and student populations to share their rich perspectives and backgrounds in a respectful manner. This makes it essential for each member of our community to feel secure and welcomed and to thoroughly understand and believe that their ideas are respected by all. We strongly respect each individual employee’s unique experiences and perspectives and encourage all members of the community to do the same. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
The University of Connecticut is an AA/EEO Employer.