Academic Program Coordinator, Center for Disabilities Studies

Pay Grade: 29E 

 

Context of Job:

 

The Center for Disabilities Studies (CDS) is the largest research and public service center in the College of Education and Human Development. It provides leadership in promoting the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of society. The Center accomplishes this through education, service, information dissemination and research across multiple units that include: Transition & Employment, School-Age Training, Assistive Technology, Health & Wellness, and Autism Training. This position is housed in Spectrum Scholars, a college-to-career initiative in the Transition & Employment unit. Spectrum Scholars provides direct support to matriculating students on the autism spectrum, as well as training and consultation for the campus community on creating inclusive environments for students on the autism spectrum.

Under the general direction of the Program Manager, the Academic Program Coordinator for Spectrum Scholars will deliver comprehensive, person-centered coaching to a cohort of identified students on the autism spectrum enrolled at the University of Delaware. Coaching, as defined by this position, is a highly dynamic, interpersonal process with identified goals of
improving student success in all facets of college life, including academics, social and campus engagement, self-advocacy, career exploration, and overall executive functioning. Students utilize coaching to work toward SMART goals that have been created with support from their coach and others on their support team. The Academic Program Coordinator will provide direct, twice-weekly service to students in semi-structured coaching sessions designed to improve the aforementioned areas related to college life, with an emphasis on executive functioning skills, accessing campus resources, and building self-advocacy skills.

The Academic Program Coordinator is responsible for documenting coaching sessions, providing timely follow-up, implementing evidence-based strategies and practices, and developing ongoing relationships with key partners and personnel across campus as well as other duties as assigned. In addition, the Academic Program Coordinator will also deliver coaching to an identified cohort of students on the autism spectrum enrolled in other CDS postsecondary transition programs, including high school pre-college programs, such as Edge and the College Readiness Scholars Institute. The Academic Program Coordinator will work collaboratively with all members of Spectrum Scholars to build a more autism-friendly campus and community by developing and delivering workshops, trainings, consultation, and general support around issues related to autism. This is an independent position that requires interaction and collaboration with fellow program staff, students with disabilities, peer mentors, family members, faculty and other staff at UD, and high school/state agency staff.

Position is 100% grant funded.

 

Major Responsibilities:

• Provide one-on-one comprehensive coaching to an identified group of students on the autism spectrum.
• Support summer programming for Spectrum Scholars including Spectrum Scholars Summer Orientation, New Student Orientation advising meetings, Edge, and College Readiness Scholars Institute
• Co-facilitate weekly peer mentor meetings
• Deliver certified Peer Education curriculum to peer mentors
• Serve as contact/resource between participating students and key campus partners, including the Offices of Disability Support Services, Academic Enrichment, Counseling Center, University faculty, among others.
• Develop and deliver resources, including workshops, trainings, pamphlets, webinars, etc. around issues related to autism, coaching, and student success.
• Identify and implement evidence-based strategies in coaching, related broadly to areas of executive functioning, transition to postsecondary education, social networking, and academic success.
• Assist with ongoing development of coaching procedures and protocols, including editing of Spectrum Scholars coaching manual.
• Manage all aspects of caseload documentation, including notes, collection of student & program data, follow-through support, etc. with a high degree of sensitivity and confidentiality.
• Assist in the creation and delivery of pre- and post-college student activities, such as recruitment, orientation, alumni gatherings, as well as other university-based programs (e.g., Edge).
• Assist with the writing of student and program summary reports related to coaching, coaching model, and Spectrum Scholars program.
• Participate in center-wide activities with CDS, including submission of project-specific data to the NIRS database.
• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, higher education/student affairs, rehabilitation, social work, psychology or other related human services discipline with a minimum of three years’ experience working with high school and/or college students with disabilities, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Additional training related to autism, including but not limited to applied behavior analysis preferred.
• Experience providing academic coaching to college students.
• Experience with program development.
• Effective problem-solving skills, and effective time management working within structured timelines.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Ability to develop and maintain confidential files and records.
• Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities.

Special Requirements:

• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed and to work within a flexible schedule.
• Ability to independently arrange for transportation to off-campus locations.