Distance Learning Accessibility Specialist

Description

Sierra College has a strong commitment to the achievement of equity and inclusion among its faculty, staff, and students and values the rich, diverse backgrounds that make up the campus community. A strong candidate for this position must have the understanding and ability to successfully support individuals with varying backgrounds. This includes persons with disabilities, various gender identities and sexual orientations, as well as individuals from historically underrepresented communities and other groups. Our District is committed to providing strategies for success and proactive student-centered practices and policies focused on eliminating equity gaps to ensure the District provides an inclusive educational and employment environment focused on strategies for success and equitable outcomes for all.

Under general supervision from assigned manager, performs a variety of specialized duties involved in identifying and recommending potential solutions for accessibility barriers based on current applicable guidelines, laws, and regulations, including, but not limited to, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508 for Electronic and Information Technology (EIT); works in collaboration with faculty through trainings and remediation to ensure compliance with applicable standards, practices, guidelines, and laws; and provides expertise and guidance to faculty in instructional-related accessibility technology and national accessibility standards, practices, and guidelines.

Need Help With Your Online Account?

• Use the online Help Guide or contact the NEOED Applicants Support Line at 855-524-5627 if you need assistance with your online applicant account.
• Applicant Support is available between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.

If you have any questions about this position, please contact the Human Resources Department at hr@sierracollege.edu .

Examples Of Functions and Tasks

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES
The following duties are typical for this job classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

1. Audits and reviews new and existing online, hybrid, and web-enhanced courses for compliance with accessibility laws, regulations, and guidelines; identifies and remediates instructional materials that present barriers for students; remediates inaccessible course materials following current guidelines and other accessible standards as they are developed; provides faculty with a checklist and resources to bring courses into compliance.
2. Provides assistance and ongoing support to faculty for the development and/or redesigning of online course content that is 508 compliant/universally accessible; works with faculty in applying accessibility and usability standards, requirements, and laws in course design to ensure that all instructional technologies used to support learning are universally accessible.
3. Audits and makes recommendations for software, applications, websites, and materials to ensure compliance with accessibility standards as established in appropriate guidelines, laws, and regulations; ensures that District instructional software is 508 compliant by reviewing Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPATs); reviews and tests third-party electronic and information technology for accessibility compliance; works with appropriate District staff to develop and maintain a list of approved third-party applications, websites, and vendors for instructional use.
4. Assists Distance Learning and District staff with the re-reviews during the Online Course Review Process (Effective Practices and Accessibility).
5. Works with divisions to ensure all non-instructional items (flyers, graphs/charts, PDFs, etc.) are compliant; trains staff on how to make content accessible.
6. Develops and implements processes to meet instructional-related compliance with laws, regulations, and established technical standards.
7. Develops instructional course materials and templates related to accessibility standards.
8. Serves as primary contact person for faculty regarding questions related to accessibility of online and web-enhanced course content.
9.Works in conjunction with and reports out to appropriate District staff on instructional accessibility-related items.
10.Designs and provides training, training materials and exercises, job aids, and support for multi-platform computer operating systems, general software applications, web-authoring software applications, instructional technologies, and institutionally supported specialized applications (operational and administrative) related to accessibility.
11.Provides onboarding support, general work training, guidance, supervision assistance, and directs activities of students or temporary employees.
12.Performs related duties that support the overall objective of the position.

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE GUIDELINES
Any combination of education and experience that demonstrates the required above knowledge and abilities is qualifying. Examples of ways to obtain the above knowledge and abilities could include, but are not limited to, the following:

Education/Training:
Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade or General Educational Development (GED) supplemented by college level coursework in instructional technology, multimedia production, or a technology related discipline.

Experience:
One year of experience that includes researching and implementing new technologies and providing training to end users, including accessibility and regulatory compliance.

QUALIFICATIONS
The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:
•Methods, processes, procedures, and best practices for Distance Learning, including Learning Management Systems (LMS), Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) accessibility standards and effective alternative solutions, technology training, multimedia technology and production, and equipment care and maintenance.
•Federal, state, and local laws and regulations regarding copyrights, trademarks, licensing, and communicating with students, including, but not limited to, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
•California Community Colleges Online Education Initiative and Accessibility Center.
•Methods and techniques of public relations.
•Principles and practices of project management.
•Principles and procedures of record keeping and filing.
•English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary, including proofreading and formatting techniques.

Ability to:
•Provide technical expertise, support, and training for Distance Learning and Electronic and Information Technology (EIT) accessibility standards, including installing, programming, configuring, and maintaining EIT equipment, software, and devices; analyzing and solving accessibility problems; and identifying and suggesting potential solutions for accessibility barriers.
•Maintain a high level of attention to detail.
•Read and interpret manuals and other technical documentation.
•Adapt to changing technologies and learn functionality of new equipment and systems.
•Plan and organize work to meet changing priorities and deadlines.
•Maintain up to date and accurate records, manuals, publications.
•Utilize office procedures, methods, and equipment, including computers, technology, and applicable software applications sufficiently to perform the duties of the classification, including specialized programs and equipment used in distance learning and EIT, database management.
•Maintain confidentiality of information.
•Follow oral and written directions.
•Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
•Compile information and prepare business correspondence and reports.
•Provide onboarding support, general work training, guidance, supervision assistance, and direct activities of students or temporary employees.
•Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
•Work independently or collaboratively.
•Apply District policies and procedures.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office or classroom setting.
Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to walk, stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination, including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.
Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents; and to operate assigned equipment.
Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

Supplemental Information

WHY SIERRA?

