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Columbia University
Assistant Director, Student Support
🇺🇸
New York, New York
🕑
Full-Time
💰
$79K - $89K
💻
Academic Advising
🗓️
August 29th, 2026
Higher Ed
Edtech.com's Summary
Columbia University's School of Professional Studies is hiring an Assistant Director, Student Support to advance student success and wellbeing, reporting to the Director of Student Support. The role oversees Disability Services accommodations, provides case management for graduate students facing personal, financial, medical, and academic concerns, and serves on the SPS CARE Team on-call rotation triaging student concerns. This is a full-time, 35-hour-per-week Officer of Administration position.
Highlights
- Serve as primary liaison to Disability Services, coordinating accommodations and exam logistics in compliance with ADA and Section 504
- Provide case management for graduate students on well-being, financial, medical, and academic concerns; maintain FERPA-compliant documentation
- Plan co-curricular support programs and skills workshops serving over 1,200 students annually
- Serve on the SPS CARE Team on-call rotation, triaging and escalating urgent student concerns
- Supervise office interns
- Requires a Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent experience plus 3 years related experience; Master's degree and supervisory experience preferred
- Salary range $79,000-$89,000
- Full-Time; 35 hours per week; Regular, Officer of Administration
Assistant Director, Student Support Full Description
Job Type:
Officer of Administration
Regular/Temporary:
Regular
Hours Per Week:
35
Grade:
12
Salary Range:
$79,000 - $89,000. The salary of the finalist selected will be set based on departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. This hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Director of Student Support, the Assistant Director advances student success and wellbeing at the School of Professional Studies (SPS). The role oversees Disability Services accommodations, provides direct student support, identifies barriers to success, connects students with resources, and monitors progress toward resolution. The Assistant Director also supports the development of programs addressing interpersonal conflict and student re-enrollment, aligning services with institutional priorities around retention, accessibility, and student success.
Responsibilities
Disability Services & Accommodations:
- Serve as primary liaison to Disability Services, coordinating and implementing disability accommodations for SPS students in compliance with institutional policies and federal accessibility guidelines
- Ensure faculty are informed of approved accommodations and supported in implementing them
- Coordinate exam accommodations, including distribution/return of exam materials, room reservations, and proctor requests; serve as back-up Examinations Proctor
- Develop procedures, training, and communication standards related to accessibility
- Escalate sensitive or complex accommodation matters to the Director of Student Support
Case Management & Student Support:
- Provide case management and direct support to graduate students navigating accommodation processes and well-being concerns (personal, financial, medical, mental health, academic)
- Serve as a resource for students on accommodation implementation, support services, and self-advocacy
- Maintain accurate, FERPA-compliant documentation related to student support and student-of-concern cases
- Identify gaps in student resources and expand access to financial and basic needs support
- Aggregate programmatic data and assess outcomes to measure effectiveness
Programming & Initiatives:
- Plan and execute co-curricular support programs, including skills workshops for over 1,200 students annually
- Contribute to school-wide events including New Student Orientation, Admitted Student Events, and Graduation/Commencement
- Serve on the SPS International Student Working group to develop support programming for international students
SPS CARE Team:
Serves on the CARE Team on-call rotation, triaging student concerns, determining appropriate referrals, coordinating follow-up with the Wellbeing team and University partners, documenting actions taken, and escalating urgent or high-risk matters.
Supervision and Other:
- Supervise office interns and support their training and development
- Perform other duties and special projects as assigned
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent related experience required
- 3 years related experience
Preferred Qualifications
- 3-5 years related experience in case management and accommodation support
- Professional experience in disability services, student affairs, academic support, wellness, or a related field, preferably in higher education
- Working knowledge of disability-related laws and regulations, including ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, FERPA, and related higher education accessibility practices
- Experience in a supervisory role including training and development of staff strongly preferred
- Master's degree from an accredited institution in social work, counseling, higher education and student affairs, or related field preferred
Other Requirements
- Must be detail-oriented, self-motivated, and able to make decisions independently while managing multiple responsibilities simultaneously
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills required
- Ability to collaborate and work well under pressure with short deadlines
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