Job Summary:
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. Reporting to the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, the Executive Director 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 Executive Director fosters a collaborative culture in which accessibility, learning support, tutoring, metacognitive skill development, and academic intervention strategies operate as interconnected components of a comprehensive student success ecosystem. The position oversees the Director of Accessibility and the Director of Tutoring/CAEI and works closely with academic leadership, faculty, advising, enrollment management, and student affairs partners to ensure equitable access to learning and academic success opportunities for all students.
Leadership and Strategy
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. Reporting to the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, the Executive Director 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 Executive Director fosters a collaborative culture in which accessibility, learning support, tutoring, metacognitive skill development, and academic intervention strategies operate as interconnected components of a comprehensive student success ecosystem. The position oversees the Director of Accessibility and the Director of Tutoring/CAEI and works closely with academic leadership, faculty, advising, enrollment management, and student affairs partners to ensure equitable access to learning and academic success opportunities for all students.
Leadership and Strategy
- Develop, implement and ensure effectiveness of a comprehensive vision for academic success and accessibility that aligns with institutional strategic priorities.
- Directly supervise the Director of Accessibility and the Director of Tutoring/CAEI and related staff within their departments.
- Establish annual goals, performance metrics, and assessment plans for all units within the division.
- Oversee budgets, staffing plans, and resource allocation.
- Promote professional development and cross-training opportunities for staff, tutors and proctors.
- Lead the development of institution-wide intervention strategies informed by early alert systems, academic performance indicators, and student support data.
- Ensure staff and faculty training incorporates principles of accessibility, metacognition, executive functioning, self-advocacy, learning science, and student success in compliance with all policies, procedures and regulatory guidelines.
- Develop systems that facilitate coordinated referrals and support among accessibility, tutoring, advising, and academic affairs units.
- Partner with University colleagues in Enrollment Management, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs and Institutional Research to understand and expand opportunities for increased retention and success across programs.
- Provide ongoing assessment of all functions within the units measuring utilization, retention, persistence, academic performance, and graduation outcomes.
- Analyze student success data and provide recommendations to university leadership.
- Lead annual program reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Prepare reports for accreditation, strategic planning, and institutional effectiveness initiatives.
- Partner with faculty and academic leaders to identify barriers and develop evidence-based academic success interventions.
- Collaborate with schools and departments to expand embedded academic support models in high-impact and historically challenging courses.
- Partner with the Office of Legal Counsel and Title IX and Equity Compliance colleagues to support institutional compliance with all local, state and federal regulations.
- Promote Universal Design for Learning and inclusive educational practices.
- Serve on University committees related to student success, retention, accessibility, and academic quality.
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree required; doctorate preferred.
- Minimum 5-7 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in higher education or other academic setting.
- Demonstrated leadership experience overseeing accessibility services, academic support, student success, tutoring, or related student success offices within a higher education or academic environment.
- Expertise in using data to inform decisions and measure impact. Proficiency in project management tools and techniques. Exceptional organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and projects in a fast-paced environment.
- Extensive knowledge of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, accommodation processes, accessibility standards, and emerging best practices in higher education accessibility and student success.
- Demonstrated experience interpreting and applying federal and state regulations governing disability access and accommodations in postsecondary education or other academic settings.
- Experience developing, implementing, and assessing policies, procedures, and programs designed to promote equitable access, student persistence, academic achievement, and degree completion.
- Demonstrated ability in supervising professional staff, managing complex operations, and leading cross-functional initiatives involving academic affairs, student affairs, faculty, and administrative stakeholders.
- Doctorate in higher education, educational leadership, student affairs, counseling, special education, or related field.
- Experience with accreditation and institutional effectiveness processes.
About Mercy
Mercy University is a dynamic, independent, coeducational New York City area university that offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs in six schools: Business, Education, Health and Natural Sciences, Liberal Arts, Nursing, and Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Mercy is the region's largest private, nonprofit, Minority-Serving Institution, proud to serve a student body that is highly diverse. As a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), Mercy University, has been ranked nationally among top colleges in the country for Hispanics by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and by Excelencia in Education, earning their prestigious Seal of Excelencia for intentionally serving Latino students.
Mercy University was further recognized by HACU as a national leader in awarding bachelor's degrees to Hispanics in several disciplines, including Psychology, Sociology, and Business. Westchester Magazine has also named Mercy the Best College in Westchester County in 2019, 2020, and 2022.
Mercy is committed to offering an inclusive learning environment to help a diverse student body set a course for their future. To support its student body, Mercy has been awarded a number of federal grants which enable us to better develop and deliver education to our students.
Mercy’s student body reflects the rich diversity of the New York metropolitan area. Enrollment, including full-time and part-time undergraduates and graduates, is approximately 8,800. Mercy students learn on campuses in Dobbs Ferry, the Bronx, and Manhattan as well as online.
At Mercy University we strive to provide employees and their families with a comprehensive and valuable benefits package. We offer high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts, flexible spending, and much more.
Our Mission:
Mercy University is committed to providing motivated students the opportunity to transform their lives through higher education by offering liberal arts and professional programs in personalized and high-quality learning environments, thus preparing students to embark on rewarding careers, to continue learning throughout their lives and to act ethically and responsibly in a changing world.
Benefits Eligible:
Mercy University strives to provide employees and their families with a comprehensive and valuable benefits package. We offer high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts, flexible spending, and much more.
EEO Statement
Mercy University is an equal opportunity employer. Mercy University actively engages in recruiting a diverse workforce and student body that includes members of historically underrepresented groups and strives to build and sustain a welcoming and supportive campus community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, height, weight, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.
As part of this commitment, Mercy University will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact The Office of Human Resources at (914) 674-7839, Option 6 or via email at HR@mercy.edu.
The posted salary range for this position is based on several legitimate, non-discriminatory factors set by the organization. Mercy is committed to ensuring equal pay opportunities for equal work regardless of gender, race, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local pay equity laws.
Campus Safety
Mercy University is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all. Information regarding campus safety can be found here .