Assistant Program Director, Physician Assistant

POSITION SUMMARY:    

The Assistant Program Director is responsible in conjunction with the Program Director for the oversight of all aspects of the Physician Assistant Program. It is expected that the Assistant Program Director provides effective leadership towards ensuring the program consistently meets program and Student Learning Outcomes and is in compliance with ARC-PA Accreditation Standards.  The Assistant Program Director’s responsibilities include classroom instruction, clinical site maintenance, day-to-day program operations, assisting students toward successful program completion, and staffing the classroom/SCPEs (supervised clinical program experiences) with instructors who support the mission of the University. The Assistant Program Director is responsible to assist the Program Director and the Campus Dean of Academic Affairs with the fiscal well-being of the program as it relates to education and helping to maintain/grow enrollment. 

The Assistant Program Director is a member of the faculty (rank commensurate with experience) with the Physician Assistant Program.  The incumbent must assure that the South University philosophy is considered in carrying out the duties and responsibilities of this position, which includes quality services to clients; development, growth, involvement, and recognition of employees; sound economic principles; and maintenance of an environment which is conducive to innovation, positive thinking, and expansion. In the event of a Program Director vacancy the Assistant Program Director is responsible for assuming the role of interim Program Director. This position offers 7.5 weeks of vacation time and a $10,000 sign-on bonus.   

KEY JOB ELEMENTS: 

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• Selects, trains, develops, manages, and leads principal faculty (full-time and adjunct) according to the guidelines provided by the Campus Dean of Academic Affairs and the Dean of the College of Health Professions in accordance with the policies and procedures of the University/Campus. 

• Oversees with the Program Director accreditation activities and assures full compliance with federal, state, and accrediting body standards (ARC-PA) and regulations, as well as adhering to all policies and procedures. 

• Oversees continuous program evaluation and analysis, curriculum evaluation and analysis, and mission statement review. 

• Oversees faculty coordination by effectively managing coursework and workload of all PA program faculty through demonstration of program organization. 

• Oversees curriculum development, which includes the design and implementation of the program’s Didactic and Clinical phases with the program’s Student Learning Outcomes and PA competencies. 

• Provides effective management and leadership through responsiveness to issues related to personnel, strong communication skills, and proactive problem solving as a liaison with administration when indicated. 

• Oversees program operations, development, and planning with proper fiscal management in collaboration with the Campus Leadership Team.  

• Supports University programs designed to achieve student completion rates as outlined in the five-year strategic plan. 

• Facilitates the submission of required programmatic fees and documentation, including reports of graduation rates, performance on state licensing or certification examinations, and employment rates. 

• Provides teaching and instruction in the PA program including: 

• • Lecturing in areas of clinical and/or professional expertise. 

• • Providing academic advising as a Small Group Facilitator and Student Advisor. 

• • Provides remedial instruction as needed. 

• Assists the Director of Didactic Education with curriculum development, which includes the design and implementation of the curriculum. 

• Assists the Director of Clinical Education with clinical site development and clinical site monitoring. 

• Participates in the program’s admissions process to include student recruitment, applicant evaluation (through application review and candidate interview), and student selection meetings.  

• Collaborates with other academic (Assistant) Program Directors within the College of Health Professions and the PA Department Chair regarding scheduling, sharing faculty, resources, curriculum, department operations, and other activities.15. Engages in service, community and campus relations, Program Advisory Council (PAC), and scholarly activities appropriate to the role of the Assistant Program Director. 

• Participates in faculty development opportunities each year as required in the areas of teaching and academic administration. 

• In the event of a Program Director vacancy the Assistant Program Director is responsible for assuming the role of interim Program Director until a permanent Program Director for the respected program can be employed by the University.  

• Assists with other program, department, or university responsibilities as determined by the Program Director, and/or the Campus Dean of Academic Affairs. 

• Performs duties as outlined in the job description and in accordance with the provisions of Faculty Supplement to the South University Employee Handbook. 

REQUIREMENTS: 

• Achieved a terminal degree as a Physician Assistant  

• Holds a current or emeritus NCCPA Certification  

• Must be eligible for state licensure as a PA or holds an active, valid, and unencumbered PA state licensure 

• Must possess at least 3 years of full-time higher education experience at the time of appointment.  

• Have at least 5 years of clinical experience. 

• Experience in PA/medical classroom teaching and PA education administration highly preferred. 

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.   

• Strong interpersonal skills with student and staff populations. 

• Superior organization, prioritization, and self-motivation skills. 

• Strong computer skills, including MS Office Suite, Examsoft, and WebAdMIT. 

ENVIRONMENT:   

The individual must be able to travel out of the local area with an occasional overnight stay to participate in a variety of conferences and meetings. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The term "qualified individual with a disability" means an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate professionally in person, over the telephone, through email, video conference and other electronic means, move about the office or school, handle various types of media and equipment, and visually or otherwise identify, observe and assess. The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 10 pounds unless otherwise specified in the job description.  

South University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces diversity as a critical step in ensuring employee, student, and graduate success. We are committed to building and developing a diverse environment where a variety of ideas, cultures, and perspectives can thrive.