Testing Services Administrator [United States]

 

The Office of Student Accessibility Services (OSAS) is the unit on campus responsible for ensuring equitable access to the University setting for a diverse population of students with disabilities. With a focus on accessibility, inclusivity and creating environments free of discrimination, OSAS team members assess and approve reasonable accommodations and services for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, both on campus and on-line. The OSAS Testing Center and the main OSAS office are synergized and foster a culture of connectedness among staff and students.

Under the supervision of the Center Director, the Testing Services Administrator will be responsible for the essential administrative functions of the OSAS Testing Center, including reviewing and processing exam scheduling requests, and communication between the OSAS Testing Center and students, staff, faculty, and campus partners. The Testing Services Administrator will serve as a primary resource and participate in core Testing Center processes and tasks related to accommodated testing and academic integrity protocols.

The Testing Services Administrator will provide direct support to students, faculty, and staff, and will partner with the Center Supervisor and the Center Director on educating faculty and academic departments on how to effectively coordinate testing services and implement testing accommodations (i.e. 1.5x). This role may coordinate and indirectly oversee full-time professional-level staff, graduate student workers and volunteer exam proctors, and may at times serve as a reader or scribe for students approved for such accommodations.

The Office of Student Accessibility (OSAS) is a large and highly collaborative team with twenty-three full time staff members who embrace a culture of excellence, supportiveness, and inclusivity. USC has demonstrated significant institutional commitment to supporting its students with disabilities and the team that serves them, consistently approving new staff positions in response to increased student need. OSAS strives to support our staff through growth opportunities, and we are highly committed to professional development. Our commitment to our people has resulted in career advancement opportunities through internal promotion. The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability to contribute to this positive, collaborative team culture.

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Key Responsibilities

The general responsibilities/duties aligned with the Testing Services Administrator are as follows.

• Manage general Testing Center email account. Review and process exam scheduling requests; assist with student check-in/check-out for testing at the Center; participate in test preparation.
• Facilitation and coordination of exam preparation and exam proctoring during midterms and finals.
• Ensure exam security and academic integrity by adhering to standardized testing center protocols and processes and overall adherence to OSAS policies and procedures.
• Provide informational support to students, faculty and campus contacts by serving as a front-line contact regarding accommodated testing processes, basic database questions, and general guidance on policies and procedures within the Center, and OSAS in general.
• Maintain professionalism through interactions with faculty, administration, and staff, and provide courteous service to students and parents.
• Assist with process improvement and/or development of new center processes to ensure alignment with best practices in the field of disability/accessibility services.
• Assist with oversight of Testing Services Coordinators, graduate student workers and volunteer exam proctors.

• Interact with confidential information, understand legal and ethical compliance issues within the Center, possess and use discretion and good professional judgment; demonstrate ability to provide excellent customer service while also maintaining a commitment to policies and practices of the department and University.
• Provide de-escalation support to students in distress and facilitate student-crisis management.
• Update and maintain student file information in department database (AIM). Protect privacy of student information (according to FERPA guidelines)
• Efficiently and accurately respond to inquiries (phone, email and in-person) based on policies and practices of the Testing Center/OSAS. Screen and forward calls/messages and emails to appropriate staff. Make referrals to other campus offices as appropriate.
• Maintain clean and orderly reception area. Maintain office equipment, supplies, and security measures. Routine clerical tasks and assist Center Director as needed.
• General office work (coping, scanning, filing, phone calls, emails, records management).
• Contribute to department meetings, events, projects, and communication as appropriate and necessary.
• Flexibility in scheduling to meet the needs of the office, including work shifts during Finals Week. Finals may include extended, evening and/or Saturday hours.
• Front desk coverage at GFS and TC, e.g. for staff lunch breaks, as well as planned and unplanned Receptionist time off, meetings, or other commitments.
• Other duties as assigned. May include cross-training to assist different programs within the unit or the Division of Student Affairs.

Essential Skills

• Disability-related laws: Knowledge of, or ability to quickly learn, understand, and apply disability-related laws (i.e. ADAAA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act) to routine accommodation and service delivery, as well as to basic issue-identification and problem-solving. Maintain student records in accordance with FERPA guidelines.
• Technology: Knowledge of operating systems (PC, Mac). Ability to format in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Knowledge of Google Drive, SharePoint and/or OneDrive. Ability to learn various assistive technology programs, including Kurzweil and Dragon. Adeptness with basic office software (Microsoft Office Suite), email (Outlook), and internet. Comfort and ability to learn department database to access, update and edit student records.
• Teamwork: Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team, as well as independently. Commitment to ensuring the on-going, successful functioning of the unit via day-to-day and longer-term operations. Willingness to assist staff as needed.
• Communication: Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills demonstrated across a wide range of populations (e.g. students, faculty, academic department contacts, University and Division staff, as well as the OSAS staff). Ability to recognize and provide assistance to students in distress, maintain professionalism in the face of challenging communications, and assist with emergency response as needed.
• Judgment: Sound professional judgment, exhibited in areas including, but not limited to: raising issues to the appropriate team member(s), effective prioritization, responsiveness, proactivity, assisting students in distress, safety measures on behalf of the office, etc. Operating with a service-orientation, balanced with a commitment to policies and practices of the office are crucial. Ability to “think on your feet”, problem-resolution, and crisis management.
• Time and Project Management: Given the time-sensitive work, multiple concurrent processes, and varying levels of intensity in the Center, ability to manage and shift between multiple competing priorities, work independently, collaborate effectively, and demonstrate flexibility to meet the needs of the Center on a day-to-day basis. Proven ability to complete necessary work by established deadlines, and provide quality assurance to all deliverables. Demonstrate attention to detail, effective issue identification, excellent organizational skills, trouble-shooting and problem-solving skills and proactivity in work and communication.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field (i.e.: Disability Studies, Counseling, Psychology, Higher Ed Administration/Student Affairs; etc.)
• 1-2 years coordinating services in a post-secondary setting
• Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education

Preferred Qualifications

• 2-4 years coordinating services for students with disabilities in a post-secondary setting

• Experience working in higher education, preferably student affairs or similar function
• Experience working with students with disabilities, preferably in higher education
• Experience working in a testing center in a college setting

Application Procedure: Please include a cover letter with your CV/resume. It can be added to the application at the same time/place you add your CV/resume.

Hourly Range: "The hourly rate range for this position is $23.62 - $29.95 . When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

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Minimum Education: - Bachelor's degree - Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: - 1 year - Combined education/experience as substitute for minimum experience Minimum Field of Expertise: - Student personnel administration

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