Exempt, Director For Access & Disability Services

Whatcom Community College (WCC) is a public associate and applied baccalaureate degree granting institution with an accomplished faculty and staff who serve 11,000 students annually on its beautiful 72-acre campus in Bellingham, Washington. WCC's core themes - achieving success, building community, advancing equity, and enhancing effectiveness - describe the College's values and goals to create a thriving learning community that supports excellence, opportunity, and equity for students, faculty, and staff. Whatcom offers transfer degrees, an applied baccalaureate degree, professional and technical training programs, basic education, job skills, and community and continuing education classes. Programs and courses are offered through face-to-face, hybrid, and online modalities to promote access for a diverse student population. The College is committed to equal opportunity and believes diversity of experiences and cultures enrich our campus community. WCC has been selected as one of the top 150 community colleges in the country by the Aspen Institute based on its outstanding and equitable student outcomes (Aspen Institute, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017). The College is accredited by The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. For more information about WCC, please visit www.whatcom.edu

The Community:

Whatcom's campus is located in Bellingham (population 86,720). Bellingham showcases a strong commitment to education and is regularly rated on "best of the Northwest" lists. The 12th largest city in Washington State, Bellingham is midway between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. Canada. The city is surrounded by the rural landscape of Whatcom County (population 212,540), which is home to a thriving network of farms and scenic wilderness. As you explore our community, you'll discover historic neighborhoods, waterfront cities, farmlands and mountain towns all within a few dozen miles of each other. Bellingham and Whatcom County are known for their outdoor activities and being ranked second in the nation for arts businesses per capita. Whether your idea of fun is visiting galleries, watching live theater, kayaking, hiking, snowboarding, or unwinding with a good book, you'll love Bellingham and Whatcom County. To learn more about Bellingham, please visit: http://www.bellingham.org

General Description of Work

Whatcom Community College invites applications for the Director for Access and Disability Services (ADS). The Director for ADS is responsible for providing leadership and direction in the development and implementation of college manages the operational, administrative, and programmatic functions of Whatcom Community College's (WCC) compliance with federal and state disability laws applied to student access to instruction, services, programs, and activities. policies, procedures, and practices to ensure access for students with disabilities. This position ensures reasonable accommodations for students through oversight and supervision of the interactive accommodation process, including medical and psychoeducational documentation review and student access planning. Reporting to the Dean for Student Success, the Director for ADS systemically integrates and evaluates guidance and consultation to campus stakeholders, faculty, and staff to promote a culturally responsive and inclusive environment and to provide equal access for students with disabilities through leadership initiatives, administrative functions, strategic planning, policy development, service programming, direct student support, and service area assessment.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, plan, direct, provide and arrange services and accommodations to students with disabilities to enable them to benefit from college instructional programs, services, and student activities.

• Build and enhance relationships and business practices with Student Services, Instruction, Administrative Services, and all divisions and departments to inform best practice toward compliance, support, and accommodations for students with disabilities.

• Evaluate disability documentation from qualified professionals. Manage disabilities records with attention to the protection of confidentiality of all student records and in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulation.

• Interpret and advise on federal (Section 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Americans with Disabilities Act), state, and College policies and regulations pertaining to the rights of students with disabilities and develop procedures and practices to ensure compliance.

• Lead institutional efforts and advocacy for access, Universal Design, evolving technologies, and nondiscrimination of students with disabilities.

• Build close working relationships with community partners such as Department of Vocational Rehabilitation; Department of Social and Health Services; Labor & Industries; WorkSource; Department of Services for the Blind; Hearing, Speech, and Deafness Center; K-12 districts; and high school Community Transitions Programs.

• Assist and support faculty with appropriate classroom accommodations and learning strategies for students with disabilities and neurodivergence.

• Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate employees in accordance with applicable state and federal laws, and WCC policies and procedures. Lead and supervise staff to meet performance goals which foster high quality career and academic advising and culturally responsive coaching strategies.

• Serve as budget authority for the Access and Disability Services department, tracking all expenditures for fiscal accountability.

• Provide required written reports to College, State, and Federal Agencies. Make recommendations on expenditures to ensure program functions efficiently and students are provided reasonable accommodations.

• Direct and manage contracted services with agencies and/or part-time hourly employees to ensure qualified Typewell Transcription/CART and Sign Language Interpreting services.

