The Division of Student Life fosters student success by creating and promoting inclusive educationally purposeful services and activities within and beyond the classroom. The departmental program review process empowers departments within the Division of Student Life to critically evaluate their work and their effect on the UI student experience through a lens of continuous improvement. As a unit of the Division of Student Life, the Office of Student Accountability (OSA) engaged in a program review process in fall 2023. OSA completed a comprehensive self-study and hosted three external reviewers for a multi-day campus visit. The action plan is intended to be a living document based on the current campus environment. Action items and outcomes may change.

 

Recommendation: Create foundational documents

Create foundational documents that inform the work of the Office of Student Accountability. While this work will guide the Office of Student Accountability, these efforts should also engage partners on campus involved in the conduct process for non-academic and academic concerns.

Critical tasks

  • Create a shared mission and vision.
  • Create a vision statement and strategic priorities.
  • Create a statement of ethics guiding accountability work on campus.

Success measures and updates

  • Mission/vision is reviewed and updated only if it no longer accurately represents the defined work of OSA. (completed spring 2025)
  • Draft a vision statement and strategic priorities to guide OSA over the next three years, in particular regarding misconduct, restorative practices, and civic dialogue. (completed spring 2025)

  • Documented statement of ethics is co-created and shared with others on campus doing similar work.

     

Recommendation: Outline goals, objectives, and outcomes

Create student learning outcomes, programmatic goals, and objectives that demonstrate the office's ability to implement its mission, vision, and values.

Critical tasks

  • Create student learning and development outcomes.
  • Assess student learning outcomes.
  • Meet with assessment coordinator for DSL to determine learning outcomes alignment.
  • Collaborate with Residence Education on the creation and assessment of student learning outcomes for student accountability processes.
  • Determine options related to training that connects to the mission and vision of Student Accountability as it relates to individual students, student organizations, faculty, staff, classroom management, and restorative practices.
  • Share student learning data.
  • Utilize data to inform changes to policies and processes.

Success measures and updates

  • Current learning and development outcomes are modified to reflect the current work of the office. (completed spring 2025)
  • Develop an assessment plan for the office based on the identified learning and development outcomes. (in process summer 2025)
  • Modify newly created student learning and development outcomes in consultation with staff from Assessment, Improvement, and Research. (completed spring 2025)
  • The co-creation of 3-5 learning outcomes for student accountability processes. A plan to align our internal assessments with the newly co-created learning outcomes. (in process summer 2025)
  • The creation of a short menu of training options available for individual students, student organizations, faculty, staff as it relates to office operations and restorative practices. (in process summer 2025)
  • Share the results of student learning data through the annual report, outreach opportunities, and the website.

  • Modify existing documented policies and processes based on assessment data.

     

Recommendation: Address capacity and align resources

Address capacity in the Office of Student Accountability, and align resources accordingly.

Critical tasks

  • Recruit and hire Associate Director to address some challenges and concerns related to capacity and time on task.
  • Determine OSA staffing structure following the hire of the associate director in alignment with campus needs and DSL priorities.
  • Assess capacity needs for the office to adequately address the existing case load, implementation of restorative practices, and support outreach and engagement needs.
  • Assess the needs of the Restorative Justice initiative to determine the appropriate structure as the initiative moves forward.
  • Consider how collaboration can potentially address capacity concerns as it relates to student accountability work.

Success measures and updates

  • Successfully hire and onboard a new Associate Director to lead the day-to-day operations of OSA. (completed fall 2024)
  • Determine an appropriate structure to staff the office for current needs and continued implementation of restorative practices. (ongoing)
  • Identify the appropriate structure for the office based on current caseload and projected future needs of the restorative practices program. (ongoing)
  • Information related to the total number of circles/conferences conducted, and total time spent preparing, organizing, and resolving circles/conferences. (in process summer 2025)

  • Share data regarding representation of residence hall and student organization cases with Residence Education and Fraternity and Sorority Life staff.

     

Recommendation: Increase collaboration

Increase opportunities for collaboration with other individuals on campus adjudicating misconduct cases.

Critical tasks

  • Clarify roles and lines of operational authority and autonomy between the Office of Student Accountability and student accountability functions in University Housing & Dining.
  • Determine opportunities for involving OSA, TAT, and/or SCA in collaborative processes with Res Ed when adjudicating misconduct cases or addressing persons of concern.
  • Collaborate with Residence Education on the creation and assessment of student learning outcomes for student accountability processes.

Success measures and updates

  • Documented information outlining the relationship between OSA and student accountability functions in University Housing & Dining.
  • Create a documented process outlining opportunities for collaboration in misconduct cases or when addressing persons of concern.

  • The co-creation of 3-5 learning outcomes for student accountability processes. A plan to align our internal assessments with the newly co-created learning outcomes.

     

Recommendation: Ensure alignment with guiding principles

Review reporting forms and communications to ensure alignment with guiding principles for the Division of Student Life, Dean of Students, and Office of Student Accountability

Critical tasks

  • In partnership with the Office of the Provost, review the DOS "Report a Concern" form, and the requirements of the Higher Learning Commission to determine appropriate edits to the form.
  • Review process and communications regarding reporting forms or reported concerns to ensure timely response and that individuals are aware the issue is being reviewed.
  • Review template letters in Maxient to ensure alignment with expectations and strategic priorities.
  • Increase opportunities to educate the campus community about the "Report a Concern" form.
  • Review communications to ensure that they align with the Division of Student Life and office missions.

Success measures and updates

  • The reporting form is reviewed and updated in accordance with recommendations and HLC requirements. (completed spring 2025)
  • Create standards regarding response to completed reporting forms and adding information to Maxient.
  • Create letters consistent with the developmental and educational approach of the office. (in process summer 2025)
  • Create a brief training focusing on the "Report a Concern" form, sharing reasons to use the form, and how community use of the form results in action by our teams.
  • Communications are reviewed and revamped to ensure their alignment with the OSA mission and the Division of Student Life mission.