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Assistant Dean of Students

Assistant Dean of Students

Lansing Campus

POSITION SUMMARY

The Assistant Dean of Students serves as primary contact for campus student issues.  Monitors and manages student conduct, administrative issues including Honor Code and Disciplinary Procedures investigations.  Investigates student complaints regarding faculty.  Serves on the Clery Committee.  Responsible for awareness of and relationships with troubled students.  Reviews and follows up with students regarding academic success.  Attends student services programs.  Supports and encourages faculty engagement in academic advising and bar coaching initiatives.  Represents Law School at events.  May teach a maximum of one course per term.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

These duties and responsibilities are judged to be “essential functions” in terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  These statements are intended to describe general nature and level of work being performed by a person in this position.  They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties that may be performed by such a person.

  • Serve as first point of contact for students facing personal, family, medical, or financial crisis; connect students with mental health counseling and wellness resources; operate wellness programming; coordinate emergency responses involving students, such as hospitalizations, bereavement, and safety concerns; process leaves of absence, readmission, and withdrawals; update list of local counseling services; and, maintain relationships with state bar associations.
  • Primary contact for campus student issues; monitor and manage student conduct, and administrative issues including Honor Code and Disciplinary Procedure investigations; accept and initiate reports of student conduct that appear to violate the Honor Code or Disciplinary Procedures, and issue Requests for Investigation, investigate cases, build case files with Coordinator of Student Affairs, attend meetings to discuss investigations and proposed sanctions to ensure equitable treatment of students across campuses, contribute to monthly reports on status of cases, work with Honor Code Chair to coordinate Honor Code and Disciplinary Procedures hearings and with Law School advocates to prepare for hearings; and counsel students about inappropriate conduct that does not rise to the level of a violation.
  • Identify and monitor troubled students to anticipate issues of campus safety; lead campus person for establishing (through the Clery Committee) procedures for student emergencies, and communicate those to campus personnel and students; work with local police, the Law School's Director of Safety and Access Control, and Access Control personnel to develop procedures for campus safety; and, communicate with campus faculty to encourage their reports of any apparently troubled students.
  • Review once-per-term Alert reports and follow up with students who warrant or merit attention, enter notes in student information database (Jenzabar) and coordinate with faculty advisors to ensure appropriate attention is given to each; manage academic probation and academic dismissals; and, support and encourage faculty engagement in academic advising and bar coaching initiatives.
  • Speak at Orientation to incoming students about Honor Code, Disciplinary Procedures, and professionalism.
  • Attend student services programs including orientation, recruitment and student organization events, distinguished and career-related speaker series, honors convocation, graduation activities, community programs, and speaker series, and ensure President and Dean or representative is notified.
  • Serve as member of the Clery Committee, Academic Policy and Curriculum Committee, and Student Conduct Committee.
  • Complete character and fitness certifications for state bar applications.
  • Represent Law School at judicial, attorney, and other community events; build relationships with local legal and public service organizations; work with Directors of Campus Administration to track, maintain and develop alumni contacts for development and career placement opportunities.
  • Represent President and Dean when requested.
  • May teach a maximum of one course per term.

Supervisory Responsibilities:  This position does not have direct supervisory responsibilities.

EMPLOYMENT QUALIFICATIONS

Education:  This position requires knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired through a Juris Doctor degree (J.D.); or at least four to 10 years of related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience:  This position requires a minimum of three years of related job experience, with state bar licensure.  One to three years of management experience, preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, or Registrations:  Licensed attorney in good standing, required.

Other Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The following list is representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • Knowledge of office computer programs like Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
  • Knowledge of software applications like course management system (Canvas), student information database (Jenzabar), web conference/videoconference (WebEx, Teams), and intranet (Connect).
  • Knowledge of Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Gmail).
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and resourceful thinking.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Excellent organization and time-management skills.
  • Ability to multi-task.
  • Detail-oriented.
  • Strong interpersonal skills.
  • Patience and understanding.
  • Emotional intelligence.
  • Punctual and innovative.
  • Flexible and responsive: willing to embrace change and respond to it quickly and productively.
  • Collaborative.
  • Excellent listener.
  • Problem solving skills
  • Ability to de-escalate situations and seek resolution.
  • Ability to work in a team and individually.
  • Ability to handle and maintain confidential information.
  • Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. 
  • Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the educational community. 
  • Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. 
  • Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
  • Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. 
  • Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.
  • Openness to diverse, multicultural environment and working with a broad range of individuals.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to work in a stationary position, move about the office spaces, operate computers and other office equipment, and communicate effectively with internal and external parties.  The employee will occasionally bend and kneel while filing, move materials, and lift boxes up to 10 pounds.

Work Environment:  The noise level in the work environment is moderate.

The qualifications listed above are guidelines for selection purposes.  Alternative qualifications may be substituted if sufficient to perform the duties of the job.

Please send a resume via e-mail to hr@cooley.edu. Please include “Assistant Dean of Students” in the subject line. Human Resources Department, Cooley Law School, 300 S. Capitol Ave, Lansing MI, 48933. First consideration will be given to those who apply before November 6, 2026. We are an equal employment opportunity employer. For further information about Cooley Law School, please visit www.cooley.edu.