Access and Learning Accommodations Advisor

tstc; Texas; On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Texas State Technical College seeks an Access & Learning Accommodations (ALA) Advisor to support students with disabilities in accessing campus life and accommodations. The role is part of Enrollment Management and focuses on intake, documentation, and coordinating with instructors and the Testing Center to ensure appropriate accommodations, including alternate formats and assistive technology.

The Advisor will engage with students and faculty, maintain confidential case notes, and promote

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education, special education, counseling, social work or related field.

Responsibilities

• Engages in communication with students.
• Educates students on the process for acquiring accommodations.
• Performs intakes with students who self-report disabilities.
• Collects supporting documentation, updates case notes, and tracks information through the data management system.
• Consults with the ALA Consultant to review case materials and plan accommodations.
• Prepares and sends accommodation letters to the student and the instructors.
• Serves as first contact for instructors who have questions or concerns about the accommodations.
• Escalates problems with accommodations to the ALA Consultant and/or the Statewide Lead.
• Performs routine check-ins with students on caseload to ensure accommodations are being provided and that the accommodations are appropriate and effective for the student.
• Coordinates with the Testing Center to ensure testing accommodations for eligible students with disabilities.
• Coordinates alternatively formatted materials and assistive technology for eligible students.
• Fully participates in a Culture of Caring through the referral of students to other college resources, follow-up, and support.
• Responds in a timely manner to all student inquiries received via email, text, and phone systems.
• Follows the ALA Interactive Communication Cycle.
• Consults with ALA Consultant to review cases and determine accommodations.
• Collaborates with faculty and staff in academic and administrative departments across campus to implement accommodations and promote universal design principles.
• Communicates with all parties in a professional, respectful, clear, and concise manner.
• Promptly documents all conversations and makes case notes in the designated areas of the data management system.
• Maintains confidentiality of all student information except when another TSTC colleague has an 'educational need to know.'
• Demonstrates a general understanding of college policies, procedures, requirements, and effectively communicates them to students.
• Offers informative workshops/presentations to faculty, staff, and students to increase knowledge and awareness of equal access to programs, services, and activities at TSTC.
• Collaborates and participates in Retention Services planning and programming, hosts workshops, and fosters positive relationships with students, faculty, staff, and administration.
• Participates in campus events including NSO, Commencement, Registration Rallies, Move-In, etc.
• Advocates for equal access and inclusion for those with disabilities.

Education

Bachelor's degree in education, special education, counseling, social work or related field

Job description

Job Description

Texas State Technical College is tasked with contributing to the educational and economic development of the State of Texas through providing advanced technical programs. The Access & Learning Accommodations (ALA) Advisor position is crucial in facilitating the implementation of academic accommodations, services, and access to campus life for students with disabilities in order to assist students in achieving their personal and professional goals. As an Enrollment Management team member, this position pledges to actively engage in a Culture of Caring, striving to respond systematically to student needs and remove barriers that may prevent students from participating in programs and activities at TSTC with equal access and with equivalent ease of use. The effectiveness of this position will be determined through lead measures and goals focused on student success which contribute to goals for the Enrollment Management division and college as a whole. This position reports to the Statewide Lead of ALA and is responsible for upholding the policies and practices consistent with the College mission and values of excellence, accountability, service and integrity.

Essential Functions

Employee will demonstrate TSTC Core values of Excellence, Accountability, Service and Integrity with internal and external stakeholders, customers, students and members of the community.

The Advisor is the front-line staff person to assist students with disabilities through the process of acquiring accommodations. Types of duties include but are not limited to:

• Engages in communication with students.
• Educates students on the process for acquiring accommodations.
• Performs intakes with students who self-report disabilities.
• Collects supporting documentation, updates case notes, and tracks information through the data management system.
• Consults with the ALA Consultant to review case materials and plan accommodations.
• Prepares and sends accommodation letters to the student and the instructors.
• Serves as first contact for instructors who have questions or concerns about the accommodations.
• Escalates problems with accommodations to the ALA Consultant and/or the Statewide Lead.
• Performs routine check-ins with students on caseload to ensure accommodations are being provided and that the accommodations are appropriate and effective for the student.
• Coordinates with the Testing Center to ensure testing accommodations for eligible students with disabilities.
• Coordinates alternatively formatted materials and assistive technology for eligible students.
• Fully participates in a Culture of Caring through the referral of students to other college resources, follow-up, and support.

The Advisor will foster effective communication. Types of duties include but are not limited to:

• Responds in a timely manner to all student inquiries received via email, text, and phone systems.
• Follows the ALA Interactive Communication Cycle.
• Consults with ALA Consultant to review cases and determine accommodations.
• Collaborates with faculty and staff in academic and administrative departments across campus to implement accommodations and promote universal design principles.
• Communicates with all parties in a professional, respectful, clear, and concise manner.
• Promptly documents all conversations and makes case notes in the designated areas of the data management system.
• Maintains confidentiality of all student information except when another TSTC colleague has an "educational need to know."
• Demonstrates a general understanding of college policies, procedures, requirements, and effectively communicates them to students.

The Advisor will advocate for and promote a positive campus environment for those with disabilities. Types of duties include but are not limited to:

• Offers informative workshops/presentations to faculty, staff, and students to increase knowledge and awareness of equal access to programs, services, and activities at TSTC.
• Collaborates and participates in Retention Services planning and programming, hosts workshops, and fosters positive relationships with students, faculty, staff, and administration.
• Participates in campus events including New Student Orientation (NSO), Commencement, Registration Rallies, Move-In, etc.
• Advocates for opportunities that provide equal access and inclusion for those with disabilities.

Education/Experience/Knowledge/Skills

Bachelor's degree in education, special education, counseling, social work or any related field which trains for critical inquiry, communication, and/or assessment required. Three years of experience may substi