Judicial Affairs at McMaster

An Integrated Approach

Corinna Fitzgerald Judicial Affairs Coordinator

McMaster University

• Primarily Medical/Research Institution

• Campus Population: 18,900 Full Time Students

• Residence Population: 3400• Most Students Drawn from GTA• Some Commuter Students

McMaster cont’…

• Close to Residential Area • On-Campus Pub run by

Student Union• Campus Security are Sworn

Peace Officers

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

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

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

Our System…

Intake/Incident Report

Informal Resolution Formal Resolution

Appeal to PCB JAC AVPPCB/JAC

Appeal to AVP Appeal to Senate

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)

Opportunity to Restructure

• Development of the Judicial Affairs Coordinator (JAC) position (2003)– Housing Restructuring– Academic Integrity Office

Student Affairs Organizational Chart

Provost and Vice-President Academic

Dr. Ken Norrie

Associate Vice-President Student AffairsDr. Phil Wood

Judicial AffairsCoordinator

Corinna Fitzgerald

Titles Bookstore

Bob Crawford

HospitalityServicesAlbert Ng

Housing and Conference

ServicesCathie Miller

InternationalStudents’Advisor

Cheryl-Ann Jackson

Student Financial Aid and

ScholarshipsElizabeth Seymour

DirectorStudent ServicesGina Robinson

Executive AssistantInvestigating Officer

Eva Bodrozic

StudentHealth ServicesDr. Jan Baker

Julie Fairservice

Career Planningand Employment

CentreLisa Boniface

Student AffairsBusiness OfficeElizabeth Zelek

Centre for Student

DevelopmentDesmond Pouyat

Off CampusResource CentreJennifer Kleven

First YearExperience

Danielle Stayzer

Athletics and

RecreationTherese Quigley

Housing & Conference Services Organizational Chart

Dir. of Housing & Conf. Services

Assoc. VP Student Affairs

Admissions

Facilities

Conf.

Services

Residence Life Coor

Judicial Affairs Cor.

Overview of Responsibilities of JAC

• Adjudication• Training• Policy Revision• Liaising with Campus Partners• Educational Sanctions• Peer Conduct Board/Advisor

Program• Evaluation and Assessment

Initial Changes

• Centralized Training– Residence, Student Affairs,

Athletics

• Modifying the Codes– Integrate WW code– Look and feel, sanctions, process

(2 options)

Applying Residence Life to Student Affairs

•Education – what do you mean no one knows about the code?

•Community Standards•Follow up•Educational? Sanctions

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

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)

Challenges of this Model

•Perception of the ‘Department’

•The Balancing Act and Expectations of two areas

•Reporting Structure•Learn as you go

Essentials

•Communication•Flexibility•Adaptability•Focus on Service Delivery

and Student Needs•Due Process

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

Residence Manager Experience

•Investigations•Sanctions•Advisor Role•Follow-up•Pros and Cons

Questions you have…

What are you Doing at your School?

Current challenges?

Thank you!