Position Overview

Jayhawk Global is an education innovation center at the University of Kansas that advances and delivers flexible forms of learner engagement, including online degree programs, professional and workforce development, and competency-based educational offerings. The Center for Online and Distance Learning specializes in instructional design and media innovation. We serve KU faculty and staff who develop and deliver online and hybrid courses. Our focus is to facilitate Jayhawk Global’s strategic goals for expanding online education by providing pedagogy and technology expertise in support of teaching and learning.

The Accessibility Coordinator plays a critical, lead role in ensuring digital learning materials are accessible for all learners. This position works closely with instructional designers, faculty, and other stakeholders to produce accessible documents, presentations, and other course-related materials. The Accessibility Coordinator, with limited direction from supervisor, is responsible for applying universal design principles and ensuring compliance with accessibility standards such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements. This position helps to define course development goals and policies based on the latest accessibility regulations and identifies opportunities for professional development in universal design.

KU offers great benefits to employees with up to 176 hours of paid vacation per year, 96 hours of sick leave earned per year, nine paid holidays plus one discretionary day, a retirement program, medical & dental insurance, life and disability insurance, other benefit plan options, and State of Kansas discounts offered by various vendors. KU also offers employees educational and professional development opportunities.

Tuition assistance offers up to 12 credit hours per year for employees and Employee Dependent Tuition Assistance Scholarship (EDTAS) award opportunities! Details and additional KU Benefits information available at: Tuition Assistance | KU Benefits

KU’s excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other’s success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard, and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things.

The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.

Job Description

60% – Accessible Content Creation

• Review and edit course-related documents in Canvas (syllabi, readings, quizzes, etc.) to ensure they meet accessibility standards.
• Create accessible PDF files, Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and other digital learning materials using best practices.
• Ensure the proper use of headings, alternative text for images, accessible tables, and other key accessibility features.

20% – Training and Support

• Provide support for faculty and staff in the creation of accessible content.
• Serve as a point of contact for accessibility-related inquiries and troubleshooting; collaborate with campus partners, such as IT and Student Access Center, as needed to resolve issues.
• Develop and deliver workshops and resources to assist in creating accessible online content, including how-to guides and tutorials.
• Advise Instructional Designers and Digital Media Coordinators on best practices for ensuring that all course content, including documents and multimedia, is fully accessible.

10% – Quality Assurance

• Perform regular quality assurance checks on online course content and suggest improvements for accessibility compliance.
• Use assistive technologies such as screen readers, keyboard navigation, and magnifiers to test and validate course content functionality.

5% – Continuous Improvement

• Stay up to date with accessibility trends, tools, and legal requirements related to online learning environments.
• Recommend and implement improvements to workflows, processes, and tools to streamline the creation of accessible content.
• Attend monthly Disability Inclusion & Technology meetings and serve as CODL’s liaison at university sponsored events supporting accessibility.

5% – Other related duties as assigned.

Position Requirements

• This position is located on the Lawrence campus, and physical presence in the Lawrence office is required on a regular basis.
• Occasionally this position will require some flexibility during academic year peak and special events.
• Ability to travel to conferences semi-annually for professional development is highly desirable.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree OR Bachelor’s degree plus 3 years’ related experience. Degree needs to be in education, instructional design, educational technology, digital media, communication or related field.
• Experience working with or navigating accessibility guidelines (WCAG, ADA, Section 508) and the legal requirements for educational institutions.
• Experience working with digital accessibility tools (e.g., Ally, YuJa, WAVE, Axe) and assistive technologies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification or training in accessibility-related fields (e.g., CPACC, WAS, etc.).
• Experience working with a variety of teaching and learning technologies such as Articulate360, Microsoft Teams, VoiceThread, Zoom etc.
• Experience with learning management systems (e.g., Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle) and online course development.
• Experience working with the Quality Matters rubric.
• Experience working with college-level academic and technology staff.
• Participation or membership in professional associations and organizations as evidenced in application materials.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and lead group training.
• Experience managing multiple projects and priorities while maintaining effective working relationships with colleagues in a collaborative team environment.
• Excellent written communication skills as demonstrated by application materials.

Additional Candidate Instructions

A complete application includes:

• Resume or curriculum vitae
• Cover letter addressing how the required and preferred qualifications are met.
• Contact information of 3 professional references

Only complete applications will be considered.

Application review begins Wednesday, March 5th. For consideration, please apply no later than Tuesday, March 4th.

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Contact Information to Applicants

Laura Diede, lldiede@ku.edu

Advertised Salary Range

$50,000 – $60,000, commensurate with experience

Work Schedule

M-F 8a-5p; Hybrid schedule to be determined between candidate and supervisor.

Application Review Begins

Wednesday March 5, 2025

Anticipated Start Date

Monday March 17, 2025