Student Success and Accommodations Associate

The Student Success and Accommodation Associate provides direct support to students who receive academic, residential, and health-related accommodations. Working closely with the Accommodations Specialist, this position focuses on helping students successfully implement their accommodation plans, develop self-advocacy skills, navigate challenges, and access appropriate campus resources. This position is a .50 FTE, part-time position that follows the academic year.

The Student Success and Accommodation Associate serves as a consistent point of contact for students, providing ongoing monitoring, coaching, and intervention to ensure accommodations are effectively supporting student success. This role emphasizes relationship-building, student development, executive functioning support, and collaboration with faculty, residential staff, counselors, and families.

The Student Success and Accommodation Associate ensures that students receiving accommodations have the support, guidance, and advocacy necessary to thrive academically, socially, and residentially. Through ongoing coaching, monitoring, and intervention, the Associate helps students build independence, effectively utilize accommodations, and develop the skills needed for long-term success.

The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) is committed to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive teaching and learning environment. Through a model of Equity and Excellence, IMSA has committed to advancing equity in STEM education and representation and creating a diverse, inclusive community of global citizens who can realize their full potential and execute our mission to advance the human condition.

This Equity and Excellence Work is the intentional integration of Cultural Competence, Diversity, Equity, Equity-Minded Frame, Excellence and Inclusion into every facet of the Academy, with the understanding that it is an active and ongoing process involving structures, processes and people and not an isolated initiative.

This position will support IMSA's Equity and Excellence work by ensuring the delivery of quality, equitable, and inclusive support while promoting and maintaining an inclusive work environment and culture that embraces the diversity of people and perspectives collaborating at IMSA to ignite and nurture creative, ethical, scientific minds that advance the human condition.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Student Support and Case Management

• Serve as the primary support contact for students with approved accommodations.
• Conduct regular check-ins with students to review academic, residential, and social-emotional progress.
• Monitor student utilization of accommodations and identify barriers to implementation.
• Assist students in understanding their accommodation plans and responsibilities.
• Support students in communicating accommodation needs to faculty, residential staff, and other campus personnel.
• Develop individualized support strategies to address challenges related to organization, time management, self-advocacy, and executive functioning.
• Provide remote learning support for students with accommodations on Leaves of Absence (LOAs)

Accommodation Implementation

• Ensure approved accommodations are implemented consistently across academic and residential settings.
• Collaborate with faculty, residential staff, counselors, and administrators to address concerns related to accommodation implementation.
• Assist in resolving accommodation-related issues as they arise.
• Monitor the effectiveness of accommodations and communicate concerns or recommended adjustments to the Accommodations Specialist.

Student Advocacy and Skill Development

• Teach and reinforce self-advocacy skills that promote student independence.
• Coach students in communication strategies, problem-solving, and self-management.
• Support students in developing organizational systems and study habits.
• Help students understand their rights and responsibilities regarding accommodations.
• Encourage increasing independence while providing appropriate levels of support.

Collaboration and Communication

• Collaborate regularly with the Accommodations Specialist regarding student needs and accommodation effectiveness.
• Participate in student support meetings and multidisciplinary teams.
• Communicate with parents/guardians, when appropriate, regarding student progress and support strategies.
• Coordinate referrals to counseling, academic support, tutoring, health services, or other campus resources.

Program Development

• Assist in developing resources and workshops related to self-advocacy, executive functioning, study skills, and transition planning.
• Support student orientation and onboarding processes for students receiving accommodations.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of accommodation support services.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to establish trust and rapport with students.
• Strong coaching and mentoring skills.
• Ability to balance student support with promoting independence and self-advocacy.
• Strong problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments.
• Strong written documentation and communication skills.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education, counseling, psychology, social work, student affairs, special education, or a related field.
• Experience working directly with adolescents or young adults.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to support students from diverse backgrounds and with diverse learning needs.
• Excellent organizational and case management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting students with disabilities, learning differences, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, mental health concerns, or chronic medical conditions.
• Experience in educational, residential, counseling, or student affairs settings.
• Knowledge of adolescent development and executive functioning supports.
• Familiarity with accommodation processes and disability services.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 

Work is performed in office settings with minimal exposure to health or safety hazards.  Substantial time is spent working on a computer.  This role requires the following physical activities: speaking, hearing, visual acuity, and mobility within the workspace. Some evening availability may be required to stupport residential students and campus programming. Position will be primarily on-site with frequent interactions with students and regular attendance at student support mettings.

COMPENSATION