Access Coordinator - Student Disability Services - UTK

University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, seeks a qualified professional to engage students with disabilities, develop accommodation plans, support a caseload, refer students to campus resources, and provide education and training to campus and community partners.

You will document interactions in the campus database, collaborate with all SDS functional areas and university departments, and present training programs to instructors, staff, and students.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required or Bachelor’s + 3 years of relevant experience
• Ability to evaluate disability documentation and identify functional limitations
• Knowledge of ADA, Section 504, and Fair Housing Act
• Ability to maintain confidentiality per FERPA
• Strong communication and decision-making skills

Responsibilities

• Engage students with disabilities to develop accommodation plans
• Provide support for a caseload of students and refer to campus resources
• Document interactions in the database management system
• Collaborate with SDS and university departments to provide accommodations
• Develop and present training programs to instructors, students, staff, and community partners

Skills

Documentation evaluation

FERPA confidentiality

Disability advocacy

Communication

Microsoft Office

Education

Master’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Job Description

This position engages students with disabilities in an interactive process to develop accommodation plans, provide support for a caseload of students, refer students to appropriate campus resources, and provide education and training to campus and community partners.

Job Description

This position engages students with disabilities in an interactive process to develop accommodation plans, provide support for a caseload of students, refer students to appropriate campus resources, and provide 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

Training And Programming

• Develop and present training and educational programs to instructors, students, staff, and community groups on a variety of disability-related topics
• Serve as resource to instructors, staff, and students on disability issues
• Assist with the Peer Mentor Program and other support programs offered by SDS

Compliance And Assessment

• Collect semester and annual data for department reports
• Conduct assessment of functional area and propose implementation plan for improved and enhanced service delivery
• 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 and coordinate tasks assigned to graduate intern(s)

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree; Combination of a Bachelor's degree and 3 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities may substitute for Master’s
• Experience: One year of professional experience working with individuals with disabilities; Demonstrated experience evaluating disability documentation; two years as a graduate assistant is equal to one year of professional experience
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: 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.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience: Three years of professional experience working with students with disabilities in a higher education setting.

Work Location

• Location: Knoxville, TN
• Onsite

Compensation And Benefits

• UT market range: 08
• Anticipated hiring range: The anticipated starting salary for a candidate meeting the minimum requirements will be $47,000.
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

About The College/Department/Division

The Division of Student Life is comprised of an outstanding group of professionals who create student-centered opportunities that contribute to a transformative Volunteer Experience. These opportunities allow students to grow their skills and knowledge outside of the classroom. From health and wellness to service and engagement, we provide opportunities where students exemplify the Volunteer Spirit, inspiring others to learn, lead, and serve.

Our departments provide essential services that support student success and future growth, fostering engagement, leadership, and wellness while enhancing belonging. Together, they create transformative experiences that help students achieve both academic and personal goals.

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 24 professional and administrative employees and two liaisons to satellite campuses.

About Us

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.