The Placement Exchange Job Board

Posting Summary:
The Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Community Affairs (ODCA) at Teachers College Columbia University is seeking an Assistant Vice President who will oversee equity institutional efforts to ensure compliance with non-discrimination and equal opportunity laws, regulations and policies.

Job Summary/Basic Function:

The Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Community Affairs (ODCA) leads Teachers College's initiatives concerning community, diversity, civility, equity, and anti-discrimination.

Reporting to the Vice President for Diversity and Community Affairs and Title IX Coordinator, this position is integral in the delivery of the College’s Diversity Mission and under the oversight of the Vice President for Diversity and Community Affairs, the Assistant Vice President will oversee equity institutional efforts to ensure compliance with non-discrimination and equal opportunity laws, regulations and policies. The position supports the Vice President in diversity, community affairs and equity engagement via programming, equity and compliance initiatives, activities, trainings, academic and cultural guidance.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Leadership

• Provide oversight to the College’s Office of Access and Services for Individuals with Disabilities (OASID) including the annual budget to ensure reasonable accommodations and access to programs and activities for employees, students and visitors with disabilities.
• Supervise the OASID Director in the management of full time, part time, and temporary staff in the execution of the College’s reasonable accommodation process, including but not limited to, review of medical documentation, assessment of appropriate accommodations (such as sign language interpreters, note takers, alternative text editing) and work with employees, students and/or visitors to ensure reasonable accommodations.
  including management of full time, part time, and temporary staff
• Oversee OASID staff review medical documentation, assess appropriate accommodations (including but not limited to sign language interpreters, note takers, alternative text editing) and work with employees, students and/or visitors to ensure reasonable accommodations. OASID also provides guidance and support to academic departments, Human Resources and administrative offices in the development and implementation of effective accommodation and access services and programs to assist faculty, staff, students and visitors to the College.
• Supervise the Associate Director of Education and Outreach to develop and conduct trainings, programs and educational opportunities and materials related to discrimination, harassment and gender-based misconduct and to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Support the Associate Director in the creation of methods of program evaluation, assessment and record-keeping to track progress.

Equity and Compliance

• Oversee and manage complaint, investigation and resolution processes regarding discrimination, harassment and gender-based misconduct
• Serve as a member of the TC Title IX Team
• Determine non-discrimination and equal opportunity compliance obligations and conduct assessments as needed
• Provide guidance on issues of affirmative action, equal opportunity, non-discrimination and diversity.
• Serve as Section 504 Compliance Officer, responsible for ensuring the College’s compliance with disability laws and regulations.
• Collaborate with ODCA Team and other campus partners to create and promote a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion for persons with disabilities, particularly regarding TC’s physical plant and technology needs.
• Work with faculty and instructional staff to ensure inclusive learning environments.
• Remain abreast of best practices across higher education related to diversity, equity and inclusion
• In conjunction with the ODCA team, develop compliance outreach materials for the TC community that meet the College’s Diversity Mission and compliance obligations
• Develop and implement ways to ensure that compliance programs in Title IX, Sexual Harassment and ADA meet College compliance goals and the educational needs of the community
• Proactively conduct outreach to various TC constituents to organize educational trainings and workshops related to discrimination, harassment, gender-based misconduct, implicit bias, microaggressions, and other topics under diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Work with the ODCA team and other TC departments to manage student, staff and faculty educational presentations, workshops and trainings.
• In conjunction with the ODCA team ensure ODCA-managed websites are up-to-date with educational and training materials

Community Affairs 

• Develop and implement policies and procedures on non-discrimination, equity, diversity and inclusion issues.
• Create, conduct and supervise College-wide education and training on non-discrimination, equity, diversity and inclusion laws, regulations and institutional policies and provide guidance to the TC community on these issues.
• Develop and implement diversity-related programming and initiatives by ODCA and College community partners including panel discussions, activities and projects designed to enhance diversity, community building and improve civility at Teachers College.
• Serve as advisor to the Student Conduct Committee, providing training and guidance on applicable laws.
• Assist in the preparation of College agency responses to charges and information requests; agreements; opinions and advisory memoranda to outside counsel, EEOC, OCR and other federal, state or local government agencies regarding discrimination, harassment and gender-based misconduct complaints and/or other legal compliance concerns.
• Assist in the development of College policies and procedures applicable to faculty, staff and students.
• Remain abreast of federal, state and local compliance requirements for higher education institutions in the areas of discrimination and harassment
• Subject matter responsibility on various labor, employment, investigatory and other related matters, including employment and student-related disputes, working closely with College partners to address faculty and staff, and student concerns.

Strategic Planning 

• Develop short-term and long-term strategic plans to enhance the College’s inclusive culture, specifically in strengthening disability access and services.
• Other duties as assigned 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree with at least 10 years working in a higher education setting.
• Excellent and effective communication skills including verbal, written and listening.
• Strong organization, planning, analytic and problem-solving abilities including successful multi-tasking, meeting time sensitive deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Experience working with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and G Suite as well as the ability to learn new technology
• Legal experience, particularly related to equal employment and student affairs.
• Demonstrated legal analysis, knowledge and the ability to interpret federal, state and local non-discrimination laws and regulations.
• Experience managing investigations regarding alleged discrimination, harassment, gender-based misconduct and student conduct code violations.
• Teaching and/or training experience with discrimination, harassment and gender-based misconduct to faculty, staff and students.
• Strong organization, planning, analytic and problem-solving abilities including successful multi-tasking, meeting time sensitive deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.
• Demonstrated superior judgment, use of discretion and ability to remain neutral in crisis situations.
• Demonstrated success working with diverse constituencies including students, staff and faculty.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and to serving the needs of a diverse population with cultural competence and sensitivity.
• Familiarity with on and off campus support and reporting/adjudication options and NYC service providers
• Experience working with higher education and equity compliance including but not limited to Title IX, Section 504, ADA, bias intervention, anti-racism and racial and cultural microaggressions

Preferred Qualifications:

• JD degree
• Admission to NYS Bar
• Experience working in higher education with college or university students, faculty, staff and senior College administrators and leadership.
• Demonstrated skills in developing databases, tracking and maintaining data and developing reports, including working knowledge of tools for managing and presenting data.
• Experience working with legal counsel concerning investigations and compliance.

Salary Range:
$168,000 - $201,000

About Teachers College, Columbia University

Teachers College, Columbia University, is the oldest and largest graduate school of education in the United States, and also perennially ranked among the nation's best. Its name notwithstanding, the College is committed to a vision of education writ large, encompassing our four core areas of expertise: health, education, leadership and psychology.

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