Pacific University achieves excellence and distinction by investing in exceptional people to think, care, create, and pursue justice in our world. We embrace discovery in a close nurturing environment that leads to genuine transformation. Our community is diverse, sustainable, and dedicated to discovery and excellence in teaching, scholarship and practice.

At Pacific University we thrive in an extraordinary environment, surrounded by the beauty of the great Pacific Northwest, with campus locations in Forest Grove, Hillsboro, Eugene, and Woodburn. We humbly acknowledge and thank the original caretakers of the lands on which we live, work, teach, acquire and share knowledge.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION:

The Director of the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations (OAA) serves as the university official responsible for coordinating legally mandated accommodations and services for Pacific University students as required by federal and state law. The Director is responsible for the operations of the OAA office and for oversight of OAA staff and student workers.

Salary range: $60,000 - 75,000, depending on experience. Candidates are encouraged to apply by the priority deadline of May 1st, but position will remain open until filled.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides leadership and administration of all functions of the OAA operation.
• Serves as the primary interpreter of compliance with federal and state laws related to accommodating students with disabilities, including ADA, Section 504, and staying knowledgeable on their implementing regulations, court precedent, and U.S. Department of Education guidance and enforcement action.
• Engages in policy and procedure development and regular revision to maintain compliance with law, and optimize student success, university resources, and application of best practices, including adoption of universal design strategies where appropriate.
• Publishes up-to-date office procedures, i.e., OAA Handbook, for students, faculty, and staff using University website or other digital means.
• Exercises precise judgment to collaborate or consult with University legal counsel in complicated matters or significant alterations in policy or procedure.
• Provides direction, guidance, and training to faculty, staff, and students regarding the application of policy and procedures and inclusion of students with disabilities.
• Intervenes between faculty and students when differences in understanding of policy or procedure, or novel circumstances of application occur. Employs listening, facilitation or conflict resolution skills, and sound explanations of the law to encourage enthusiastic compliance.
• Administrates OAA enterprise and portal platform (Symplicity Accommodate), including: setting privileges for other administrative users, serving as subject matter expert on system use for University Information Services, maintaining alignment between software settings (forms, notification templates, workflow options) and office practices.
• Manages all third party contracts within OAA, including for enterprise software, alternative format providers, ASL interpreters, other auxiliary aids for learning.
• Manages OAA budget.
• Operates within established Student Affairs protocols, including assessing and referring students for behavioral or attrition risk.
• Engages in ongoing development of OAA services and resources for students, faculty, and staff, including adaptive technologies, alternative formatting clearinghouses and services, auxiliary aids, and accessibility features of University-wide technologies.
• Collaborates interactively with other University offices to facilitate student referrals, accommodations, and accessibility of all services for students with disabilities, e.g. academic advising, tutoring, housing, new student orientation, wellness, co-curriculars.
• Maintains an assessment plan for OAA, including developing student outcome targets, executing assessment strategies, reporting results, and revising plans.
• Provides regular reporting on OAA activities as requested and required.
• Supervises, trains and supports the Assistant Director of OAA.
• Seeks ongoing professional development for all OAA staff with regards to up-to-date legal considerations of accommodating students with disabilities, as well as understanding common disabling conditions, and best practices for equity and universal design in higher education, including participation in relevant professional associations and networks.
• Problem solves in a high pressure environment; remains calm in difficult situations.
• This position is an in-person position (not remote), primarily located on the Forest Grove campus with occasional work and meetings on the Hillsboro campus.

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS:

• Serve on University and Divisional committees, task forces, and hiring committees, as needed.
• Meet with students to discuss their disabilities, determine eligibility for accommodations, and refer, as appropriate, to specialists for assessment and testing.
• Contribute to strategic planning, training of staff, and professional development of the Division of Student Affairs.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Actively seek out and identify innovative ways to improve the student experience and student success.
• Listen for, respond empathetically, and initiate referral and documentation for follow-up on occasions when students present with high distress or with other concerns that impede their success as students.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in social work, education, vocational rehabilitation, disability studies or closely related field.
• 3-5 years of prior work experience in educational administration, case management or related experience.
• Prior experience coordinating compliance with federal laws regarding postsecondary education and accommodations for students disabilities including ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
• Prior experience working with confidential and sensitive material.
• Experience with or technological competence for supervising services that rely heavily on multiple software programs and platforms.

