Since 1878, Western University has been committed to serving our communities through the pursuit of academic excellence and by providing students, faculty, and community members with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social, and cultural growth. We seek excellent students, faculty, and staff to join us in what has become known as the "Western Experience" - an opportunity to contribute to a better world through the development of new knowledge, new abilities, new connections, and new ways to make a difference.

Academic Support & Engagement provides tailored, comprehensive supports within inclusive spaces in which students become critically-engaged, self-determined learners. As a result of our work, students discover and develop their strengths, establish their academic identity, engage in leadership and learning opportunities, and build the confidence and the competence they need to thrive.

We support students’ academic, personal, and professional growth through Accessible Education; Learning Development & Success; Transition, Leadership & Enrichment; and the Writing Support Centre. As valued partners in student learning, our work is situated at the intersection of curricular and co-curricular activities. We help students navigate academic and life transitions, remove barriers to full participation in all aspects of campus life, and contribute to the retention of Western students.

Collectively, our professional staff and peer leaders apply a strengths-based approach to our work, offering programs and supports that are individualized and that support the entire Western community from prospective students through to postdoctoral scholars and faculty. In all of our interactions, we focus on students’ potential inside and outside the classroom rather than remediating their problems, on elevating their emotional well-being, and on promoting self-awareness.

Through our work we strive to help students create an university experience that helps them thrive.

Position Summary:

The Project Coordinator – Accessible Education provides key support to programs that are designed to enhance the experience of students with disabilities at Western. The position will provide leadership on three main projects: the design and oversight of two Accessible Education Mentorship Programs; the development of awareness-raising and educational content for students related to accessibility, and the enhancement of onboarding processes for students who are new to the Accessible Education office. The Project Coordinator – Accessible Education is a student position, working 35 hours per week from May – August and 5 – 10 hours per week from September to April. The individual reports to the Accessibility Programming Coordinator and is a member of the Accessible Education team in Student Experience.

What will you gain from this role?

• The opportunity to contribute to the institutional priority of making Western an accessible and inclusive educational environment for undergraduate and graduate students

• The ability to impact a key student service area designed to help students with disabilities feel a strong sense of belonging and achieve academic success

• Experience planning and executing multi-stakeholder projects

• Experience recruiting, selecting, training, and coaching 2-3 teams of peer mentors

• Experience curating information and collaborating to ensure its effective delivery to a student audience

• Facilitation skills for leading meetings, gathering feedback, and presenting updates to project collaborators

• Ongoing professional development as a member of the Accessible Education team and overall Student Experience division

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and oversee two Accessible Education Mentorship programs – one for enhancing the overall student experience of students with disabilities, and one focused explicitly on learning strategies and assistive technologies that support students with disabilities in achieving academic success

• Co-create promotional materials to support the programs

• Manage recruitment and training of peer mentors

• On-going coaching and support of peer mentors, including professional development

• Create educational content related to accessibility that can be used by staff and peer mentors, as well as, promoted to students via social media and other core programs

• Collaborate with staff to develop a robust series of onboarding sessions and materials for students new to Accessible Education (e.g., how to request accommodations)

What kind of candidate are we looking for?

• Strong interpersonal skills

• The ability to work independently and as part of a team

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Strong time management and organizational skills

• Strong research skills

• Commitment to principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion

• A positive attitude and a commitment to helping Western students

• The ability to provide and accept constructive feedback

• Interest in deepening personal learning about accessibility

Preferred Experience:

• Lived experience of disability

• Community or campus involvement

• Student leadership experience, including the ability to inspire a team toward a shared vision

Western offers a broad and exciting variety of part-time and temporary employment opportunities with ample room for job exploration and growth. Within our beautiful campus, you are part of a progressive work environment that promotes work/life balance including access to our state-of-the-art recreation centre. Apply for an opportunity to be part of the Western community and contribute to its success!

While transcripts are not required for the interview, they are mandatory prior to any offer of employment.

To ensure that your application is given full consideration, please complete all relevant sections of the application. In addition, you can choose to supplement your application with a cover letter and current resume.

Consideration of applicants will include an assessment of previous performance, experience, and qualifications. Applicants should have oral communication skills in English.

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwo.ca or phone 519-661-2194.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those chosen for an interview will be contacted.