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University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Director Disability Advising, Education and Advocacy

Job Profile Title

Director B, Student Services

Job Description Summary

The Director of Disability Advising, Education and Advocacy serves in a leadership role in the Weingarten Center. The Director’s role encompasses staff supervision, student advising, and faculty and community engagement. The Director possesses a strong understanding of disability law (Americans with Disabilities Act, Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Fair Housing Act) and its applicability in higher education. The Director leads a team of disability specialists by providing support and guidance for the specialists to undertake their work. Furthermore, the Director works directly with students with disabilities by determining reasonable accommodations that provide access to services and facilities. The Director advises students and helps them to develop advocacy skills. The Director actively engages with faculty and staff to support them in their roles in the accommodation process. Through individual consultations and engagement initiatives, the Director is instrumental in raising awareness of disability issues and promotes universal design for learning.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

Disability Advising

• Review medical documentation and participate in the interactive process with students to determine reasonable accommodations.

• Carry a student advising case load of approximately 200-300 students.

• Manage records on student progress and help guide students to be self-advocates in seeking accommodations.

• Stay current with case law to ensure medical documentation guidelines and determination of accommodations reflect the ADA, Rehabilitation Act, the Fair Housing Act and University policies.

• Supervise Disability Specialists and support their performance in their roles as direct contact with students with disabilities.

• Collaborate with the Manager of Academic Accommodations to coordinate implementation of accommodations (test arrangements, notes, ASL/CART services).

  Administrative/Leadership Responsibilities

• Gather data and create reports that capture the work of Disability Services

• Participate in Disability Services and Weingarten Center department meetings and University Life divisional meetings.

• Participate in Weingarten Center activities, including (but not limited to) Working Groups, New Student Orientation events, and Disability Services’ Open House.

• Review, revise and update training materials available for Disability Specialists.

• Oversight of the Disability Services’ budgets in coordination with the Executive Director of the Weingarten Center, the Provost office, and the Business Manager of the Weingarten Center .

• Review and update Accommodate, the database for student record-keeping, to ensure that it meets the needs of the Disability Services’ staff and students.

• Review and update disability information on the Weingarten Center website.

• Consult with Office of General Counsel to discuss legal issues impacting Disability Services.

• Participate in the reconsideration process to determine resolution of a student dispute in the accommodation process.

• Participation in Weingarten Center Advisory Board meetings.

• Serve as a member of the Weingarten Scholarship Committee.

• Serve as a member of the Annual Weingarten Center Disability Symposium planning committee.

• Assist in accommodated testing arrangements during high volume times, such as midterm and final exams.

  Faculty and Staff Consultancy Role

• Collaborate with faculty and staff in a consulting capacity to address inquiries and explain their roles in the accommodation process.

• Create opportunities (i.e. individual consultations, attend department meetings) for staff and faculty to discuss accommodations and how to implement them.

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive strategy for informing the University community of the necessity for and the nature of accommodating students with disabilities and providing information on available resources and strategies.

  Liaison with Campus Partners

• Interact with designated liaisons in each school to ensure disability issues are addressed in accordance with established protocol and curricular goals.

• Coordinate meetings with Housing and Dining Services to discuss accommodation requests.

  Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, and 5 to 7 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Master’s degree in special education, counseling, student affairs preferred.

Application Requirement:

A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered for this position. Please upload your Cover Letter where it asks you to upload your Resume/CV; multiple documents are allowed.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Student Services

Pay Range

$61,046.00 - $105,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.

Affirmative Action Statement Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits . You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services : From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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  To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay

  The University of Pennsylvania's special character is reflected in the diversity of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community that draws on the strength that comes with a substantive institutional commitment to diversity along dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran status, interests, perspectives, and socioeconomic status. Grounded in equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and affirmative action, Penn's robust commitment to diversity is fundamental to the University's mission of advancing knowledge, educating leaders for all sectors of society, and public service. The University of Pennsylvania prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.