• Oversee the inventory of adaptive equipment and technology for students with disabilities and coordinate with IT Services to ensure technology/equipment is current and available.

• Develop and implement workshops and other training opportunities for faculty and staff. Disseminate disability information to ensure compliance with ADA and Section 504 and 508. Collaborate with Information Technology in coordinating the purchase of adaptive technology and for testing and verifying the VPAT process.

• Develop and approve print and electronic publications to communicate college processes and services with current and prospective students, including the ADS webpage, Canvas classroom, ADS Student Handbook, Staff/Faculty Handbook, and additional relevant publications.

• Uphold the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) process and provide effective support for students with disabilities encountering problems and barriers.

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of program operations and activities, including evaluation of annual goals and objectives through the College's Service Improvement Plan process.

• Perform data retrieval and analysis for the services improvement processes. Prepare narrative and/or statistical reports regarding program operations and evaluations.

• Serve on department, division and college-wide committees and represent WCC on community and statewide groups as needed.

• Perform other duties as assigned and/or delegated by the Dean for Student Success.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in disability studies, psychology, social work, special education, or a related field.

• Three years experience in the disability services field.

Or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Knowledge of ADA guidelines and the establishment of reasonable accommodations for students in higher education.

• Knowledge of the range of accommodations for students in higher education, including assistive technologies.

• Basic computer knowledge of MS Office and database skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in disability studies, psychology, social work, special education, a related field, or equivalent experience.

• Ability to read and interpret psychological reports.

• Experience with Accessible Information Management (AIM) software.

• Knowledge of the social model of disability.

• Knowledge of disability culture and development.

• Knowledge of Deaf culture, experience with Deaf community and ASL conversational skills.

• Excellent written, oral, interpersonal, and organizational skills as well as the ability to establish priorities and manage time wisely.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with staff, faculty, and students.

• Willingness to explore new technologies and innovative organizational practices.

Salary

Salary and Appointment:

• This is a full-time Administrative/Exempt position. Exempt from Washington State civil service law with an annual salary based on a range of $83,000.00 - $86,000.00.

Benefit Package:

• The position comes with a full benefit package, including health, dental, life, long-term disability insurance and a retirement plan.

• Accrues 8 hours per month of sick leave and 14.67 hours per month vacation leave.

• Additionally, as a Washington State, public higher education institution, WCC offers the following:

• Whatcom Community College is a qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF). If you work for the College full time, have had Direct Loans and are on an eligible repayment plan, you are eligible to apply.

• Full-time employees are eligible to apply and participate in the Whatcom Community College Employee Tuition Program, which provides a tuition waiver for available and eligible WCC courses.

• Full-time employees may qualify for Washington State Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) benefit.

Start Date:

• As soon as can be arranged with successful candidate.

Application Due Date:

• For guaranteed consideration, application packets should be received by Monday, April 22nd, 2024 at 5:00 pm. Position open until filled.

How To Apply

A completed application consists of an online application and:

• Cover letter which includes a diversity statement that addresses how you have committed to equity and inclusion in the past and how you might support a diverse workplace and educational environment through this position.

• Current resume.

• Official transcripts of any degrees listed as part of the minimum requirements will be required upon hire, but not as part of the application process.

• List of 5 professional references with contact information.

Mission and Vision Statement

Mission: Whatcom Community College contributes to the vitality of its communities by providing quality education in academic transfer, professional-technical, and lifelong learning, preparing students for active citizenship in a global society.

Vision: Whatcom is a supportive community, empowering lives through education.

EEO Statement

Whatcom Community College values diversity and is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator. WCC provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, or honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the use of trained guide dog or service animal in its programs and activities. Prohibited sex discrimination includes sexual harassment (unwelcome sexual conduct of various types). As of October 1st, 2020 as per RCW 28B.112.080 WCC will be requiring all finalists for positions to complete a Declaration Regarding Sexual Misconduct. WCC provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students, employees, and applicants with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Federal Rehabilitation Act. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Executive Director for Human Resources, 237 W. Kellogg Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, 360.383.3400. For Title IX compliance, contact: Title IX Coordinator, 237 W. Kellogg Road, Bellingham, WA 98226, 360.383.3400. WCC publications are available in alternate formats upon request by contacting the Access and Disability Services Office at 360.383.3080; VP 360.255.7182. Whatcom Community College is a smoke-free/drug free environment.