Director of Academic Resources Whitman College, WA Job: Department: Supervisor: Position Type: FLSA: Director of Academic Resources Academic Resource Center Associate Dean of Students Exempt The Director is responsible for managing day-to-day operations of the Academic Resource Center with the responsibility of supporting the academic mission of Whitman College by providing academic advising, overseeing peer advising and tutor programs, and offering support to help students, including students with disabilities, become more effective learners regardless of the challenges they bring. The Director of Academic Resources will have five primary areas of Position Purpose: responsibility: (1) Provide outreach and academic support services to all students (2) Provide support at all levels to students with disabilities (3) Develop content area tutoring and peer-led programs to promote the academic success of students in courses across the curriculum (4) Work individually with students to facilitate academic skill building (5) Work with the Associate Dean of Students on advising, retention, and conduct related programs, including the investigation of Title IX cases when appropriate • Under the supervision of the Associate Dean of Students oversee all tutoring, peer learning programs, academic support, and support for students with disabilities in the Academic Resource Center. —Work with Academic Resource Center Program Coordinator to define learning outcomes and establish common goals and expectations for the Academic Resource Center’s programming and staff. —Supervise the professional support staff within the Academic Resource Center Principal —Assist in the implementation of programmatic and administrative Accountabilities: policies and procedures —Assist in the preparation and maintenance of the department budget and other program reports/proposals —Conduct regular evaluation of all programs and services provided by the Academic Resource Center including disability support and pre-major advising • Create new and expand existing academic support programs to benefit all students, particularly those students who are the first in their family to attend college or whose first language is not English or who present as students with disabilities. • Serve as an advocate for, students with disabilities; identify appropriate accommodations as indicated by approved documentation; consult with faculty and staff —Evaluate and interpret disability documentation for students seeking accommodations —Determine accommodations and auxiliary aids appropriate to specific disability and consistent with disability law, standards of practice, and college policy. —Serve as the liaison between students with disabilities and their faculty o Provide consultation services and training to faculty and staff on disability related issues o Oversee the provision of assistive technology and training in the use of assistive technology; ensures that appropriate alternative formats for printed materials are available. o Ensure compliance with the requirements of the ADA and Section 504 by monitoring successful implementation of individualized accommodations; keep up to date with any new legal requirements o Ensure students with disabilities are able to access their education on all levels • Assist the Associate Dean of Students in coordinating the college’s advising, academic support and academic early warning intervention programs. o Provide study skills guidance to individuals on topics such as time management, reading textbooks, writing papers, and taking lecture notes o Identify, track, and provide intervention for at risk students o Meet with students who receive academic deficiency reports at midsemester o Create new and expand existing resources and workshops designed to assist and counsel disadvantaged and high-risk students o Oversee the recruitment and training of peer tutors and the assignment of tutors to students who need one-on-one tutoring o Help students create class schedules and a four-year course plans and serve as a pre-major academic adviser to first and second-year students • Assist the Associate Dean of Students in coordinating the college’s premajor advising program o Develop, organize, and support a comprehensive training program for pre-major advisers o Implement ongoing assessment of pre-major advising with a view to continually improving its effectiveness and enhance the students’ experiences and satisfaction • Oversee the Student Academic Advising Program o Supervise sixteen Student Academic Advisers (SAs) and one student intern. o Coordinate the selection of sixteen SAs in March. Responsibilities include overseeing the selection process, organizing group interviews, interviewing candidates, and scheduling final selection meetings. o Schedule three SA orientation meetings in the spring, organize a sevenday training week in August, and produce an SA training manual. • Oversee the publication of Student Handbook, Parents Handbook, and other office brochures • Other duties as assigned Individuals must be able to explain and/or demonstrate that they possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation. • Excellent listening and communication skills • Ability to write professionally and edit written work • Experience working with, and/or supervising college students • Knowledge of the study skills needed for academic success in rigorous, liberal arts college • Working knowledge of the academic requirements of the College • Working knowledge of Title IX and issues related to disability • Ability to work well in a team Minimum Qualifications: QUALIFICATIONS Successful candidates will have an advanced degree in fields relating to higher education, counseling, or student personnel, and at least five years experience supervising, advising, and mentoring college students in a rigorous academic environment. The College appreciates skills and/or experience that promote diversity. Whitman College is building a diverse academic community and welcomes nominations of and applications from women, members of historically underrepresented minority groups, persons with disabilities, and others who would bring additional dimensions to the College’s learning environment. Whitman is responsive to the needs of dual career couples. Whitman College is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Special Instructions Offer of employment is contingent upon passing a criminal background check. to Applicants: Posted in LSCHE June/2014