- Job Type: Officer of Administration
- Regular/Temporary: Regular
- Hours Per Week: 35
- Building: Wien Hall
- Salary Range: $98,000 - $125,000
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
Position Summary
Under the leadership of the Senior Executive Director, Disability Services, the Director of Exam Accommodations is responsible for the strategic planning and operational management of the Testing Center and the administration of undergraduate instructional testing services. The incumbent will provide administrative oversight, visionary leadership, and overall direction for all aspects of accommodated exams and proctoring services. The Director will provide leadership and supervision for Testing Center personnel and oversee the adherence to compliance with established policies, laws, regulations, operating procedures, and University standards related to testing accommodations.
In collaboration with the Senior Executive Director, create an agile, responsive Disability Services Testing Center to ensure procedural compliance, academic integrity, and implementation of approved testing accommodations. The Director will serve as part of the senior management team within Disability Services and will contribute to campus-wide efforts to promote innovative approaches to foster student development, satisfaction, interdependences, and well-being so that each student with disabilities may participate fully in Columbia University learning experiences and activities.
Testing accommodations is a functional area under Disability Services and provides proctored exams and quizzes for students who have an approved exam-related accommodation. The Testing Center proctors approximately 15,000 exams and quizzes annually.
This is an essential onsite role that requires occasional weekend and late evening hours during times of peak operational volume. Some hybrid work options may be considered.
Responsibilities
Exam Administration (70%)
- Provides leadership, direction, and oversight for testing administration (including policies and procedures, documentation, quality assurance processes for testing administration, high volume communications with faculty and administrators related to testing logistics such as pick-up, delivery, formatting, testing materials, specific instructions for test administration, and testing guidelines) to assure academic integrity and application of University, state, and federal ADA policies, procedures, and protocols.
- Provides strategic oversight for all aspects of the Testing Center. Works closely with Disability Services senior management team, academic, and student services entities to provide assessment testing on and off-campus.
- Provides leadership, and makes strategic decisions for the management and implementation of exam administration and proctoring services for graduate and professional schools.
- Establishes strategic initiatives, resource planning, and administrative guidelines to enhance operational effectiveness and the handling of sensitive and confidential information.
- Manages complex faculty and student inquiries and concerns; provides crisis management for challenging testing-related issues such as academic misconduct, heightened student issues, and other unusual testing-related occurrences.
- Helps faculty and staff understand adherence to laws and University policies and procedures concerning testing accommodations and the implementation of modifications and alternate administration of course assessments such as quizzes, exams, and other evaluative measures; consults with senior management team, University partners, and advocates regarding the needs of students.
- Provides direct leadership and guidance to Testing Center staff to optimize performance and enhance the experience for students and faculty who interface with the Testing Center; ensues exemplary customer services for high volume testing-related email communications.
- Guides collaborative efforts to enhance effective delivery of services; provides leadership and facilitates an interactive process by engaging with appropriate partners and stakeholders to ensue testing accommodations are implemented and all entities are aware of available resources.
Leadership & Staff Management (20%)
- In partnership with the Senior Executive Director, establish long-and short-range strategic planning for testing accommodations, undergraduate exam administration, proctoring services for graduate and professional schools, and Testing Center operating procedures.
- In partnership with the Senior Executive Director and the Assistant Director for Exam Accommodations, develop, implement, and evaluate the budget for testing administration.
- Creates and implement testing services assessments; oversees the collection and analysis of data to identify trends and patterns, conceptualizes and implements improvements based on data and trends.
- Makes recommendations for modifying University processes and policies related to the provision of testing accommodations to ensure compliance with ADA and Sections 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; updates operational policies and procedures to address systems and testing related administration concerns.
- Using the departmental database, oversees exam master scheduling logistics and activities for quality assurance of data entry, specialized set-up needs, and other nuances for exams scheduling; ensures documentation of student exam interactions in the database system.
- Oversees the recruitment and selection of Testing Center professional and student staff and develops comprehensive onboarding program for assigned professional and testing support personnel.
- Evaluates the performance of direct reports, including setting yearly goals, priorities, and objectives; identify professional development opportunities; and high standards for professionalism and service delivery.
- Mentors and motivates direct reports individually and as a team, understanding and supporting diversity with a focus on establishing an integrated team.
- Provides leadership, supervision, and guidance to staff ensuring quality and consistency of email, phone, and in-person communications, and record keeping through regular observation, and continuous feedback.
- Leads functional area staff meetings; manages workload allocation, time off requests.
- Serves on committees that impact policies and programs concerning students with disabilities.
- Attends local conferences, workshops, seminars, trainings sessions, and professional organizational meetings and stay abreast of current student with disabilities, testing administration, and standard operating practices.
Compliance/Awareness (5%)
- Maintains professional expertise in matters pertaining to federal and state regulations and policies affecting persons with disabilities, including Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the American with Disabilities Act, including ADA standards and regulations.
- In Partnership with the Disability Services leadership team and the Director, Diversity Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging build awareness, knowledge, and skills related to disability as part of Columbia Health diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Serve as a content expert for Disability Services to ensure programs, resources and services are inclusive of students with disabilities.
Performs other responsibilities as assigned (5%)
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Counselor Education, Rehabilitation Counseling, Special Education or closely related field.
- Requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in the provision of services for students with disabilities.
- Proven management and leadership skills to lead, motivate and influence staff at all levels.
- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of federal, state, and city disability compliance, policies and laws relating to ADA and Section 504 and their relationship to higher education.
- Must be detail-oriented with proven ability to exercise astute judgment and make sound decisions when consulting with senior level administrators, faculty, parents, and other key stakeholders.
- Exceptional communication, organizational, and critical thinking skills with ability to work in a fast-paced environment where urgent situations often arise.
- Ability to successfully negotiate complex systems and work in a decentralized academic environment.
- Demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of working with students of diverse backgrounds, academic performance, and disabilities; experience with both traditional and non-traditional students.
- Demonstrated cultural competence and the ability to work with students from diverse populations.
- Ability to work with confidential, highly sensitive information.
- Must be able to handle a high-volume workload, manage concurrent demands and multiple stakeholders and work as part of a team.
- Strong computer skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Counselor Education, Rehabilitation Counseling, Special Education or closely related field.
- Experience managing a testing center or overseeing testing administration in a university or other higher education setting.
- Advanced experience in managing and analyzing complex systems and process improvement strategies like KPIs.
- Experience with disability accommodations and services for graduate and professional students in higher education.
- Takes initiative, highly motivated, strong work ethic, dependable, and highly adaptable.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.