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Job Summary:
The Executive Director for Academic Success and Accessibility serves as a
senior academic leader responsible for advancing an integrated, student-
centered model of academic support and accessibility services across Mercy.
Reporting to the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, the Executive
Director provides strategic leadership for accessibility services, tutoring,
learning support initiatives, early alert interventions, and student success
programs designed to improve retention, persistence, academic achievement, and
degree completion.
The Executive Director fosters a collaborative culture in which accessibility,
learning support, tutoring, metacognitive skill development, and academic
intervention strategies operate as interconnected components of a
comprehensive student success ecosystem. The position oversees the Director of
Accessibility and the Director of Tutoring/CAEI and works closely with
academic leadership, faculty, advising, enrollment management, and student
affairs partners to ensure equitable access to learning and academic success
opportunities for all students.
Leadership and Strategy
Develop, implement and ensure effectiveness of a comprehensive vision for
academic success and accessibility that aligns with institutional
strategic priorities.
Lead the integration of accessibility services, embedded tutoring,
academic coaching, early alert initiatives, and learning support services
into a coordinated student support model.
Serve as a key advisor to the Senior Vice Provost of Academic Affairs on
matters related to student success, academic support, accessibility, and
retention.
Ensure compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements as related to
accessibility matters
Foster a culture of collaboration among academic support units to promote
a seamless student experience.
Supervision and Administration
Directly supervise the Director of Accessibility and the Director of
Tutoring/CAEI and related staff within their departments.
Establish annual goals, performance metrics, and assessment plans for all
units within the division.
Oversee budgets, staffing plans, and resource allocation.
Promote professional development and cross-training opportunities for
staff, tutors and proctors.
Student Success Integration
Lead the development of institution-wide intervention strategies informed
by early alert systems, academic performance indicators, and student
support data.
Ensure staff and faculty training incorporates principles of
accessibility, metacognition, executive functioning, self-advocacy,
learning science, and student success in compliance with all policies,
procedures and regulatory guidelines.
Develop systems that facilitate coordinated referrals and support among
accessibility, tutoring, advising, and academic affairs units.
Partner with University colleagues in Enrollment Management, Student
Affairs, Academic Affairs and Institutional Research to understand and
expand opportunities for increased retention and success across programs.
Assessment and Continuous Improvement
Provide ongoing assessment of all functions within the units measuring
utilization, retention, persistence, academic performance, and graduation
outcomes.
Analyze student success data and provide recommendations to university
leadership.
Lead annual program reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.
Prepare reports for accreditation, strategic planning, and institutional
effectiveness initiatives.
Collaboration and Outreach
Partner with faculty and academic leaders to identify barriers and develop
evidence-based academic success interventions.
Collaborate with schools and departments to expand embedded academic
support models in high-impact and historically challenging courses.
Partner with the Office of Legal Counsel and Title IX and Equity
Compliance colleagues to support institutional compliance with all local,
state and federal regulations.
Promote Universal Design for Learning and inclusive educational practices.
Serve on University committees related to student success, retention,
accessibility, and academic quality.
Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
Master's degree required; doctorate preferred.
Minimum 5-7 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in
higher education or other academic setting.
Demonstrated leadership experience overseeing accessibility services,
academic support, student success, tutoring, or related student success
offices within a higher education or academic environment.
Expertise in using data to inform decisions and measure impact.
Proficiency in project management tools and techniques. Exceptional
organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Demonstrated
ability to manage multiple priorities and projects in a fast-paced
environment.
Extensive knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, accommodation processes,
accessibility standards, and emerging best practices in higher education
accessibility and student success.
Demonstrated experience interpreting and applying federal and state
regulations governing disability access and accommodations in
postsecondary education or other academic settings.
Experience developing, implementing, and assessing policies, procedures,
and programs designed to promote equitable access, student persistence,
academic achievement, and degree completion.
Demonstrated ability in supervising professional staff, managing complex
operations, and leading cross-functional initiatives involving academic
affairs, student affairs, faculty, and administrative stakeholders.
Preferred Qualifications
Doctorate in higher education, educational leadership, student affairs,
counseling, special education, or related field.
Experience with accreditation and institutional effectiveness processes.
