So Take the Next Steps

Job Summary:  

The Executive Director for Academic Success and Accessibility serves as a senior academic leader responsible for advancing an integrated, student-centered model of academic support and accessibility services across Mercy. Reporting to the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, the Executive Director provides strategic leadership for accessibility services, tutoring, learning support initiatives, early alert interventions, and student success programs designed to improve retention, persistence, academic achievement, and degree completion.

The Executive Director fosters a collaborative culture in which accessibility, learning support, tutoring, metacognitive skill development, and academic intervention strategies operate as interconnected components of a comprehensive student success ecosystem. The position oversees the Director of Accessibility and the Director of Tutoring/CAEI and works closely with academic leadership, faculty, advising, enrollment management, and student affairs partners to ensure equitable access to learning and academic success opportunities for all students.

Leadership and Strategy

• Develop, implement and ensure effectiveness of a comprehensive vision for academic success and accessibility that aligns with institutional strategic priorities.
• Lead the integration of accessibility services, embedded tutoring, academic coaching, early alert initiatives, and learning support services into a coordinated student support model.
• Serve as a key advisor to the Senior Vice Provost of Academic Affairs on matters related to student success, academic support, accessibility, and retention.
• Ensure compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements as related to accessibility matters
• Foster a culture of collaboration among academic support units to promote a seamless student experience.

Supervision and Administration

• Directly supervise the Director of Accessibility and the Director of Tutoring/CAEI and related staff within their departments.
• Establish annual goals, performance metrics, and assessment plans for all units within the division.
• Oversee budgets, staffing plans, and resource allocation.
• Promote professional development and cross-training opportunities for staff, tutors and proctors.

Student Success Integration

• Lead the development of institution-wide intervention strategies informed by early alert systems, academic performance indicators, and student support data.
• Ensure staff and faculty training incorporates principles of accessibility, metacognition, executive functioning, self-advocacy, learning science, and student success in compliance with all policies, procedures and regulatory guidelines.
• Develop systems that facilitate coordinated referrals and support among accessibility, tutoring, advising, and academic affairs units.
• Partner with University colleagues in Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs and Institutional Research to understand and expand opportunities for increased retention and success across programs.

Assessment and Continuous Improvement

• Provide ongoing assessment of all functions within the units measuring utilization, retention, persistence, academic performance, and graduation outcomes.
• Analyze student success data and provide recommendations to university leadership.
• Lead annual program reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Prepare reports for accreditation, strategic planning, and institutional effectiveness initiatives.

Collaboration and Outreach

• Partner with faculty and academic leaders to identify barriers and develop evidence-based academic success interventions. 
• Collaborate with schools and departments to expand embedded academic support models in high-impact and historically challenging courses.  
• Partner with the Office of Legal Counsel and Title IX and Equity Compliance colleagues to support institutional compliance with all local, state and federal regulations.
• Promote Universal Design for Learning and inclusive educational practices.
• Serve on University committees related to student success, retention, accessibility, and academic quality.

Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree required; doctorate preferred.
• Minimum 5-7 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education or other academic setting.
• Demonstrated leadership experience overseeing accessibility services, academic support, student success, tutoring, or related student success offices within a higher education or academic environment.
• Expertise in using data to inform decisions and measure impact. Proficiency in project management tools and techniques. Exceptional organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Extensive knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, accommodation processes, accessibility standards, and emerging best practices in higher education accessibility and student success.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting and applying federal and state regulations governing disability access and accommodations in postsecondary education or other academic settings.
• Experience developing, implementing, and assessing policies, procedures, and programs designed to promote equitable access, student persistence, academic achievement, and degree completion.
• Demonstrated ability in supervising professional staff, managing complex operations, and leading cross-functional initiatives involving academic affairs, student affairs, faculty, and administrative stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctorate in higher education, educational leadership, student affairs, counseling, special education, or related field.
• Experience with accreditation and institutional effectiveness processes.