The Assistant Director will work with the Director of Student Access to develop and implement campus policies and procedures for compliance with federal and state disability laws for students. These regulations mandate equal access and reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. In coordination with the Director, the Assistant Director will also supervise and coordinate direct services to eligible students.
About the University of New England
UNE is Maine’s largest private university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study-abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible online offerings. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to positively impact a world full of challenges. We are the state’s top provider of health professionals and home to Maine’s only medical and dental colleges, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care programs, and nationally recognized programs in the marine sciences, the natural and social sciences, business, the humanities, and the arts.
UNE offers a generous comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. The package includes varied health and dental plans; a retirement plan that includes up to an 8% match; extensive paid leave including holidays, vacation, sick and personal time; and educational benefits. Please visit the Human Resources Benefits site (https://www.une.edu/hr/benefits) for additional information regarding UNE’s fantastic benefits package.
Responsibilities
- In coordination with the Director will hire, train, assist with performance evaluations, and handle discipline of subordinate employees.
- Oversee and coordinate the seamless operation of the BC & PC Student Access Test Centers.
- Act as a proxy for the Director of Student Access as needed in their absence.
- Collaborate with the Director of Student Access to provide timely problem-solving in conjunction with department staff of daily department operations.
- Evaluate documentation of disabilities with respect to data provided to determine disability status and accommodations sought by students.
- Commit to actively fostering a welcoming culture of inclusion and diversity
- Collaborates with the Director of Student Access to sustain, promote, and grow departmental programs and services, including but not limited to department trainings, student orientations and other ADA-related educational topics and campus initiatives.
- Provides timely and responsive assistance in the effective use of student accommodations and registration with Student Access Center.
- Provides communication and education to families, as permitted by the student, in regards to the provision of accommodations.
- Provides referral to other UNE student services offices.
- Provides training for faculty, staff and all academic and administrative departments in the legal compliance of post-secondary services to students with disabilities.
- Maintains record keeping systems to assure documentation, confidentiality, accountability and appropriateness of resources.
- Implements state of the art accommodation delivery systems, including assistive technology.
- Promotes accessibility education as a college resource for students by communicating information about services and policies to prospective students, faculty and staff.
- Provides strong leadership and guidance to all University stakeholders related to working with students with disabilities and the successful implementation of accommodations.
- Maintains files and records as requested. Recordkeeping responsibilities may include overseeing and maintaining files of applications, student interviews, medical documentation, accommodation letters and other confidential department files.
- Assists the Director of Student Access in creating and managing special events, department initiatives, and similar projects.
- Drafts and maintains policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Master’s degree required, preferably in related field plus three to five years of applicable experience or a combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills have been acquired.
- Supervisory experience preferred.
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to communicate professionally to all campus stakeholders, students and external contacts.
- Demonstrated ability to function effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic, multi-tasking environment.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to prioritize and delegate tasks.
- Ability to work effectively with a wide range of students, families, faculty, staff and various individuals outside of the University in carrying out job functions.
- Excellent speaking and presentation skills.
- Ability to create and clearly present ideas in a variety of formats.
- Ability to maintain confidential records.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
- Knowledge of the philosophy, mission, leadership needs, and planning requirements of the organization preferred.