Accommodations Specialist

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INITIAL REVIEW DATE (IRD)

UC Santa Cruz jobs are posted until filled. All application materials submitted by 11:59 pm on the IRD will be routed to the hiring team for consideration. NOTE: Applicants who miss the IRD are still encouraged to apply; their materials will still be forwarded for consideration if requested by the hiring team. Application materials cannot be accepted outside of the jobs portal. Applications cannot be edited on an applicant's behalf. For more information about the IRD and the applicant review process, view this link.

The IRD for this job is: 01-09-2025

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

The UC Santa Cruz Division of Student Affairs and Success (DSAS), led by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Success, consists of nearly 250 team members spanning 3 major units and 21 departments. The division provides campus-wide coordination and leadership for student success programs, activities, and initiatives. DSAS also does our work through a range of resource centers dedicated to providing direct student support. The division's work is grounded in educational equity, institutional responsibility, and an unfettered commitment to supporting the whole student. DSAS aspires to ensure every student feels welcome, supported, and a sense of belonging during their time on campus. The division's efforts are informed by robust and dynamic relationships with campus leadership, faculty, students, and staff from across the campus, reflecting the broad campus commitment to ensuring student success. Beyond UC Santa Cruz, the team is involved in numerous professional organizations and highly engaged in the local community.

The Student Success and Equity (SSE) portfolio of departments is a branch of DSAS focused on academic support services, advising/counseling, student life/co-curricular programming, student identity development and retention/student success initiatives. Student Success and Equity provides services to the campus community with over 17,000 undergraduate and graduate students and has over 64 career employees and 475 student staff employees operating in 8 facilities/locations. The Student Success and Equity area includes a wide array of multi-disciplinary academic and non-academic units including: Disability Resource Center (DRC), Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP), Learning Support Services, Services for Transfer and Re-entry Students (STARS), Renaissance Scholars Program (including Foster Youth), Veteran Resource Center, African American Resource and Cultural Center (AARCC), American Indian Resource Center (AIRC), Asian American/Pacific Islander Resource Center (AA/PIRC), Chicano/Latino Resource Center (El Centro), Women's Center (WC), the Lionel Cantu Queer Center (LGBTQ+), Undocumented Student Services (USS), the UCSC Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives (HSI), African Black and Caribbean Student Success, Career Success, and campus committees/programs, and the Administrative and Business team for the unit.

The Student Success and Equity area includes all of the units and over 125 state, federal, student service fees and gift fund sources and an annual operating budget of nearly $18 million dollars.

The Disability Resource Center (DRC) leads UC Santa Cruz in providing educational equity and a welcoming and accessible environment for students with disabilities. The DRC identifies legally mandated accommodations that address educational/environmental barriers and the impact of a student's disability(s). The DRC collaborates with campus stakeholders and students to remove or mitigate barriers to access and inclusion. The DRC advocates for the inclusion of disability in diversity initiatives that foster educational access for all. The DRC team stewards the process to ensure the University is in compliance with State, Federal, local laws and UC policies.

More information can be found at: https://drc.ucsc.edu/

JOB SUMMARY

Under the general supervision of the Assistant Director for Accommodations, the Accommodations Specialist is responsible for developing and directing a wide range of academic accommodations and support services to college students with varying types of disabilities to facilitate equal access and promote student success/retention/graduation at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The Accommodations Specialist will consult with the supervisor or other Senior Accommodation Specialists regarding complex student issues, faculty concerns, or decisions that can impact University compliance and liability under federal and state disability law and regulations. Responsibilities also include: student disability advising; liaison, advocacy, educating and training students and other members of the campus community regarding disability-related issues and how to create a welcoming environment and activities to facilitate equal access. The incumbent may also supervise and train student employees and interns.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary: $75,000 - $80,300 / Annually. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility: Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Employee Classification: Career appointment

Job End Date: None

Work Location: UC Santa Cruz Main Campus

Union Representation: Non-Represented

Job Code Classification: 004556 (STDT DISABILITY SPEC 3)

Travel: Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

60% - Direct Services to Students with Disabilities/Case Management

• Conduct student interviews with new or prospective Disability Resource Center (DRC); determine appropriate level of service (provisional, temporary, permanent), and make appropriate recommendations/authorizations for support services and ADA academic accommodations.
• Utilize knowledge of complex federal and state legislation (ADA, FHA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act) to interpret disability documentation from medical service providers in order to identify eligible students with disabilities.
• Provide disability management advising; authorize disability related academic accommodations and coordinate support services to a full caseload of students with disabilities.
• Provide back-up advising for fellow DRC Accommodations Specialist in their absence.
• Participate in DRC Accommodations Specialist team regarding emerging legal and technological information, discussion of difficult cases and challenging requests for academic accommodations.
• Conduct appropriate and accurate data entry for service(s) provided.

