The assistant dean of students who reportedly handed down the wrong sanction allowing a student who allegedly confessed to rape to remain on campus no longer works in the Dean of Students’ office and instead is working for the school’s housing office.

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life Jean Kim confirmed former dean Christina Willenbrock “is now working as the Selection, Training & Development Specialist in the Residence Life department in Housing.”

Campus officials continue to refuse to confirm reports that Willenbrock handled the case and also declined to disclose whether or not her relocation was the result of the alleged mishandling.

That information, “is considered to be personal data protected by the FIPA [Fair Information Practices Act (Mass. General Laws Chapter 66 A)] statute and we are prohibited from disclosing it,” Kim said in an e-mail.

Willenbrock was not able to be reached Wednesday for comment.

In early March, she reluctantly declined to comment on her reported handling of the case to Collegian reporters who visited her South Hadley home.

“The University won’t let me speak about it,” said Willenbrock at the time. “I would love to tell you all my opinions and thoughts on the matter, but I really can’t.”

University of Massachusetts officials have thus far declined to comment on Willenbrock’s statement.

A male University of Massachusetts student confessed to raping a female friend and 2009 alum in the fall and was mistakenly given a deferred suspension, according to an investigative report published in late February. University officials allowed the alleged offender to stay on campus, a move that now has administrators reexamining UMass’ sanctioning policies and procedures.

University officials have since revealed that the accused student is no longer living on campus, but is still enrolled in classes. However, UMass declined to disclose when the student moved off campus, and if he did so on his own or if it was the University’s decision, but has said the move is permanent

The incident occurred in the early morning of October 16, the Friday during homecoming weekend, in North Apartments Building C, according to the New England Center for Investigative Reporting’s (NECIR) story published in The Boston Globe.

The victim reported the incident to the Dean of Students’ office the following month, said NECIR’s report; however, then assistant dean Willenbrock gave the accused student a deferred suspension – a decision UMass officials have since said was too lenient, and have called the situation regrettable.

Willenbrock, according to prior reports, did not properly report her decision to her superior, Dean Jo-Anne T. Vanin, for approval, and gave the deferred suspension sanction – which notifies students that a subsequent violation of the University’s conduct code will result in suspension.

“Personally, I do not believe the sanction matched the misconduct,” said Kim previously.

However, campus officials said the University cannot change or add to the sanctions already handed down through the student judicial system because there is no appeal process allowed to any person other than the accused.

Kim said previously there was no one individual to blame for the mishandling. She said the blame instead goes to the set up of the administrative process, which University officials have since moved to correct by instituting a formal, written policy that mandates serious cases be reviewed by the Dean of Students before they are finalized.

Additionally, a 12-person special commission has been formed as a result of the mishandling, which will review the entire Code of Student Conduct (CSC) – something that has not been done since the mid-1990s. Recommendations from the commission are expected by November; any recommended changes to the student conduct code would ultimately have to gain the Board of Trustees’ approval before implementation.

Hannah McGoldrick can be reached at [email protected].