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
Appeal to
PCB/JAC
Formal Resolution
PCB JAC
Appeal to AVP
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 Affairs
Dr. Phil Wood
Judicial Affairs
First Year
Coordinator
Experience
Corinna Fitzgerald Danielle Stayzer
Athletics
Titles
and
Bookstore
Recreation
Bob Crawford
Therese Quigley
Hospitality
Services
Albert Ng
Housing and
Conference
Services
Cathie Miller
Off Campus
Resource Centre
Jennifer Kleven
International
Student Financial
Director
Executive Assistant
Students’
Aid and
Student Services Investigating Officer
Advisor
Scholarships
Gina Robinson
Eva Bodrozic
Cheryl-Ann Jackson Elizabeth Seymour
Student
Health Services
Dr. Jan Baker
Julie Fairservice
Career Planning
Student Affairs
and Employment
Business Office
Centre
Elizabeth Zelek
Lisa Boniface
Centre for
Student
Development
Desmond Pouyat
Housing & Conference Services
Organizational Chart
Assoc. VP
Student Affairs
Dir. of Housing &
Conf. Services
Facilities
Conf.
Services
Admissions
Residence
Life Coor
Judicial
Affairs Cor.
Overview of
Responsibilities of JAC
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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!