"Staff Associate-MAIPSE Program Coordinator"

Job Details

About Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts:

At MCLA, we're here for all, and focused on each, of our students. Classes are taught by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive on every level of their lives. In every way possible, the experience at MCLA is designed to elevate our students as individuals, leaders, and communicators, fully empowered to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 130-year commitment to public education, we have fortified our dedication to equitable academic excellence. MCLA has appeared on U.S. News & World Report's list of Top Ten Public Colleges for 10 consecutive years, earning the No. 6 spot on the list of Top Public Liberal Arts Schools in the nation for 2025, after earning the No. 7 spot the prior three years. The College's focus on affordable education and economic prosperity is reflected in additional 2025 U.S. News rankings: No. 5 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for liberal arts colleges in the state and No. 2 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for public liberal arts colleges in the country. These rankings measure how well schools graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants. Learn more at www.mcla.edu

Job Description:

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

The MAIPSE Program Coordinator will oversee MCLA's Massachusetts Inclusive Post-Secondary Enrollment Initiative (MAIPSE) Program. The Program is a partnership between local school districts, service agencies, employer partners, and MCLA to provide students with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and other developmental disabilities with a postsecondary education opportunity. The MAIPSE Program Coordinator works with the campus' MAIPSE planning and advisory team to implement the Program and support students through coursework, academic skill development, career planning and employment, developing self-advocacy skills, connecting to campus engagements and resources, and navigating campus life. The MAIPSE Program Coordinator serves as a liaison to faculty across academic disciplines, as well as other administrative offices to advance and promote MAIPSE initiatives across campus. The MAIPSE Coordinator will work closely with the Dean and Assistant Director of the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education (DGCE) to oversee a comprehensive MAIPSE program at MCLA. The MAIPSE Coordinator will also provide secondary advising and programmatic support for students broadly associated with DGCE.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Reports to the Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Administrative

• Works with the Office of Institutional Advancement on the development of the Department of Higher Education's Massachusetts Inclusive Post-Secondary Enrollment Initiative implementation grants. This includes the request for proposal, needs assessments, mid-year, and end-of-year reporting.
• Maintains student records and reporting within the ThinkData system.
• Tracks program budget, including processing purchase orders, travel payments, and budget spend-out.
• Works with Bursar's office to create invoices and bills for student tuition payments, in line with the agreed upon payment structure.
• Ensure compliance with the Memoranda of Understanding established between external partnerships and provide annual updates to each agreement, as needed.
• Create models for MAIPSE engagements and MCLA academic advising and support special initiatives and programs.

Partnership

• Coordinates with local school districts and adult service agencies to maintain a partnership that supports students with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and other developmental disabilities, and their families to continue their education.
• Provide assessment of program activities to campus and state leadership.
• Act as a key stakeholder on the MAIPSE advisory team that is responsible for program oversight and implementation. This team includes representatives from Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, faculty, students, community agencies, workforce development providers, and local school districts.
• Attends regular statewide meetings and conferences with other MAIPSE programs.
• Attend regular meetings with the MCLA DGCE and distinct other MCLA meetings with collaborative partners.

Student Advising and Engagement

• Organize and implement the application, registration, and orientation process for incoming MAIPSE students.
• Monitor the progress of MAIPSE students in caseload with routine check-ins, scheduled meetings or proactive outreach and communication related to academic and other concerns, and responding to student questions, concerns, and needs.
• Facilitate faculty, staff, and student leader training and technical assistance to ensure they have the skills needed to provide inclusive opportunities for this student population.
• Identify and work with faculty across departments and the office of Disability Resources to provide accommodation and learning plans for MAIPSE coursework.
• Collaborate with Student Affairs to welcome participating students to social networks via campus-wide and community events.
• Act as a liaison to Career Services to welcome participating students to career planning, vocational skill-building, and integrated employment opportunities.
• Make contacts with outside agencies as needed.

DGCE Programming

• Work closely with the Assistant Director and Dean of DGCE to integrate best practices for all DGCE student onboarding and support services.
• Assist with marketing of DGCE programming.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree with 3-5 years or more of experience in a similar capacity. Master's Degree preferred.
• Experience working with students with intellectual disabilities in an educational setting.
• Proven strong communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with students, staff, and faculty both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to establish priorities, work independently, and proceed with objectives.

Additional Information:

This is a grant-funded, temporary full-time position through August 31, 2026, within the APA Union. Continuation beyond August 2026 is grant dependent. Salary for this position is $52,000-$55,000. Position starts on 11/01/2025.

Until further notice, in response to the Presidential proclamation, issued on September 19, 2025, imposing a significant fee on the entry of individuals with new H-1B visas, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. Should you need to request a reasonable accommodation for the application process, please email Brenda Stokes, Executive Director of Human Resources.

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is deeply committed to fostering a community of excellence, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We provide equal access to educational, co-curricular and employment opportunities for all applicants, students, and employees regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital or parental status, veteran status, or membership in any other legally protected class. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any educational program or activity that they operate, which extends to admission and employment.

Inquiries about Title IX, Equal Opportunity, or ADA/504 and other non-discrimination policies may be directed to MCLA's Interim Title IX and Equal Opportunity Coordinator, to the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, or both.

Lucas Morrill
Interim Title IX and EO Coordinator
375 Church Street, North Adams, MA 01247
Telephone: (413) 662-5103
Titleix@mcla.edu

U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
33 Arch Street, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02119-1424
Telephone: (617) 289-0111; FAX: (617) 289-0150; TDD (877) 521-2172
OCR.Boston@ed.gov

Application Instructions:

Applicants should electronically submit an application by clicking on the APPLY NOW button below.