Description
Student Accessibility Services in Student Experience and Support is currently seeking a Full-time Limited Term Access Advisor for approximately 16 months.
Student Experience and Support (SES) at the University of Calgary comprises a diverse group of professionals who strive to contribute and continually enhance students learning environments and experiences. Reporting to the Senior Manager, the Access Advisor is critical to Student Accessibility Services' aim of creating an accessible and inclusive campus. The Access Advisor is essential to the University of Calgary's duty to accommodate by providing accommodation advising, system navigation, and direct support to students with accessibility needs.
This position is located primarily at the U of C Main Campus; however, travel to other campuses may be required. This position normally works 35 hours per week, Monday through Friday, but occasionally, there may be the need to work outside of regular hours. Limited opportunities for vacation during the peak periods of September to November.
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
- Meets with students to discuss barriers and functional limitations regarding their current or expected educational experiences at UCalgary.
- Assess medical, psychological or neuropsychological documentation of disability and health conditions to determine eligibility for services and funding.
- Advises students without documentation about assessment referrals and other options, including referral to government and UCalgary programs.
- Uses an intersectional and trauma-informed practice to balance students' self-reports with formal documentation.
- Determines reasonable academic accommodations, accounting for the students' functional limitations and the nature of their program of study.
- Uses a high degree of clinical knowledge to assess barriers for students in emerging situations to provide temporary support as appropriate.
- Completes contact notes and other internal paperwork accurately and in a timely manner.
- Maintain appropriate case notes and files, ensuring file entries comply with U of C internal policies and F.O.I.P requirements.
- Collaborates with the exam centre and other staff areas to operationalize services for students, including supporting final exams if required.
- Works with faculty and instructional staff to resolve issues or conflicts related to providing accommodations.
- Aids faculty to articulate course learning outcomes and determine if accommodations impact bona-fide education outcomes. If outcomes are affected, collaborate with the Senior Manager as needed to find alternative approaches to address faculty and student needs.
- Works as part of a team of advisors by collaborating, consulting and debriefing on cases and situations.
- Continually reflect and develop their practices through professional development such as peer advising squares.
- Provides integrated support for a select number of students who are navigating several systems and processes within the University, collaborating with resources and offices across campus.
- Collaborate and Support other campus offices in providing holistic student support, including the Conduct Office and the Assessment and Care Team.
- Support students facing barriers to access outside the classroom, including navigating physical space, residence and resources related to UCalgary.
- Work to support the broader university community to understand issues of accessibility and accommodations, including educating the campus community about the Student Accommodation Policy.
- Key point of contact for specific faculty and programs regarding emerging accommodation requests or concerns.
- Serves as an internal resource for other SAS staff about specific faculties or programs, including key contacts, general structure, and previously identified bona-fide educational requirements.
- Connect with specific faculties and departments regarding presentations and other training needed on an annual basis to support accessibility and inclusion.
- Represents SAS on campus and at other events to support the recruitment of diverse students.
- Participate in committees and working groups relating to inclusion and accessibility.
Qualifications / Requirements:
- Master's degree in Psychology, Social Work, Education or related discipline.
- 5 years of experience working with adults with disabilities, preferably in a post-secondary setting.
- Excellent knowledge of medical, psychological, and neuropsychological documentation of disability and/or health conditions.
- Possess the ability to determine how functional limitations of disabilities and medical conditions impact students and learning in a post-secondary setting.
- Experience in client interviewing, including taking academic histories and reviewing screeners for suspect barriers.
- Understands trauma-informed practices and how discrimination and historical practices create barriers to medical documentation of disability.
- Strong conflict management and mediation skills, including working with individuals in different positions of power.
- Knowledge of legal issues related to the Duty to Accommodate persons with disabilities in post-secondary settings, including identifying bona-fide educational requirements and the limits of undue hardship.
- Demonstrates a strong regard for issues of confidentiality and dealing with highly sensitive material in a standardized format.
- Demonstrates the ability to work effectively with multiple colleagues, departments, organizations and people in sensitive and complex situations.
- Experience in post-secondary teaching and understanding of learning outcomes is preferred.
Application Deadline: August 5, 2025
We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.
This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist/Advisor Job Family, Phase 3.
For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.
About the University of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.
As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments (equity@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).
Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.
We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.