• One of Aspen Institute’s Top 150 Community Colleges in the nation
• The Accrediting Commission recognized Sierra “for its exemplary practice of providing personnel with opportunities for continued professional development in order to meet its mission.” This includes providing students and employees with a robust set of programs, events, and conferences related to equity-mindedness and supporting the success of our students, etc.
• Public Employee’s Retirement System (PERS)
• 18 paid holidays (including extended time off during the winter break)
• 12 accrued paid vacation days per year (vacation accrual increases over time)
• Competitive benefits package
• Flexible work schedules may be available
• Currently during summers, some employee groups participate in 4x10 schedules
• Qualifying Employer for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (in most cases)

Sierra College is a Community College located near Sacramento, California where a heavy emphasis is placed on academic excellence and student success. Since its founding in 1936, Sierra College has focused on quality instruction and meeting the evolving needs of the students and communities that it serves. The Sierra Community College District covers more than 3,200 square miles and serves the Northern California foothill counties of Placer and Nevada, as well as parts of El Dorado and Sacramento. We serve over 17,000 students throughout the region in both on-ground and online courses, including students at our main Rocklin Campus as well as at three centers located in Grass Valley, Tahoe/Truckee, and Roseville. Our District prides itself on academic excellence.

Sierra College has a strong commitment to the achievement of equity and inclusion among its faculty, staff, and students and values the rich, diverse backgrounds that make up the campus community. A strong candidate for this position must demonstrate a profound understanding of and experience with successfully supporting individuals with varying backgrounds. This includes persons with disabilities, various gender identities and sexual orientations, as well as individuals from historically underrepresented communities and other groups. Our District is committed to providing strategies for success and proactive student-centered practices and policies focused on eliminating equity gaps to ensure the District provides an inclusive educational and employment environment focused on strategies for success and equitable outcomes for all.

As an institution, Sierra College is committed to eliminating the equity gap in all student populations with dynamic, learner-centered practices and policies that fully engage the college community. The ideal candidate will share the College’s commitment to helping its racially and socioeconomically diverse students succeed in their degree and career objectives. Currently, Sierra College enrolls 17,800 students per term, where approximately: 23% of Sierra College’s students are Latin(o)(a)(x)(e), 3% are African-American/Black, 2% are Filipino, 6% are Asian, 1% are American Indian/Alaskan Native, 8% are Multiethnic and 55% are White.

The successful candidate will join a College dedicated to the use of culturally responsive strategies and methods that meet the varying needs of our students, faculty, staff, and surrounding community. Sierra College demonstrates its commitment to equity by supporting ongoing professional development for students, faculty, and staff. These opportunities include trainings and workshops on equity and inclusion, active Academic Senate standing committees concerned with student success and equity, a Presidential Equity Advisory Committee (PEAC), culturally responsive student engagement centers, support for our undocumented and AB540 students, campus-wide equity summits, a robust set of programs, events, and conferences related to equity-mindedness and supporting the success of our diverse students.

Need Help With Your Online Account?

• Use the online Help Guide or contact the NEOED Applicants Support Line at 855-524-5627 if you need assistance with your online applicant account.
• Applicant Support is available between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.

If you have any questions about this position, please contact the Human Resources Department at hr@sierracollege.edu .

Helpful Tip:
Please note that as described above a strong candidate for this position must demonstrate a profound understanding of and experience with successfully supporting individuals with varying backgrounds; and therefore, hiring committees assess candidates for these knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Applicants may want to consider incorporating culturally-inclusive/equity-minded strategies practiced and/or evidence of the responsiveness to and understanding of the racial, socioeconomic, and cultural diversity of community college student populations throughout their application materials (including application and documents uploaded, if any).

Please see the Sierra College website for additional helpful tips and tools for prospective applicants .

Travel expenses may be partially reimbursed for candidates traveling beyond a 150 mile radius for second round interviews. All other travel expenses will be borne by the candidate (if in person interviews).

Terms and Conditions of Employment:
Other terms and conditions of employment are specified in the applicable collective bargaining agreements on file in the District Human Resources Department. Position description of record on file in the Human Resources Department.

*Sierra Community College District currently operates campuses in Rocklin, Roseville, Truckee and Grass Valley. In its management of a multi-campus environment, the District reserves right of assignment including the right to change assignment locations and shift assignments based on District need. Although this position may currently reside at the Rocklin campus, the assignment location may be subject to change as needed. Additionally, the district reserves the right to cancel, revise or re-announce this position as well as any and all positions at any time.

EEO / TITLE IX EMPLOYER
Sierra College is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to nondiscrimination and the achievement of diversity and equity among its faculty, staff, and students.

Persons with inquiries about the application of Title IX and/or EEO may contact the Director of Diversity, EEO & Title IX (Title IX Coordinator) at the address below, at (916) 660-7006 or via email at EEOT9@sierracollege.edu .

Persons with questions regarding reasonable accommodation of physical and other disabilities should contact the Sierra College Human Resources Department at (916) 660-7105.

If you have limitations hearing or speaking, the State of California offers a specially-trained Communications Assistant (CA) that can relay telephone conversations for all of your calls. Dial 711 to reach the California Relay Service (CRS). Dialing 711 is for everyone, not just those who have difficulty hearing on a standard phone. If you prefer having your calls immediately answered in your mode of communication, dial one of the toll-free modality and language-specific numbers below. The call will be routed to the CRS provider.

TTY/VCO/HCO to Voice
English 1-800-735-2929
Spanish 1-800-855-3000

Voice to TTY/VCO/HCO
English 1-800-735-2922
Spanish 1-800-855-3000

From or to Speech-to- Speech
English & Spanish 1-800-854-7784

Sierra Community College offers benefit packages to full-time employees including: family coverage health, dental and vision insurance, Public Employee's Retirement System (PERS) OR State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) retirement, income protection, life insurance, sick leave, vacation, and holidays as provided according to District policy.

Closing Date/Time: 11/3/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• Sierra Community College District

• (916) 660-7100

Show more