At the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the purpose of Student Conduct and Community Standards is to develop student integrity and accountability through an educational, consistent, and equitable conduct process.
Throughout this process, students have a fundamental right to a university-trained advisor who can help them understand the conduct process and make informed choices that are in their best interests. This relationship creates the opportunity for skill development for the professional staff member serving as an advisor while also creating a more equitable process for students involved in misconduct allegations.
The role of a university advisor is to assist, advise, and support a student involved in the conduct process.
“Advisors play an important role on campus in that they help students better understand the process and feel as if they have a support system to help them navigate it. They help students not feel so alone in a significant moment in their lives.”
amanda samselDirector of Student Conduct and Community Standards
University-trained advisors also help provide equity in the process from a financial and family standpoint. Not every student can afford to hire an attorney to advise them or have supportive family members they can reach out to for help. Or perhaps a student has a strong family support system but those family members did not attend college and thus feel as confused as their student might in understanding the conduct process
at a university.
University-trained advisors provide free support, guidance, and information to students. Through this relationship, students can safely process their conduct incident and better understand the steps they need to take to resolve it.
Skills like conflict resolution, empathy, active listening, building trust and rapport, interpersonal communication, and others are key abilities that staff can develop and sharpen in their involvement in the conduct process.
“It really opened my eyes to the opportunity that staff have to help students grow into mature adults who make ethical decisions,” said one advisor. “Helping students in a difficult time of their lives has been an honor. As they welcome my life experience and insight into the conversation around their behavior, ultimately my own abilities are strengthened, too.”
At UT, since the student conduct process is focused on development and education, the advisor relationship is supportive versus punitive. University staff who serve in this role represent many different divisions and departments on campus. Engaging faculty and staff across the university in this role for student development also supports staff growth as they evolve in their leadership and personal skills.
“I am incredibly grateful to serve as a university advisor through the student conduct process,” says Hailey Flavin, assistant director for the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life. “As someone that used to work in student conduct prior to coming to UT several years ago, serving as an advisor allows me to reconnect with this passion. In particular, as I have served as an advisor through the Title IX process for students, I have been able to continue my development as a professional in the world of Title IX, an area that is a huge passion for me.”
Whether it’s gaining further understanding in specific conduct areas, like Title IX or academic misconduct, to deepening abilities in the areas of empathy and relationship-building, serving as a university advisor is a unique aspect of staff growth and professional development in Student Life.