Jandrisevits Learning Center - Assistant Director, Office of Student Accessibility

To apply:

Only applications submitted through the official Careers at SHU site will be accepted. If you are viewing this job advertisement on a 3rd party site, please visit Careers at SHU to submit a formal application.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit a complete application and resume via our online application system. A cover letter or statement of interest is also preferred for all staff positions. 

Please note that changes cannot be made once an application has been submitted. You may, however, update your application/resume/cover letter each time you apply for a new position. To request that additional documents be attached to your current application, please email hr@sacredheart.edu within three days of submitting your application.

Position Summary

Empower students with documented disabilities with a variety of academic tools and strategies so that they may develop as self-directed, lifelong learners. Getting students to become aware of their unique strengths and weaknesses and find ways to make the most of the accommodations provided and meet the academic standards is a major objective. The incumbent is expected to be a team player and work with the staff of the OSA to improve student learning and thereby contribute to increasing graduation and retention rates.

Provide quality assurance for approving and supporting ADA accommodations includes: review of learning and other disabilities documentation; identification of appropriate accommodations; and knowledge of learning strategies and other compensatory techniques in compliance with ADA guidelines. Share in the responsibilities of supporting staff and student initiatives by providing guidance, leadership, and swift decision making.

This position requires work to be performed in person at a designated campus work location.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

Administrative Workflow

• Works with the Director of the Office of Student Accessibility to lead and manages the Office of Student Accessibility .
• Supervises, trains, and evaluates related staff, and provides overall quality assurance in implementing accommodations in accordance with ADA guidelines.
• Reviews documentation of student disabilities, arrives at appropriate and reasonable accommodations, and prepares disclosure documentation.
• Coordinates and provides services to students with physical, learning or other disabilities in the relevant academic areas and makes referrals to appropriate University resources to help students attain their academic goals.
• Demonstrates knowledge of suitable assistive technology tools and identifies reasonable and appropriate tools that will accommodate learning challenges and assist students to grow as independent learners.
• Assist in the planning, procurement and implementation of additional technology tools and/or services to enhance the academic support resources of the JLC as needed.
• Assist in the development of procedures and/or policy documents for disability-related services.
• Trains and/or consults with faculty with the goal of improving understanding about implementing ADA accommodation and collaborates with faculty in providing useful tools to work with students.
• Oversees the JLC Testing Service, and other relevant units within the OSA

Liaison and Communications

• Promotes awareness of University services for students with documented disabilities throughout the University community (students, faculty, staff, and administration) through outreach efforts.
• Develops and conducts workshops, orientations and other presentations on SLS, academic and disability-related topics.
• Consults with legal counsel for guidance on student academic issues and rulings, and prepares and manages academic appeals cases.
• Liaises with faculty and academic departments on student learning needs, academic progress, disability issues, and technical matters related to academic and/or other accommodations.
• Work closely with academic departments to develop and implement OSA policies on academic matters related to disability issues.
• Consults with parents and prospective students on appropriate academic accommodations and support services.
• Maintains active contact with students regarding their academic needs, monitors academic progress, and makes recommendations for academic supports and/or other interventions.
• Responds to general and specific disability-related inquiries from other academic institutions and the general public.

Record-keeping and Assessment Reports

• Manages the OSA assessment process as part of it’s continuous improvement initiatives to study and appropriately improve academic success and retention.
• Assist with the compilation and analysis of OSA data. Maintains and archives documents required for student records and manages student files for monitoring and referral purposes by adhering to confidentiality principles.
• Contributes to periodic OSA reports, executive summaries, surveys, and other evaluative documents.
• Manages requests for SLS documentation for current and former students for standardized testing, parking, housing, and other specific inquiries.
• Responds to general and specific disability related inquiries from other academic institutions and the general public.
• All other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, & Other Attributes

• Master’s degree in Disability Services in Higher Education, Learning Disabilities, Special Education, counseling, clinical psychology, education psychology or related field from a regionally accredited educational institution required.
  
• Minimum of 2 years' experience in the field. Three years’ experience in a higher education environment.
• Ability to interpret diagnostic test results and reports from external professionals for LD, ADHD, ABI, physical disabilities, visual impairment, hearing impairment, psychiatric disorders etc.
• Strong interpersonal skills and sensitivity to diverse cultural, disability and other characteristics of college students is essential.
• Knowledge of current disability issues and laws including ADA desirable. Experience working with legal offices.

Unusual Working Conditions

A busy, student-focused work environment with frequent interruptions and need for a solution-oriented approach. May require occasional evening hours and/or weekend hours.

This job posting provides an overview of the role's general nature and expected tasks. It is not meant to be a comprehensive list of all duties performed. The university reserves the right to modify or reassign job responsibilities at any time. This posting description does not constitute an employment contract, either explicit or implied.