Access Coordinator
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Full-time
Education
Posted on May 17, 2024
Position Announcement
Access Coordinator
Student Disability Services
Student Disability Services within the Division of Student Life invites applications for the position of Access Coordinator. This is an exempt, 12-month, full-time, non-tenure track staff position.
The mission of Student Disability Services (SDS) is to partner with the campus community in creating equitable access to eligible students while promoting disability-inclusive diversity. Staff is comprised of 23 professional and administrative employees and two liaisons to satellite campuses.
The Position: Reporting to the Assistant Director, the Access Coordinator engages students with disabilities in an interactive process to develop accommodation plans, provide support for a caseload of students, refer students to appropriate campus resources, and provide education and training to campus and community partners.
Responsibilities: To engage students with disabilities in an interactive process to develop accommodation plans, provide support for a caseload of students, refer students to appropriate campus resources, and provide education and training to campus and community partners.
ACCOMMODATION PROVISIONING
· Communicate with prospective students and their families about the process for registering with Student Disability Services (SDS)
· Create an environment that makes students feel comfortable with requesting accommodations; Assess student accommodation requests
· Engage students in an interactive process to develop accommodation plans
· Determine appropriate accommodations through review of documentation from medical, psychological, and educational professionals and the utilization of professional judgment
· Provide students with information about additional campus services
· Document interactions with students in database management system
· Collaborate with all functional areas of Student Disability Services (SDS) as well as university departments to assist with the provision of accommodations
TRAINING AND PROGRAMMING
· Develop and present training and educational programs to instructors, students, staff, and community groups on a variety of disability-related topics
· Serve as a resource to instructors, staff, and students on disability issues
· Manage the Peer Mentor Program
COMPLIANCE & ASSESSMENT
· Stay abreast of Office for Civil Rights case files and review current practices for effectiveness of accommodations and compliance
· Contribute to internal policies and procedures based on best practices
· Collect semester and annual data for department reports
· Conduct assessment of functional area and propose an implementation plan for improved and enhanced service delivery
SUPERVISION
· Oversee and coordinate tasks assigned to graduate intern(s)
This position might require occasional weekend and evening work, as well as overnight travel.
The University and Region: UTK is the state’s flagship, land-grant university. We are a Research 1 university, housing 14 colleges and 900+ programs of study. With an enrollment of 36,000 students, our undergraduate and graduate programs are repeatedly ranked among top national programs. The city of Knoxville is a hidden gem with a beautiful and walkable downtown, a diverse music scene, active neighborhoods, unique restaurants, and a robust offering of outdoor and cultural activities. UTK is located within easy driving distance to Asheville, Nashville, Atlanta, and the Great Smoky Mountains; and a day’s drive to Memphis, Chicago, and Washington D.C. Knoxville and the surrounding counties have a statistical area population of over 850,000 people. The Knoxville region houses many leading corporations, including Bush Brothers & Company, Discovery Inc., Tennessee Valley Authority, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Qualifications :
What We Require
Education: This position requires a master’s degree. In lieu of a Masters degree candidates can have an equivalent combination of a bachelor's degree and 4 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities.
Experience: One year of professional experience working with students with disabilities. Demonstrated experience evaluating disability documentation.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
· Ability to evaluate medical/psychological/educational documentation to identify functional limitations and needed accommodations.
· Working knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Fair Housing Act.
· Ability to maintain confidentiality in compliance with FERPA; Ability to advocate for equitable educational opportunities.
· Ability to prioritize competing demands.
· Ability to communicate clearly.
· Ability to analyze complex, sensitive, and difficult situations and make effective decisions.
· Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with diverse individuals.
· Microsoft Office skills including Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
What We Prefer:
Experience: 3 years of professional experience working with students with disabilities in a higher education setting.
Salary: Market Range 07. The salary for this position is commensurate with experience and other qualifications and is accompanied by a standard university benefits package. The starting salary for a candidate who meets the minimum requirements is $44,500.
Application Process: A review of all applications will begin immediately and will continue until June 10, 2024. For full consideration, applicants must electronically submit a letter of interest, resume, and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three references. All materials for the position should be submitted through the University of Tennessee Human Resources application system. Questions regarding the search may be directed to the search committee chair, Ed Zirkle at ezirkle@utk.edu.
