Senior Director, Academic And Accessibility Resources

SUMMARY

In support of the university's mission and objectives, the Senior Director manages the operations of accessibility resources ensuring compliance with the ADA, ADAAA, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The Senior Director also provides oversight to the university's academic support programs. This role drives initiatives that elevate advocacy and awareness of disability and accessibility needs while supporting self-identified students to ensure access. The Senior Director fosters an environment in which students in need of academic or disability services retain at the university and persist to graduation.

Accessibility Resources

• Develops and executes strategic plans for accessibility services, ensuring aligning with industry best practices, university mission and goals, and compliance with federal and state regulations, such as the ADA, ADAAA, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
• Provides leadership and supervision to the Director of Disability Services and professional support staff, including hiring, training, and performance management.
• Oversees and continuously evaluates policies, processes, and procedures to maintain compliance with federal and state accessibility regulations.
• Directs the disability accommodations process from initial inquiry through implementation of accommodations, ensuring timely, appropriate, and reasonable accommodations for students.
• Conducts intake meetings and determines accommodations as needed.
• Manages grievance processes and appeals related to disability services.
• Collaborates cross-functionally with departments such as Student Life, Workship, Dining, Housing, and Parking to provide non-academic accommodations to eligible students.
• Ensures staff adherence to institutional guidelines and legal compliance.
• Serves as a subject-matter expert on accessibility issues and participates in committees such as the Student Care and Concerns Committee to support students in crisis.

Academic Resources

• Develops and implements strategic plans for academic support aligning with the university's mission and goals.
• Provides leadership to the Director of Tutoring and staff, driving initiatives that improve outcomes in high-failure-rate courses.
• Partners with the Director of Tutoring to develop programs that enhance academic support for at-risk student populations.
• Oversees intervention strategies for students on academic warning or academic probation, fostering their return to good standing.
• Shapes and advances the university's academic resource programs, such as peer tutoring, supplemental instruction, or study skills workshops.
• Ensures that programming effectively supports neurodiverse learners.
• Uses data-driven analysis to evaluate program effectiveness, advancing continuous improvement in academic support services.

Communication

• Cultivates partnerships with the university's academic leadership team to foster awareness and ensure that students receive comprehensive academic support both inside and outside the classroom.
• Designs and leads training sessions, presentations, and Q&A forums for faculty and academic administrators, as requested.
• Maintains strict confidentiality in interactions with prospective students, parents, administrators, faculty, and staff.
• Prepares reports for university leadership, accreditation bodies, and external auditors to demonstrate compliance and effectiveness of the university's accessibility and academic services.
• Engages with academic units and Student Life to integrate accessibility and academic support across the broader university ecosystem.