Access Coordinator

Access Coordinator

Amherst Campus
Full Time
JR5139

Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial, socio-economic, and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration and staff.

Job Description:

Amherst College invites applications for the Access Coordinator position. The Access Coordinator is a full-time, year-round position, starting at $62,400 per year - commensurate with experience. Given Amherst's distinction as one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country, the successful candidate will demonstrate the ways in which they bring value to and will work towards supporting a broadly diverse community.

The Access Coordinator will report to the Associate Director of Student Accessibility Services and is responsible for organizing and managing all processes related to testing accommodations, supervising student workers (note-takers) employed by the office, and maintaining technical expertise in all software systems and datasets used by Student Accessibility Services, including Glean and AIM. The Access Coordinator meets with students to determine reasonable accommodations, provides a high level of service to students and faculty around the testing accommodations process, collaborates with campus partners to successfully implement accommodations, and maintains an ongoing and up-to-date understanding of federal, state, and institutional policies and recommendations around student accommodations. The Access Coordinator is responsible for working with a diverse group of students to remove barriers related to classroom access, creating accommodation plans for students with acute injuries or illnesses during their recovery, and implementing approved accommodations for Five College students. The Coordinator is an active member who participates in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming environment for everyone.

Summary of Responsibilities:

Accommodation Coordination

Testing

• Organize and manage the daily operations of the requests from a diverse set of faculty and staff by consulting with the faculty member, communicating with the student, and using appropriate assistive devices for accommodations
  
• Coordinate with Academic Department Coordinators and Faculty to receive and securely return test-taking materials, coordinate special test-taking requirements and communication methods with Faculty
  
• Coordinate with the Registrar's office and campus partners to reserve rooms on campus for reduced distraction and private test-taking
  
• Ensure that the confidentiality of testing records is maintained
  

Note-Taking Services

• Oversee all aspects of peer note-taking services
  
• Navigate AIM software and maintain spreadsheets with all relevant information; handle student concerns, complaints, and requests throughout the semester
  
• Maintain records of student employees and quality of work
  
• Manage Glean software and approved users
  
• Maintain accurate records and ensure legal compliance/recording agreements
  

Oversee assistive technology equipment and materials

• Attend weekly meetings with campus partners in IT for document conversion and assistive technology updates
  
• Maintain updated knowledge of Glean software and any new functionality as it's released
  
• Meet with vendors to learn about new and innovative assistive tech
  
• Meet with 5 college Glean working group to cross-train, troubleshoot, and maintain contract
  
• Learn the functionality of various tech to determine what may be useful to incorporate
  

Classroom Access

• Coordinate with Multimedia Services to adapt classroom spaces for deaf and HoH students
  
• Coordinate with Facilities for any physical barriers or items/structures needed for classroom access
  
• Check classroom spaces and paths of travel across campus for accessibility as needed
  
• Coordinate classroom changes with the Registrar's office as needed for access
  
• Communicate with students and faculty about complex or unusual access barriers. Troubleshoot potential solutions with students and/or faculty, consulting with colleagues when necessary
  
• Coordinate with internal and external colleagues and community listservs to secure sign language interpreters when needed and other assistive technologies
  
• Navigate high levels of professionalism and confidentiality while working with partners across campus and facilitating solutions that may be perceived as inconvenient to faculty or other students
  

Accommodation Determination & Student Support

• Meet with, determine, and coordinate reasonable accommodations for our students and 5 College students taking Amherst classes
  
• Meet with students experiencing injuries, illness, or other acute conditions to determine temporary accommodations
  
• Collaborate with students, faculty, Student Care, Health Services, CCMH, and/or outside providers to create a plan to manage access during recovery
  
• Meet with drop-in students to discuss the accommodations process, timelines, and concerns
  

Supervisory/Management Responsibilities

• Organize and manage the daily operations of note-taking and exam accommodation requests from faculty and students
  
• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise 75-100+ peer notetakers; review note-takers at the end of each semester to evaluate quality of work and reliability
  

Assistive Technology and Data Management

• Provide assistive technology training for students with disabilities
  
• Maintain updated knowledge of assistive technology and send out new information to students as relevant
  
• Assess and develop auxiliary services procedures, prepare semester reports on service utilization, and make recommendations for improving services as needed
  
• Run accommodation reports and student use summaries across disability and accommodation types. Create and maintain visual representations of data
  
• Serve as the point person to navigate AIM software and train users (including students and faculty). Attend trainings and learn about updates as released. Assist colleagues in more intricate parts of the system
  

Maintain and Disseminate Knowledge

• Assist in presenting informational sessions to incoming students, new faculty, and campus partners about the office
  
• Attend webinars and conferences to increase general knowledge of Disability Services in Higher Education
  
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of better practices utilizing community discussions and other recognized organizations
  
• Learn about and maintain up-to-date knowledge of Disability Services in Higher Education, disability rights and policy, student development theory, and existing and emerging research on key student populations
  

​Qualifications:

Required

• Master's Degree in a human service field or Disability Studies
  
• Will also consider a Bachelor's Degree in a human service field or Disability Studies and 3-5 years of related experience, including knowledge of the vocational, psychological, academic, and physical impact of various disabilities; knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other relevant laws and guidelines
  
• Demonstrated administrative skills with Excel, Gmail and the ability to learn the EMS reservation system, AIM disability software, Workday platform, and related college software
  
• Experience supervising student staff and coordinating projects
  
• Excellent time management skills and ability to prioritize work
  
• Strong attention to detail
  
• Strong organizational, planning, and problem-solving skills
  
• Strong written, verbal, electronic communication, and interpersonal skills
  
• Commitment to supporting a diverse student community
  
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with the campus community
  
• Ability to connect students to campus resources when challenges or a crisis emerges
  
• Requires in-person, on-campus presence during the work week
  

Preferred

• Knowledge of AIM; Knowledge of assistive technology; Knowledge of Workday
  
• Experience working on a college or university campus
  
• 1-2 years of staff supervision and program management experience
  

Amherst College offers many opportunities for professional growth and development, continued learning, and career advancement.

Amherst College is pleased to provide a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package that meets the needs of staff and faculty and their families. Benefits are an important part of our overall compensation, so it is critical that you review all of the options to ensure it meets your total compensation requirements. Click here for Benefits Information.

Interested candidates are asked to submit a resume and cover letter online at https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/Amherst_Jobs. Please be sure to upload all requested documents prior to clicking Submit. Applications cannot be revised once submitted. (Current employees and students should apply by clicking on the Jobs Hub icon from their Workday home screen) Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.


To apply, visit https://amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Amherst_Jobs/job/Amherst-Campus/Access-Coordinator_JR5139


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