30% - Faculty/Staff/Student/Community Liaison

• Ensure that authorized and/or recommended academic support services for assigned students are delivered as mandated by federal and state legislation.
• Consult with faculty and academic department staff to ensure ADA accommodations are provided appropriately.
• Represent DRC unit and/or advocate for population of students with disabilities in committees and other campus meetings.
• Provide workshops/education/training regarding students with disabilities and the services of the DRC for a wide range of campus and community units.
• Conduct outreach activities for prospective students/family members, on campus and in the community.
• Develop appropriate printed, electronic, and audio-visual supporting materials for the above educational/training and outreach activities.
• Identify and direct families and students to appropriate referral resources, as needed.

10% - Special Projects and Other Duties

• Organize meetings with other campus partners and/or departments regarding updated information on policies/procedures.
• Assist with ADA/504 compliance research, and make recommendations related to service delivery that is consistent with state and federal guidelines as it applies to higher education.
• Develop and direct special projects (e.g., creates proposals to seek both intramural and extramural funds), as assigned.
• Perform other duties, as assigned, as needed to support the DRC's Mission and Goals.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Advanced degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Experience coordinating services for adult students with disabilities, with an emphasis in a post-secondary environment, or equivalent skills such as those obtained through related college courses or professional training programs, including psychology, sociology, and education.
• Knowledge and experience in analyzing complex situations and identifying solutions for problems, with the ability to see patterns and trends in the field of post-secondary services; skills and experience in developing and administering programs designed to meet the diverse needs of students and in making recommendations for improvement, and devise new or improve existing procedures and work methods.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion in handling confidential materials and matters, and determine when to escalate matters to appropriate resources. Ability to apply good judgement in resource management.
• Excellent oral communications skills to lead presentations and interact cooperatively and effectively with students, parents, staff, and faculty at all levels of the organization.
• Excellent writing skills, including the demonstrated ability to produce professional correspondence, proposals and reports, using Word processing or other computer applications, and related technology.
• Skills in working effectively as a team member and with staff in a mutually supportive environment; excellent listening skills and the ability to convey information clearly and maintain objectively.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to remain calm and professional in stressful situations; including the demonstrated ability to interact professionally, share and gather information, and respond appropriately to student, staff and faculty needs.
• Strong organizational skills, including demonstrated ability to keep accurate records and appropriately maintain the confidentiality of sensitive records.
• Experience working with and serving diverse populations.
• Experience with case management in a high school, community college, 4-year university, mental health organization, etc. or relevant experience.
• Experience working and interacting with adults with disabilities.
• Knowledge, and ability to keep apprised of current industry trends and changes as it relates to post-secondary academic disability services.
  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's Degree in Rehab Counseling, Student Affairs in Higher Ed, Disabilities Studies.
• At least 1-year experience in higher education in any capacity.
• Experience with mental health services.
• Knowledge and skills in universal design / inclusive pedagogy.
• Ability to interpret medical and diagnostic reports, summarize reports written by others, and use them to determine reasonable individual accommodations.
• Bilingual in Spanish/ English, or ASL/English.
• Experience supervising student staff and/or interns.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Ability to work long periods of time at a computer with or without accommodation.
• The selected candidate will be required to work primarily on campus, with periods of remote work possible based on operational needs. If a hybrid work schedule is confirmed, the selected candidate must be able to work successfully from a home/remote office and be able to fulfill the requirements of the UCSC telecommuting agreement.
• Ability to work a variable schedule.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.
• Per the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), this position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA and will be required to sign a Statement Acknowledging Requirement to Report Child Abuse prior to commencing employment. CANRA Penal Codes, and related definitions, requirements, and responsibilities may be obtained here.

MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

a. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace
  

SAFETY STATEMENT

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

EEO/AA

The University of California is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.

For the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20

For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination