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Our team of Strategy Instructors is largely made up of Graduate Assistants (GAs). We pride ourselves on our closeknit, collaborative, and supportive team environment.

Strategy Instructor Responsibilities and Qualifications

Strategy Instructors are responsible for meeting on a weekly basis with an assigned caseload of students participating in the Beyond Access program. Student participants are largely students who identify as individuals with disabilities or neurodivergent. In meetings, Strategy Instructors evaluate a student’s strengths and concerns to create and individualize strategies to support their progress toward goals. Students typically work toward goals in the areas of time management and organization, social engagement and social skills, academic skills, and career development; however, Strategy Instructors are able to provide holistic support covering a wide range of topics.

As Strategy Instructors need to be skilled in empathetically and sensitively working with a diverse student population, successful candidates often have educational background or experience, and/or are pursuing degrees in areas such as School Psychology, Counseling, Social Work, Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA), and Educational Leadership (EDLR), or related fields. All applications, however, are welcome.

Typically, our available positions are full assistantships (a 20-hour per week commitment). We occasionally have opportunities for 50% (10 hour) and 75% (15 hour) GAs. Assistantships are based at the Storrs, Hartford, and Stamford campuses.

Applications are open for the Fall 2026 semester.

 

The Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) ensures a comprehensively accessible University experience where individuals with disabilities have the same access to programs, opportunities and activities as all others. Beyond Access (BA) is a fee-based enhanced services program that offers individualized supports to help students bridge the gap between access and success. For more information about BA, please visit our website: https://beyondaccess.csd.uconn.edu/.

 

HOURS, LOCATION AND CAREER READINESS COMPETENCIES
Graduate Assistants (GA) working in the Beyond Access program serve as Strategy Instructors and work a full-time, 20 hour per week, schedule. Because of the nature of the program funding, appointments are on a semester-by-semester basis with the intention of re-appointing for the Spring 2027 semester pending a satisfactory performance.

BA Strategy Instructors work in the CSD office at the Storrs campus. The director of the BA program, Allison Knight, supervises the BA Strategy Instructors. There are 2 GAs available for the Fall 2026 semester.
Three (3) primary Career Readiness Competencies associated with this role are Leadership, Communication and Equity & Inclusion.

 

SUMMARY
The BA Strategy Instructor manages a caseload of students enrolled in the BA program. Students attend weekly meetings with their assigned Strategy Instructor over the course of the semester. BA participants work with their Strategy Instructor to create up to three goals in areas of interest and need. Strategy Instructors develop individualized tools, strategies, and approaches to promote skill development, support well-being, and prepare for long-term success. Our purpose is to support students in reaching self-selected goals in these and other areas over the course of a semester. Beyond Access provides semester-long support to students as they reach self-selected goals in many areas.

 

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Manages a caseload of assigned students within the BA program providing one-on-one strategy instruction to meet students’ established goals;
2. Presents students with individualized learning strategies supporting executive function skills (e.g., time management, organization), academic skills (e.g., notetaking, test-taking, studying), social engagement, stress management, and other related areas;
3. Promotes student development and self-determination in social, emotional, academic, and daily living realms; encourages and promotes goal setting with students;
4. Guides students in connecting with campus resources (e.g., using approved accommodations, navigating UConn procedures, utilizing tutoring centers and academic resources);
5. Records detailed confidential case notes in CSD’s database;
6. May assist and support other BA Strategy Instructors, including meeting with their students as needed;
7. May plan, coordinate and manage BA study halls and social groups based on program participants’ needs. These events are typically on a small scale, and Strategy Instructors may be responsible for securing space, developing themes, and facilitating groups;
8. May assist with operational functions at the CSD such as: answering phones, greeting students and visitors to CSD, copying and filing, exam administration, proctoring exams, scribing or reading exams, hiring notetakers, and other related duties;
9. May assist with supporting special projects which may be ongoing and require planning, coordination, and supervision.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be entering into or currently pursuing a master’s degree in special education, psychology, social work, or another related field.

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working with students in K-12 and/or higher education.
• Experience working with individuals with disabilities, particularly individuals with autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, and psychiatric conditions.
• Experience identifying and teaching strategies to support learning, social engagement skills, and executive function skills.

 

TO APPLY
Qualified candidates should email a resume and cover letter with the subject line ‘Strategy Instructor GA’ to Tim Smagacz, Assistant Director for Operations:
timothy.smagacz@uconn.edu.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all of the positions have been filled with a final submission deadline of April 1, 2026.

 

Compensation & Benefits: Stipend consistent with UConn Graduate Employee Union (GEU) rates and successful candidate’s level of education. Stipend rates can be found here. See the GEU contract for other generous benefits provided, including paid time off, tuition remission, and subsidized health insurance through the Connecticut Partnership Plan.

The University of Connecticut is an AA/EEO employer.