About this role
About the Role 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. The role 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 position oversees the Director of Accessibility and the Director of Tutoring/CAEI and collaborates with academic leadership and student affairs partners to ensure equitable access to learning opportunities for all students. What You'll Do
- Develop, implement, and ensure the effectiveness of a comprehensive vision for academic success and accessibility aligned with institutional priorities.
- Lead the integration of accessibility services, embedded tutoring, academic coaching, early alert initiatives, and learning support into a coordinated student success model.
- Serve as a key advisor to the Senior Vice Provost of Academic Affairs on student success, accessibility, retention, and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
- Foster a collaborative culture among academic support units to promote a seamless student experience.
- Directly supervise the Director of Accessibility and the Director of Tutoring/CAEI and related staff; establish annual goals, metrics, and assessment plans; oversee budgets and staffing; promote professional development.
- Lead institution-wide intervention strategies informed by early alert systems and student data; ensure staff training includes accessibility, metacognition, executive functioning, self-advocacy, learning science, and compliance with policies.
- Develop systems for coordinated referrals and support among accessibility, tutoring, advising, and academic affairs units; partner with Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, and Institutional Research to expand retention opportunities.
- Lead annual program reviews and continuous improvement initiatives; prepare reports for accreditation and institutional effectiveness.
- Collaborate with faculty and academic leaders to identify barriers and develop evidence-based interventions; promote Universal Design for Learning and inclusive practices.
- Serve on University committees related to student success, retention, accessibility, and academic quality. What We're Looking For
- Master’s degree required; doctorate preferred.
- 5-7 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education or a similar setting.
- Demonstrated leadership overseeing accessibility services, academic support, student success, tutoring, or related offices in higher education.
- Expertise in using data to inform decisions and measure impact; proficiency with project management tools.
- Exceptional organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills; ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Extensive knowledge of ADA, Section 504, accommodation processes, accessibility standards, and best practices in higher education accessibility and student success; experience interpreting federal/state regulations.
- Experience developing and assessing policies to promote equitable access, persistence, achievement, and degree completion; experience supervising professional staff and leading cross-functional initiatives. Nice to Have
- Doctorate in higher education, educational leadership, student affairs, counseling, special education, or related field. Compensation & Benefits
- Salary range: $100,000-$115,000 annually (USD).