Counselor Associate, Office of Disability Services

The FIT-ABLE office ensures equal access for students with disabilities in their curricular as well as co-curricular college experience through accommodations that contribute to a holistic learning and development experience. Reporting to the Director of Disability Services, the Disability Services Counselor Associate will assist in providing and coordinating a wide range of academic accommodations and support services to college students with various learning, cognitive, psychological, hearing, visual, mobility and other permanent and temporary disabilities. In addition, the Counselor Associate will be the key point of contact for all assistive technology and provide overall operational support to the FIT-ABLE Office and will help to ensure the mission of the office as well as assist in the achievement of the goals outlined in the FIT Strategic Plan.

Responsibilities:

• Review new student documentation and conduct intake interviews to establish appropriate support services, which may include academic adjustments or other on campus accommodations such as housing and dining hall accommodations.
• Facilitate training in adaptive technology including note taking support, text to speech software and screen enhancement software. Remain current on new and changing technology and make recommendations for purchasing new equipment.
• Use FIT purchasing software system (Financial Enterprise) to setup new vendors, establish blanket purchase orders and submit invoices for payment.
• Maintain case files and confidential student records in accordance with FERPA and college policy.
• Schedule semester auxiliary aides including sign language interpreters, transcription services and alternate format text.
• Mentor students to effectively self-advocate and communicate their accommodations to faculty and staff. Meet with FIT faculty and staff to assist with student advocacy as the need arises.
• Ensures compliance with local, state, and federal laws as they apply to disability and postsecondary educational environments.
• Use the Accommodate case management system to document all email, telephone and virtual communications.
• Assist with management of the Accommodate case management system including loanable equipment, form letters, surveys, office reports and service tickets.
• Update FIT-ABLE web pages as needed to reflect changes in applicable laws or policies.
• Assist with general office support including greeting guests, answering the telephone, responding to emails sent to the general FIT-ABLE mailbox, and managing out of classroom testing accommodations.
• Represent the FIT-ABLE Office at campus events that promote the office including Open House, Admitted Student Day and Prospective Student Day, which may occur on weekends.
• Consult and utilize industry resources and attend conferences from professional organizations such as AHEAD, Accessing Higher Ground, the New York State Disability Services Council, and Disability Compliance for Higher Education.
• Other duties as assigned.

The preceding description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required of the position; other duties may be assigned consistent with the classification of the position.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Counseling, Higher Education Administration, or a related field required.
• A minimum of 3 years of direct experience working with students with physical, sensory, learning, psychological and/or other disabilities in a higher education or clinical setting.
• Experience making eligibility determinations and identifying corresponding accommodations.
• The candidate should be knowledgeable of educational technologies as they relate to accessibility including Camtasia and both Macintosh and Windows platforms.
• Current knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act; sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act; Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines from W3C; and the impact of these regulations on higher education.
• Demonstrated experience working with vulnerable student populations and their parents/guardians and knowledge of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills are required, as well as excellent interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree preferred.
• 5 years of appropriate business experience.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• The candidate should be knowledgeable of educational technologies as they relate to accessibility including Camtasia and both Macintosh and Windows platforms.
• Current knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act; sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act; Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines from W3C; and the impact of these regulations on higher education.
• Demonstrated experience working with vulnerable student populations and their parents/guardians and knowledge of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills are required, as well as excellent interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated experience working with vulnerable student populations and their parents/guardians and knowledge of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Please note all offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of the background check process.

Salary

Salary: $68,302.49 to $73,197.99 per year; commensurate with experience and qualifications.

The UCE-FIT Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) dictates the compensation, benefits, and conditions of employment. Hiring Salary: $68,302.49 per year with step increments per Salary Schedule 92, after one year of service and annually thereafter.

Work Schedule

Days/Hours: M-F, 9am-5pm, in person; work schedule subject to change based on needs of the department.

Benefits

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) provides comprehensive employee benefit programs designed to help keep our faculty and staff and their families healthy, safe, happy, and productive. Our programs also include a variety of components to help our employees improve the quality and balance of their work and family lives, and to help them prepare for their futures.

• Retirement Plans
• Health Care Plan and Dental Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Account
• Commuter Benefit Plan
• FIT Tuition Exemption Program
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Personal, Sick and Holidays)
• 4-day Summer Workweek
• Qualifying Employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program

For a full list of FIT benefits, visit our benefits webpage.

Pay Equity by State Employers

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.

Visa Sponsorship

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship by the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

FIT is firmly committed to creating an environment that will attract and retain people of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds. By providing a learning and working environment that encourages, utilizes, respects, and appreciates the full expression of every individual's ability, the FIT community fosters its mission and grows because of its rich, pluralistic experience. FIT is committed to prohibiting discrimination, whether based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, religion, ethnic background, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military service status, genetic information, pregnancy, familial status, citizenship status (except as required to comply with law), or any other criterion prohibited by applicable federal, state, or local laws. FIT is committed to providing equal opportunity in employment, including the opportunity for upward mobility for all qualified individuals. Applications from minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged. Inquiries regarding FIT's non-discrimination policies may be directed to the Affirmative Action Officer/Title IX Coordinator, 212 217.3360, titleix@fitnyc.edu.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

The working conditions for this position will be primarily in an office space. The physical requirement for this position will require frequent sitting, occasional standing, occasional walking, and occasionally lifting up to 20 lbs.