PROFESSIONAL POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Title:Assistant Director

Division: Vice President Enrollment and Student Affairs

Department: Disability Services Center

Location: Primary location in Portland with occasional travel to Gorham and LAC campuses

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 40 hours per week, normal business hours are 8:00am-

4:30pm. Due to the nature of the position, work beyond regular hours (to include evenings and weekend) may be necessary to meet the requirements of the position. The employee shall establish regular office hours in consultation with the Director.

Reports to: Director, Disability Services Center

STATEMENT OF THE JOB:

The Assistant Director of the Disability Services center assists the Director in developing and implementing the campus policies and procedures for compliance withSection 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and its amendments. These regulations mandate equal access and reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. In addition to determining the legal obligations and scope of services provided by the office, the assistant director also provides direct services to eligible students. This involvesconducting strategic and supportive individual meetings with current and prospective students, informing and training faculty and staff, and coordinating accommodations and disability support resources within the University community. The assistant director will also routinely educate and promote an accessibility agenda with faculty, administration and students. This work is performed under minimal supervision due to extensive technical or specialized knowledge and/or experience.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Direct Service Provision:

  • Determine, through interview and review of records and assessments, student eligibility for accommodations.
  • Provideon-going case management, follow-up and support to students with disabilities.
  • Determine the need for initial and/or additional assessment information.
  • Consult with evaluators and clinicians regarding student eligibility.
  • Consult with secondary school special education and guidance personnel regarding student eligibility.
  • Coordinate with other UMS disability service coordinators to arrange accommodations for students enrolled across campuses.
  • Provide relevant and timely referral information, to students and other interested parties, for obtaining cognitive, neuropsychological, sensory, and medical assessments.
  • Provide referral to other USM student services offices.
  • Document, maintain and review hard copy and electronic case records.

Coordination Activities:

  • Coordinate service provision, including meeting with students referred by Admissions, Advising, Health Services, Counseling, and Faculty.
  • Assist faculty and all administrative offices in the recommendation and review of student accommodations.
  • Attend college fairs and other recruiting events to provide information about access to USM and higher education.
  • Represent the Disability Services Center as needed at student Orientation and other campus activities and functions providing educational sessions and consultation to parents, family members and incoming students.

Program Development and Management:

  • Assist the Director in providing leadership and support in the University’s commitment to persons with disabilities and diversity.
  • Assist with the review and revision of all policies, procedures and implementation strategies commensurate with modifications in federal or state legislation.
  • Assist with monitoring statistics and utilization information about students with disabilities at USM in order to develop programs, verify research needs, address concerns, and eliminate barriers to program and facilities access.
  • Maintain awareness of topical research/legislative/programmatic issues effecting the quality and provision of disability support at USM.
  • Assist in preparing reports and provide analysis denoting progress and trends affecting the Disability Services Center.
  • Assist the Director in reviewing housing accommodation requests, as well as reviewing and revising policies, procedures and implementation strategies commensurate with modifications in federal or state legislation.
  • Represent the Disability Services Center on committees as requests, appointed or elected. Serve on the System Disability Coordinators Group, (The Network).
  • Facilitate, in concert with the director, a plan to improve knowledge, skills and usage of computers and assistive technologies by student with disabilities for the purpose of enhancing academic success.

Training:

  • Assist the Director in providing training, educational experiences and disseminates information to faculty, staff and students regarding disability-related topics, presents to various classes as requested. Conducts workshops with members of the community.
  • Provide training on guidelines and accommodations for faculty and staff including all academic and administrative departments.

Other:

  • Oversee all office functions of the department in the Director’s absence.
  • Additional duties as reasonably assigned.

SPECIAL ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES*:

  • Direct responsibility for safety and security of employees, students, minors, and/or visitors or property.
  • Work on federally funded projects.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Supervise graduate assistant and may supervise employees during Director’s absence and student employees as required.

BUDGET RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assist the Director in reviewing program budget.

PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES RELATED TO JOB PERFORMANCE:

Participate in professional organizations and associations, conferences and workshops as appropriate.

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CONTACTS:

Internal: Works with Director of Equity and Compliance and University Legal Counsel, Academic Advising, Student Life, Human Resources, all levels of USM faculty, professional, and classified staff.

External:Outside agencies such as public school systems, medical professionals and clinicians, Vocational Rehabilitation, social service agencies, and other disability services professionals across the system and the state.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

  • Ability to work closely and effectively with people from diverse backgrounds, interests, and abilities.
  • Ability to exercise independent judgement.
  • Possession of strong organizational skills.
  • Ability to manage multiple expectations with attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion.
  • Effective interpersonal skills in a variety of environments and situations.
  • Ability to communicate with strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Ability to tolerate a fast-paced, sometimes high stress environment.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with students, faculty, staff and the public.
  • Ability to effectively collaboratewith other offices regarding complex student accommodations and general access-related questions/issues.
  • Extensive knowledge of types of disability.
  • Knowledge and familiarly with various type of assistive technology for persons with disabilities.
  • Ability to design and implement training and education workshop/activities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

  • Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Rehabilitation Sciences, Rehabilitation Counseling, Special Education, Social Work or related field.
  • Three years’ experience in the provision of services to students with disabilities within a post-secondary setting or closely related experience is required, five years preferred.
  • Demonstrated experience reviewing and interpreting confidential medical and psychological evaluations to determine eligibility and appropriate disability accommodations.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of federal legislation and regulations pertinent to individuals with disabilities.
  • Experience and knowledge of Assistive Technology (AT).
  • Supervisory experience.

*NOTE: All individuals who are recommended to fill and subsequently offered a position with special essential responsibilities as checked above, or other licensure or certification, shall have the following additional applicable background screening completed (in addition to regular and standard background screening) based on the responsibilities of the position: Credit history screening, and/or Sex offender registry screening, and/or Federal criminal history screening and/or License/certification verification.

Date Approved:April 2017

Job Family:18

Salary Band:4

Unit:UMPSA

CUPA code:325000

Employee:TBD

Position #:00023551