OSU Oregon State University
Hiring now
Digital Accessibility Assistant (Student)
Hybrid · Corvallis, Oregon, United StatesPart-timePosted 5 weeks ago
OSU Oregon State University
ApplyOSU Oregon State University
Hiring now
Hybrid · Corvallis, Oregon, United StatesPart-timePosted 5 weeks ago
OSU Oregon State University
ApplyWhen applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:
Supplemental Questions:
1. Do you have any experience with assistive technology?
2. Do you have any experience with HTML, CSS or JavaScript?
For additional information please contact: Tel Woolsey at woolseyt@oregonstate.edu
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.
OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.
Note: All job offers are contingent upon Human Resources final approval
This recruitment will be used to fill 2 part-time (a maximum of 20 hours per week) Digital Accessibility Assistant positions to support the UIT Digital Experience team. This student team will help evaluate and improve the accessibility of OSU’s digital footprint by testing university websites and digital content against recognized accessibility standards. Working primarily as accessibility auditors, team members will use web governance and accessibility testing tools such as Monsido, along with manual testing techniques, to identify barriers that affect people with disabilities and to document clear, actionable findings for website owners. Successful candidates will demonstrate strong attention to detail, a willingness to learn, and the ability to collaborate with peers to accomplish tasks.
At Oregon State University (OSU), University Information and Technology (UIT) is at the forefront of the university's technological transformation. UIT is dedicated to empowering the entire university community by providing secure access to the right data, tools, and services needed to navigate and shape their unique paths to success. By protecting OSU’s technological assets and managing resources efficiently, we enable the university to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.
Led by the Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO), UIT manages IT operations for OSU’s three campuses, serving students in Oregon’s 36 counties and in more than 100 countries. UIT's leadership philosophy centers around a human-centric and fully architected technology landscape, leveraging enterprise solutions for common good services while empowering individual colleges and business units to innovate and invest in their missions and initiatives.
UIT designs and implements a seamless, interconnected digital ecosystem that aligns to the university’s strategic goals and maximizes impact. The division is comprised of trusted partners and consultants committed to igniting innovation and fostering a culture of continuous improvement by providing expert guidance and innovative solutions that support the university’s teaching, research, outreach and extension mission. Together, we are building a future where technology and education converge to create limitless possibilities.
Located within the Division of University Information and Technology, the Business Architecture domain bridges the gap between the OSU community and technology, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and operational needs. We collaborate to deliver tailored IT solutions that enhance capabilities, foster innovation, and drive organizational change. By understanding the needs of faculty, staff, and students and connecting them with the right resources, we help improve engagement, streamline processes, and enable seamless access to both administrative and academic technology services.
Please note all OSU IT team members are expected to meet the following commitments:
AI Statement: OSU IT embraces the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to drive innovation, enhance efficiency, and create meaningful impact across our teaching, research, and administrative functions. As a member of the OSU IT community, the person in this position is expected to thoughtfully engage with AI tools and practices, champion their ethical and responsible use, and actively contribute to the development of AI-driven solutions that uphold our institutional values and advance the university’s mission.
Data Statement: OSU IT commits to deliver data as a strategic working asset and to enable data informed decision making across OSU. OSU IT leaders and staff lead by example and use data to inform decision making at all levels in the organization. Persons in technology roles are also expected to design systems with data portability in mind and work within enterprise architecture and privacy guidelines.
DEIA Statement: OSU IT commits to and believes in the strength and value of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA) both throughout our team and as an intentional and active practice to advance the vision, mission, and strategic efforts of the entire university. As a member of the OSU IT community, the person in this position is expected to foster and promote the values of DEIA and demonstrate a commitment to inclusive excellence in their work.
Security Statement: Proactively securing and protecting OSU’s digital assets and information systems is crucial to our missions of teaching and learning, research, and extension and engagement. All OSU IT professionals are directly responsible for providing high quality and secure IT systems and services. Persons in technology roles are expected to be responsive to security related actions and requirements, and to collaborate to find secure ways to support the OSU community.
Position Duties:
Accessibility Testing & Auditing (50%)
Conduct manual and automated accessibility evaluations of university websites and digital content, measuring them against WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria.
