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