Accessibility Specialist

Position Title: Accessibility Specialist.
Department: Division of Community and Belonging.                                 
Classification: Exempt.                             
FTE: 0.83
Work Schedule: Mid-August through mid-June, 40 hours per week; The standard 40-hour work schedule is Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm; flexible work arrangements can be proposed and are subject to approval by HR and relevant supervisor; expect occasional evening or weekend hours, especially during New Student Orientation and final exam weeks; travel up to 5% of work schedule, which includes local (Twin Cities metro area) and national travel; overnight trips average 1 trip per year.
Work Location: On campus, one day remote. Will work on campus fully for the first three months. 
Salary Range: $43,000 - 48,000.

Essential Job Duties:

• Maintain a caseload of students with disabilities: 
  • Analyze medical documentation and neuropsychological evaluations and with a high-level understanding of Legal Regulations, determine reasonable and appropriate accommodations necessary for equal access.
  • Communicate approved accommodations through formal accommodation letters to faculty and campus life partners.
  • Consult with faculty regarding accommodations and fundamental alteration concerns.
  • Keep accurate records in alignment with FERPA and confidentiality policy, including case notes, email correspondence with student/parents/faculty/staff.
  • Serve as a consultant on the Accessibility Committee: Review students’ petitions to fulfill OleCore GE requirements through substitution paths, making approval or denial decisions.
• Student Support and Development.
  • Coach students in self-advocacy skills and independence. 
  • Support students who are navigating the physical and psychosocial impacts of a disability with recurring check-ins and referring them to other resources when needed.
  • Equip students to seek appropriate supports for internships, research or work experiences.
  • Engage with prospective students through individual, group, and open house informational sessions.
• Campus Partnerships and Outreach.
  • Provide direction in disability law and provision of accommodations to St. Olaf faculty and staff through workshops and departmental meetings.
  • Evaluate and streamline processes for consistent implementation with campus centers/organizations/departments for accommodations which extend to events such as music performances, study abroad, dining safety, parking, and student orientation activities.
  • Engage campus organizations within and outside the Division for Community and Belonging to promote disability awareness, Universal Design, and opportunities for students, staff, and faculty with disabilities.
  • Develop and deliver trainings for campus partners and organizations (Residence Life student staff, SOAR leaders, SSSD, campus leadership team).
• General Office Responsibilities/Professional Development.
  • Remain current with higher education issues and trends related to disability and accessibility.
  • Regularly update the Director of Disability and Access on concerns.
  • Complete and meet deadlines for required training and performance management cycle.
  • Support, respect, and commit to embracing diverse backgrounds, values, and points of view to build a strong and inclusive community.
  • Collaborate with appropriate colleagues to recruit, hire, train, and supervise student workers required for direct assistance to students with disabilities. 
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervision Received and Exercised:

• Reports to the Director of Disability, Access and Technology Services.
• This position does not supervise staff or student workers.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's Degree.
• Experience: 2+ years of relevant professional work experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Education: Master's Degree in a relevant field.
• Experience: 3+ years of relevant professional experience; experience in providing accommodations to students with disabilities and collaborating with faculty; implementing computing support in assistive technology and collaborating with faculty to support Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and accessible instructional design.

Prerequisites:

• Employment in this position is conditioned upon successful completion of a background check which may include: criminal background checks, reference checks, verification of work history, verification of any required academic credentials, licenses, and/or certifications, a motor vehicle check, verification of DOT certification, a credit check, employment eligibility verification, and/or a pre-employment physical. Whether a background check is deemed successfully completed will be at the sole discretion of St. Olaf College.  Please note, St. Olaf College reserves the right to conduct periodic background checks at its sole discretion.

Disclaimer: 

• This position may require you to report early, stay late or work different shifts depending on staffing levels. It may also require you to perform all essential job functions whenever needed and during campus emergencies when necessary.
• This job description is for general information purposes.  It is not intended to list all duties and responsibilities of the position.  This job description is subject to change at any time by St. Olaf College, with or without prior notice.
• Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the hire is complete. We accept only online applications.

Join Our Community - Work at St. Olaf!

Founded in 1874, St. Olaf College is a residential, coeducational liberal arts college with approximately 3,000 students and 800 faculty and staff. The college is located on a picturesque 300-acre campus in Northfield, Minnesota, a vibrant, historic river town of 20,000 located 45 minutes south of culturally rich and diverse Minneapolis and St. Paul. 

The college offers an academically rigorous, nationally ranked liberal arts education that fosters the development of the whole person in mind, body, and spirit and emphasizes learning in an inclusive and globally engaged community. We encourage applications from candidates committed to multicultural understanding and the enrichment of our diverse community.

The college offers a comprehensive benefits package, including a 9% retirement match, contributions to eligible employees' health savings accounts, a significant tuition discount (up to a 90% reduction) at ACM, GLCA, and ELCA colleges and universities for employees' children, and generous paid time off. For a full review of the college's benefits, please see the summary of our benefits here: https://wp.stolaf.edu/hr/benefits/

To provide a safe and secure educational environment, St. Olaf College verifies the accuracy of all credentials presented by applicants and conducts a criminal background check on every new hire.

A summary of the Flexible Work Policy for staff: https://wp.stolaf.edu/hr/flexible-work-policy/

A link to our Community and Belonging page: https://wp.stolaf.edu/equity-inclusion/

A virtual campus tour: https://www.stolaf.edu/multimedia/play/?p=483

An overview of Northfield: https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/visit/northfield/

An overview of the Twin Cities: https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/visit/twincities/

For Staff Application Assistance:

hrstaff@stolaf.edu

507-786-3068

For Faculty Application Assistance:
facultysearch@stolaf.edu
507-786-3356

Nondiscrimination Policy

St. Olaf College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, creed, national origin, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, marital status, veteran status, or status with regard to public assistance.  St. Olaf College prohibits discrimination and harassment based upon these and any other legally protected status in any education program or activity that it operates, including in admissions and employment. 

Inquiries about this nondiscrimination policy may be referred to St. Olaf College's Director of Equal Opportunity, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both. St. Olaf's Director of Equal Opportunity (who serves as the College's Title IX, Title VI, and Section 504 Coordinator) is Pamela McDowell, Tomson Hall, mcdowell@stolaf.edu, (507) 786-3465.