Use web governance and accessibility tools (such as Monsido) along with browser-based testing tools to detect issues such as missing alternative text, improper heading structure, insufficient color contrast, keyboard navigation barriers, and inaccessible forms.
Verify automated findings through manual review to confirm true issues and reduce false positives.
Where assistive technologies are available, use tools such as screen readers to confirm the real-world impact of identified barriers.
Retest content after remediation to confirm that reported issues have been resolved.
Documentation & Reporting (20%)
Record accessibility findings in a clear, consistent, and prioritized format, referencing the specific WCAG success criteria involved.
Translate technical accessibility issues into plain-language explanations and actionable remediation recommendations for website owners and content authors.
Collaborate with the Digital Experience team and website owners to prioritize identified issues based on severity and user impact.
Maintain accurate records of audit progress and status across assigned sites and content.
Contribute to shared documentation, checklists, and best-practice guides that support consistent testing across the team.
Assist with preparing summary reports and supporting materials that help university staff understand accessibility findings and recommended next steps.
Document Review and Remediation (20%)
Review digital documents for accessibility issues and perform basic remediation to improve their structure, reading order, and usability for people with disabilities.
Flag documents that require more advanced remediation for escalation to the Digital Experience team.
General Duties (10%)
Attend regular team meetings, participate in ongoing training, and collaborate with peers to accomplish tasks effectively.
Exhibit a strong willingness to learn, problem solve, and adapt to changing project needs.
Contribute to the development of new processes, tools, or strategies for enhancing the overall quality and efficiency of the Digital Experience team's work.
Perform other duties as assigned to support the successful operation of the UIT Digital Experience team. These duties may be adjusted according to the specific skills and interests of the selected candidate. The position may also involve other duties as assigned to support the goals of the UIT Digital Experience team.
Transferable Skill Development
OSU is committed to ensuring students are prepared for success after graduation through intentional skill development as student employees. The competencies students develop while working at OSU are defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) as the essential skills employers seek in their hires. In this position, students learn and build vital career-readiness skills in the primary areas below:
Communication, Critical Thinking, Technology, Leadership, Professionalism
Full Employment Eligibility Requirements can be found here: https://hr.oregonstate.edu/student-employment-manual/500-employment-eligibility-requirements
Must be academically enrolled in a high school, community college, or university and pursuing a program or course of study
Must meet Academic Standing Requirements; students on academic suspension are not eligible for employment
Must meet the applicable minimal enrollment standard
High School student: Regularly enrolled in a high school or participating in a home-schooling program
Undergraduate and post-baccalaureate student: 6 credit hours per term
Undergraduate international student: 12 credit hours per term*
Graduate student officially admitted to Graduate School: 5 credit hours per term
Graduate international student officially admitted to Graduate School: 9 credit hours per term*
*International students may be allowed to carry fewer hours than specified above and still be considered “full-time” by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A reduced course load is approved by the Office of International Services (OIS), and must be provided to the Student Employment Center.
Preferred Qualifications:
Interpersonal and Professional Skills
Demonstrates dependability, professionalism, and conscientiousness; consistently follows through on commitments and displays an ethical approach to tasks and interactions.
Possesses strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to approach complex issues logically and methodically.
Shows initiative by proactively exploring problems, researching solutions, and persisting until the successful completion of tasks.
Displays exceptional attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and consistency in all tasks undertaken.
Exhibits excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to convey complex ideas clearly and effectively.
Practices effective time management skills, balancing multiple tasks and priorities while maintaining high-quality output.
Demonstrates strong customer service skills, focusing on understanding and addressing the needs of the end user.
Openness to peer learning: willing to both share expertise and knowledge with peers, as well as learn from them.
Technical Skills and Experience
Familiarity with one or more of the following is helpful. None of these is required on its own, and we expect strong candidates to bring some, but not all, of these:
A basic understanding of how web pages are built and structured, including HTML and CSS. Some familiarity with JavaScript is a plus but is not required.
Awareness of WCAG 2.1 accessibility guidelines and general digital accessibility best practices is a plus.
Content management systems: Some experience with web content management systems such as Drupal or WordPress is a plus.
Exposure to accessibility or web governance tools (such as Monsido, WAVE, or axe) is a plus.
Familiarity with assistive technologies such as screen readers (for example, JAWS, NVDA, or VoiceOver) is a strong plus but not expected.