Accommodations Coordinator

Student Disability Services at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, invites applications and nominations for the position of Accommodations Coordinator. This is an exempt, 12-month, full-time, non-tenure track staff position.

The mission of Student Disability Services (SDS) is to partner with the campus community in creating equitable access to eligible students while promoting disability-inclusive diversity. Staff is comprised of 22 professional and administrative employees and two liaisons to satellite campuses.

The Position: Under the general guidance of the Assistant Director in Student Disability Services, this position engages students with disabilities in an interactive process to develop accommodation plans, provides support for a caseload of students, refers students to appropriate campus resources, and provides education and training to campus and community partners.

Responsibilities:

Accommodation Provision:

• Communicate with prospective students and their families about the process for registering with Student Disability Services (SDS)
• Create an environment that makes students feel comfortable with requesting accommodations
• Assess student accommodation requests; Engage students in an interactive process to develop accommodation plans
• Determine appropriate accommodations through review of documentation from medical, psychological, and educational professionals and the utilization of professional judgment
• Provide students with information about additional campus services; Document interactions with students in database management system; Collaborate with all functional areas of Student Disability Services (SDS) as well as University departments to assist with the provision of accommodations

Assessment and Training:

• Collect semester and annual data for department reports
• Conduct assessment of functional area and propose an implementation plan for improved and enhanced service delivery
• Develop and present training and educational programs to instructors, students, staff, and community groups on a variety of disability-related topics
• Serve as a resource to instructors, staff, and students on disability issues
• Assist with management of Peer Mentor Program
• Other duties as assigned.

Compliance:

• Stay abreast of Office for Civil Rights case files and review current practices for effectiveness of accommodations and compliance
• Contribute to internal policies and procedures based on best practices.

Supervision:

• Oversee disability services functions carried out by satellite campus coordinators
• Oversee and coordinate tasks assigned to graduate intern(s).

The University and Region: UTK is the state’s flagship, land-grant university. We are a Research 1 university, housing 11 colleges and 900+ programs of study. With an enrollment of 30,000 students, our undergraduate and graduate programs are repeatedly ranked among top national programs. The city of Knoxville is a hidden gem with a beautiful and walkable downtown, a diverse music scene, active neighborhoods, unique restaurants, and a robust offering of outdoor and cultural activities. UTK is located within easy driving distance to Asheville, Nashville, Atlanta, and the Great Smoky Mountains; and a day’s drive to Memphis, Chicago and Washington D.C. Knoxville and the surrounding counties have a statistical area population of over 850,000 people. The Knoxville region houses many leading corporations, including Bush Brothers & Company, Discovery Inc., Tennessee Valley Authority, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

What We Require:

Education: Master’s Degree

Experience: Two years of professional experience working with students with disabilities or a Bachelor’s Degree and at least six years of experience working with students with disabilities. Demonstrated experience evaluating disability documentation.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrated experience evaluating disability documentation. Ability to evaluate medical/psychological/educational documentation to identify/diagnoses functional limitations and needed accommodations
• Working knowledge of Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Fair Housing Act
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in compliance with FERPA; Ability to advocate for equitable educational opportunities
• Ability to prioritize competing demands; Ability to communicate clearly
• Ability to analyze complex, sensitive, and difficult situations and make effective decisions
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with diverse individuals
• Microsoft Office skills including Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

What We Prefer:

Education: Master’s Degree

Experience: Three years of professional experience working with students with disabilities in a higher education setting; Previous supervisory experience

Salary: The salary for this position is commensurate with experience and other qualifications and is accompanied by a standard university benefits package. Job Classification MR07

Application Process: A review of all applications will begin immediately and will continue until position is filled. It is anticipated that the successful candidate will begin this role on November 28, 2022. For full consideration, applicants must electronically submit a cover letter, a resume, and the names, email addresses and phone numbers of three professional references. All materials for the position should be submitted through the University of Tennessee Human Resources application system.

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admissions without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.

Eligibility and other terms and conditions of employment benefits at The University of Tennessee are governed by laws and regulations of the State of Tennessee, and this non-discrimination statement is intended to be consistent with those laws and regulations.

In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, The University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the University.

Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), ADA (disability), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Equity and Diversity (OED), 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, telephone (865) 974-2498. Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the Office of Equity and Diversity.