Casual Academic Strategist

About the Access andlusion Services Mount Royal University; Calgary; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Mount Royal University seeks an Academic Strategist dedicated to creating inclusive learning environments for students with disabilities. The role involves providing tailored support and developing strategies for academic success, ensuring students can navigate their educational pathways effectively. Ideal candidates will have a relevant degree and experience in educational support.

Qualifications

• 2-3 years of experience in a relevant position.
• Knowledge and experience of postsecondary environments.
• Ability to interpret psychoeducational assessments.

Responsibilities

• Provide scheduled meeting times to support students.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of best practices for enabling student success.
• Modify planned activities to address students' needs.

Skills

Experience Working With Students

Presentation Skills

Project / Program Management

Organizational Skills

Academia

Teaching

Writing Skills

Education

Bachelors Degree or Equivalent in Disability Studies, Education, Psychology, Social Work or a Related Field

Tools

Ellucian

LMS

Records Management

Job description

Mount Royal University is committed to access equity and inclusion. Students who identify as belonging to one of the protected categories as defined by the Alberta Human Rights Act (AHR Act) are entitled to receive reasonable academic accommodations up to the point of undue hardship.

Our department assists the University in creating an accessible learning environment that encourages full participation in academic courses for students who are eligible for academic accommodations under the provincial human rights legislation.

Reasonable accommodations are tailored to the individual flexible and are determined by considering the barriers within the unique environment of a postsecondary institution.

We encourage student development and educate Mount Royal University about becoming a more accessible equitable and inclusive learning environment.

About the Role

Academic Strategist support to students by identifying and developing noncontent based learning strategies to assist in reducing or eliminating disabilityrelated learning barriers. Provide basic skill building in some or all of the areas of metacognition and organization reading skills active learning writing test preparation memory selfadvocacy attention and concentration communication and critical thinking skills. The goal is to provide an equal opportunity learning environment for students.

Responsibilities

Responsibility 1 : Provide scheduled meeting times to work with students on strategies to support them in and outside the learning environment

Schedule meetings with students (1215 students / week) to gain an understanding of the learning challenges faced by each student and provide an opportunity for studentspecific strategies and evaluation

• Review students medical documentation noting specific learning needs and barriers related to their diagnosed disabilities
• Determine appropriate strategies to present to the student based on both their learning strengths and their barriers
• Provide an opportunity to meet with a student multiple times to promote trust and enhance understanding of the students unique learning needs and disabilityrelated challenges
• Modify the planned activities of a session to address the presenting concerns of the student on that day and work towards identifying the underlying concern
• Complete case notes and a summary of student progress to ensure a careful record of support received by the student for funding purposes possible changes to accommodations and potential audit or human rights challenges
• Liaise with Access Advisors and Assistive Technology Advisors in Access and Inclusion Services to coordinate services for students and create as accessible an environment for the student as possible
• Encourage and support student independence so that they can learn to apply strategies without the support of a Strategist in their daytoday lives
• Model strategies with students to ensure students have an understanding of how to apply strategies in or outside of the learning environment
• Be aware of the adaptive technology students use and have a basic understanding of how it can assist as a learning tool
• Be familiar with support services available on campus so that appropriate and timely referrals can be made for example when students are in crisis
• Participate in scheduled events to support students registered with Access and Inclusion Services

Responsibility 2 : Maintain uptodate knowledge on best practices for enabling student success

Ensure knowledge of postsecondary student development literature disability studies literature assistive technology medical terminology and possible impacts of diagnosed disabilities on learning strategies for student learning and success and techniques of delivering instruction to adult learners.

• Review relevant literature and apply information to support students
• Use AIS client management system to accurately manage case notes
• Participate in onboarding and professional development training
• Participate in monthly Academic Strategist team meetings
• Participate in collaborative meetings with other AIS staff

Qualifications

Bachelors Degree or Equivalent in Disability Studies Education Psychology Social Work or a related field

• 2 3 years of experience in a relevant position
• Knowledge and experience of postsecondary environments and / or adult learners in individual and group settings
• Ability to interpret psychoeducational assessments to effectively implement learning strategies for students with multiple disabilities and specific learning needs
• Ability to obtain factual and interpret information through interviews with students
• Knowledge of learning barriers resulting from disabilityrelated challenges and familiarity with available resources in Calgary
• Experience with adult learners
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to exercise discretion in the use of confidential information
• Problemsolving skills initiative and creativity
• Sensitivity to and knowledge of disabilities in general with an understanding of broad categories including learning disabilities sensory disabilities psychiatric diagnoses and / or medical conditions
• Ability to work in a fastpaced environment and prioritize multiple assignments with competing demands.
• Ability to establish and maintain productive and collegial relationships collaboration and communication with a variety of individuals (e.g. staff faculty students parents managers etc.)
• Maintain appropriate records by documenting communication with and regarding students.
• Knowledge of adaptive technology.
• Knowledge of the principles of Universal Design as they apply in a postsecondary educational institution.

Salary : $30.76 $34.62 per hour

Closing Date : May 18 2025

A cover letter and resume should be submitted in one .pdf document. Please title your .pdf document as follows : Last Name Requisition Number Document (ex. Smith 999999 ).

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadian citizens permanent residents and others currently eligible to work in Canada will be given Mount Royal graduates who are foreign nationals may be eligible to work on campus. Please refer to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website under PostGraduation Employment at

Key Skills

Experience Working With Students,Presentation Skills,Project / Program Management,Organizational skills,Ellucian,Records Management,Academic Advising,LMS,Teaching,Program Development,Public Speaking,Writing Skills