Jandrisevits Learning Ctr. - Assistant Director Office of Student Accessibility
5151 Park Ave, Fairfield, CT 06825, USA Req #490
As the second-largest Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs. More than 10,000 students attend the University’s eight colleges and schools: College of Arts & Sciences; School of Communication, Media & the Arts; School of Social Work; School of Computer Science & Engineering; College of Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology and the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing. Sacred Heart, a Laudato Si’ campus, stands out from other Catholic institutions as it was established and led by laity. The contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, and at the same time cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities.
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.
Administrative Workflow
* Works with the Director of the Office of Student Accessibility to lead and manage 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 its 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.
Sacred Heart University is a space that respects and embraces differences, recognizes the unique contributions that individuals can make, and creates a community that maximizes the potential of all faculty and staff. As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage applications from qualified candidates who reflect the wider world in which we live.
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