PREFERRED CRITERIA:

• 1-3 years of experience working in a higher education setting.
• Familiarity with determining and providing student accommodations within a higher education setting.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES & BEHAVIORS:

• Demonstrated commitment to and experience in working effectively with marginalized communities including those with disabilities.
• Knowledge of laws and regulations regarding educational accommodations including ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive information with integrity and honesty.
• Ability to prioritize and perform multiple projects, track data, meet timelines, respond to others in a timely manner.
• Ability to work both independently and as a collaborative member of the OAA and Student Affairs teams.
• Evidence of skill in being able to build and sustain collaborative relationships with interdisciplinary colleagues and students of diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to write in a clear and concise manner with few spelling or grammar errors.
• Ability to solve problems and be decisive.
• Ability to respond to parent/family concerns and inquiries with accuracy and in an appropriate and timely fashion.
• Ability to de-escalate and appropriately refer parent concerns/complaints.
• Ability to discern and explain to others, through collaboration with faculty experts, essential features and outcomes of pedagogy, experiential learning, or academic courses of study, outside of one’s academic training.
• Ability to discern and explain to others, through communication with medical, mental health, and other healthcare professionals, functional limitations of medical conditions that are outside of one’s area of expertise.
• Maintains appearance and personal conduct appropriate to a professional office setting.

JOB SCOPE:

• Performs duties independently with minimal supervision, operating from specific and definite directions and instructions.
• Decisions are made within legal and University and Student Affairs policy constraints, but often require independent decision-making.
• Oversight of special projects on occasion in collaboration with colleagues within Student Affairs and other on-campus colleagues.
• Complies with laws, rules, and ethical standards applicable to duties.

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITY:

• Supervises the Assistant Director for the OAA and has ultimate responsibility for the OAA Test Proctor and student employees.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Typical office environment.
• Ability to travel between campuses as necessary.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES:

__Climbing __Balancing __Stooping __Kneeling __Crouching __Crawling __Reaching __Standing __Walking __Pushing __Pulling __Lifting __Fingering __Grasping __Feeling _X_Talking _X_Hearing __Repetitive motion

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

_X_Sedentary work __Light work __Medium work __Heavy work __Very Heavy work _X_Visual acuity

At Pacific University we are dedicated to providing experiences that are authentic, holistic, equity minded, and responsive. We continue to develop our equity practices with a particular focus on racial equity.

For qualifying employees, our benefits include generous paid time off for vacation, holidays (including winter break) and sick leave. We offer medical coverage with alternative care (in-network services covered at 100% after payroll deduction), comprehensive dental, vision plans, 9% contribution to retirement after one year of service with no match required, free mental health appointments, and tuition remission for employees and their dependents. We cover employer paid life, short term disability, and long term disability insurance. On campus benefits include free access to our sports facility and library, with discounts on campus food, bookstore purchases, clinic services, and gear rentals through our outdoor program (kayaks, snow shoes, bikes and more).

Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Studies have shown that candidates that are female and/or BIPOC are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet all of the qualifications they find in the job description. We are seeking the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be a person who comes from a less traditional background. We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every minimum qualification described or are unsure if your experience could be considered related experience.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

It is the policy of Pacific University not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, disability, sex or gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, military, veteran or Vietnam Era status, or any other protected classification recognized by applicable law, in admission, access to, or treatment in employment, educational programs or activities as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, or any other applicable state or federal law, or city ordinance. Questions or complaints may be directed to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, 2043 College Way, Forest Grove, OR 97116, provost@pacificu.edu.

Application materials will be screened and interview candidates will be selected and notified by telephone. The hiring process normally consists of several interviews and can last several weeks depending on the position. All applicants will be notified once the position is filled. Employment is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.