Back to School Series: Insights and Strategies for a Prior Conduct Admissions Review Process - 2024

This webinar explores what the prior conduct disclosure process is in the scope of admissions at institutions of higher education and the impact that these disclosures have on admissions decisions. We will discuss perspectives on the prior conduct review process rooted in best practice and from an evolution of trial and error in our combined experience. Furthermore, we will provide a synopsis of the national response, at both the federal and state level, concerning forgiveness, fairness, and second chances for these applicants.

ASCA Knowledge & Skills Areas Covered:

Learning Outcomes:

• Participants will learn what Prior Conduct Admissions Review Processes are and the role these processes have in determining the ability for applicants to persist in the admissions process.
  
  
• Participants will learn how to construct an admissions prior conduct review process that is unbiased and fair.

Presenter Bios:

Josh Cutchens (He/Him) currently serves as the Director of Member Experience & Operations with the ASCA Central Office.  Prior to serving in this role, Josh served in student conduct and Title IX roles over the last decade at Appalachian State University, the University of South Florida, and Florida Gulf Coast University.  While at all three institutions, Josh reviewed and made recommendations on admissions for applicants with prior criminal and/or institutional misconduct disclosures.  Josh collaborated with previous campus partners to review and update institutional policies and procedures regarding Admissions Prior Conduct.

Josh is currently seeking his Ed.D. from Appalachian State University where his dissertation titled: Fairness, Equity, and Inclusion: A Social Constructionist Approach to Admissions Prior Conduct Policies and Procedures is focused on the fairness, equity, and inclusivity of Admissions Prior Conduct policies and procedures across the country.  Josh earned his M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of South Florida, in Tampa, Florida, and his B.A. in History from the University of Florida, in Gainesville, Florida. Contact: josh@theasca.org 

Maria Cutsinger (She/Her) is the Director for the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution at the University of Scranton in Scranton, Pa.  Maria joined the Scranton community in January 2024 after working at East Stroudsburg University and the University of South Florida. Her responsibilities include general oversight of the conduct process for on and off campus incidents and to facilitate conflict resolution sessions for students.  While at the University of South Florida, Maria administered the admissions prior conduct process for the USF system and has trained others on the process. 

Maria effectively blended her former professional experience in residential life with her experience as a law enforcement officer to make a career working in student conduct.  Her background, education, and professional training have aided her in being an effective conduct administrator, communicator, and decision maker.  She strives for the betterment of the student and the community in her daily work. 

Maria earned her Master’s degree in Student Development and Counseling from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina and her Bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications from Shippensburg University in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. Contact: maria.cutsinger@scranton.edu