Housing Access Coordinator

Department: AccessibleNU
Salary/Grade: EXS/6

About AccessibleNU: Using a social model of disability lens, AccessibleNU (ANU) is responsible for the academic accommodation determination and coordination process for students with disabilities. ANU aims to identify educational barriers, problem solve to create equitable learning environments, communicate referral options for disability evaluation and academic assistance, and establish best practices for disability inclusion. Northwestern University honors disability as one of the many forms of diversity on our campus and as such, we actively collaborate with faculty, staff, and students to achieve access goals. Learn more about AccessibleNU here: https://www.northwestern.edu/accessiblenu/

About Residential Services: Residential Services is responsible for the service delivery, operations and community building programs associated with the residence halls, and graduate apartments. Northwestern's Evanston campus is home to over 8,000 talented undergraduate students and 16,000 graduate students, more than 4,900 of whom live in Northwestern's graduate apartments, residence halls, and residential colleges. Residential Services focuses on the needs of residents and fosters the conditions for them to experience meaningful engagement, develop a sense of social belonging, help educate about and support well-being, develop agency in the residential experience, and champion an inclusive community. Learn more about Residential Services here: https://www.northwestern.edu/living/

About Student Affairs: By pursuing justice, equity, and belonging, Student Affairs cultivates student programs, services, and skills; disrupts barriers; and partners across Northwestern and neighboring communities to create an inclusive culture in which all students can thrive. Learn more about the Division of Student Affairs here: https://www.northwestern.edu/studentaffairs/about/strategic-plan/objectives.html

Job Summary: This position is responsible for administering, assessing, and determining housing disability accommodations at Northwestern University. The Housing Access Coordinator position has a dual report to the Associate Director of AccessibleNU and the Director of Operations and Services in Residential Services at the Evanston campus.

Primary work in ANU includes accommodation determination and coordination for housing and dining disability accommodation requests. On an as-needed basis and outside of peak periods within Residential Services (i.e. Returning Student Room Selection, new student housing assignments, etc.), this role contributes to the ANU team through classroom accommodation coordination (i.e. accommodation determination and intakes) and assists with front desk and testing services operations. Daily functions for Residential Services include coordination of requests for housing and dining exceptions, communicating with stakeholders, managing student information, and generating data to inform decision-making.

Reporting under the Division of Student Affairs, the position serves as a campus expert on student related matters regarding accommodations, equal access, and disability and makes compliance-based decisions on behalf of the University. This role provides ongoing leadership to offer services and programs which advance the educational mission of the University and Division of Student Affairs including developing, recommending, and implementing policies and procedures that highlight disability as a form of diversity. This position also ensures compliance with federal, state, and local disability regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act.

Pay: The salary range for the Housing Access Coordinator position is $60,000 to $62,700 annually, depending on experience, skills, and internal equity.

Principal Accountabilities:

Disability-Related Accommodation and Exemption Management 70%

• Evaluates requests for disability housing and dining accommodations and provides ongoing accommodation support for students.
• Participate in regular Case Review meetings with Accessible NU for high level requests.
• Interprets disability documentation provided by students including medical, educational, and/or psychological assessments. Conducts intake interviews with students to gather additional information to determine reasonable accommodations.
• Ensures accommodation determinations align with the Americans with Disabilities Act (as amended), Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, state and local disability regulations, the Fair Housing Act, relevant case law and legal guidance, and University policies and procedures.
• Create, maintain, and provide education on housing disability accommodation processes and policies. Serves as main point of contact for housing and dining accommodation requests.
• Generates creative and practical solutions to address current and emerging accommodation needs.
• Uses office database (AIM) to maintain student files including sending accommodation emails, maintaining confidential documentation, scheduling appointments, recording meetings and case notes, and documenting communications with students, guardians, and university personnel regarding the accommodation process.
• Engages with University personnel via the interactive process to assist with implementation of complex accommodations (e.g. residence hall modifications, emotional support and service animals, temporary injuries, housing reassignments, flexibility with attendance and deadlines, etc.)
• Provides leadership, prompt support, and facilitates conversations with students, guardians, and University personnel when accommodation questions and issues arise.

Non-Disability Accommodation and Exemption Management 15%

• Manage process for residency requirement/dining exception requests and collaborate with Residential Services to facilitate decision-making process with campus partners for requests not connected to disability related accommodations (e.g. family situations, financial circumstances, religious observances, etc.).
• Uses office database to maintain student files including sending emails, maintaining confidential documentation, scheduling appointments, recording meetings and case notes, and documenting communications with students, guardians, and university personnel regarding the exceptions process.
• Liaise between Residential Services and campus partners.
• Create, collect, and track data related to number and type of requests.
• Create annual report of all accommodation and exception requests.

Special Assignments 5%

• Participates in developing and implementing strategic planning goals, objectives, and assessments.
• On an as-needed basis and outside of peak periods within Residential Services, performs ANU back-up functions such as front desk duties and test proctoring/coordinating.
• Assists the ANU Associate Director of Evanston and the Residential Services Director of Operations and Services with overall unit functional areas.

University and Community Resource 5%

• Provides consultation services, information sessions to students and guardians, in-service trainings, workshops, events, orientations, and programming to University constituents, local and state communities with respect to definitions, perspectives, implications, applications of professional research, disability as diversity, state and federal laws, the transition to post-secondary education, etc.
• Develop and disseminate educational/informational materials and presentations for faculty, staff, students, and guardians to promote Residential Services and AccessibleNU.
• Participates in or leads AccessibleNU, Residential Services, or University based working groups, committees, events, or other division-wide activities.

Professional Development 5%

• Attends and presents at local conferences, workshops, training sessions, and/or professional organizational meetings.
• Stays abreast of current research in the field by reviewing publications, journals, technical information, etc.
• Summarizes and synthesizes new information to exchange with colleagues either in a written or an oral manner.
• Anticipates future needs and trends of post-secondary disability issues.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in higher education administration, rehabilitation counseling, social work, psychology, disability studies, or related field
• Minimum of one (1) year related experience in the post-secondary environment, working directly with students with various disabilities; similar experience with students outside the post-secondary setting and/or a combination of training and experience may be considered
• Knowledge of the ADAAA, FHA, Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and its application to accommodation determination
• Familiarity with the complexities of medical documentation and its alignment with accommodation determination, including the interpretation of test results such as the WAIS, Woodcock Johnson, and other diagnostics within the DSM-V.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with diverse populations across race, class, gender, sexuality, age, religion, ability, etc.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in higher education administration, rehabilitation counseling, social work, psychology, disability studies, or related field
• Prior work with undergraduate, graduate, professional, and online students with disabilities
• Proficiency with a range of assistive technologies and adaptive equipment and their application
• Prior Residential Services experience
• Proven conflict mediation skills
• Sensitivity to the changing needs of a diverse population

Minimum Competencies:

• Ability to problem solve, collaborate, and negotiate in various situations
• Highly developed facilitation skills to foster a safe space for students to share accommodation needs
• Highly developed communication skills to foster collaborative partnerships with faculty
• Ability to exercise independent judgement related to the impact of the disability, how it relates to classroom access, and the legal aspects involved
• Ability to work both independently and in team settings
• Proven skills in creating and building processes, procedures, and workflow

Preferred Competencies:

• Knowledge of learning styles and Universal Design for Learning

Working Conditions:

• Office share; availability for alternative work arrangements to be considered in conjunction with business needs and Student Affairs/Dean of Students policies and guidelines.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

#LI-GY1