Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Director of Clinical Education (DCE)

As a part of a diverse community of faculty and staff who represent many faith systems and worldviews, Marian University seeks a Director of Clinical Education to promote our Catholic Franciscan mission and identity by contributing to the development of clinical education for the inaugural Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program.

The successful candidate will be passionate about clinical education with a spirit for innovation and creative problem-solving. This individual will be a key leader in the development of the inaugural program within the Department of Physical Therapy, including contributing to a unique curricular design and establishing clinical partnerships that will meet the needs of our diverse learners in collaboration with expanding health professions programs at Marian University.

The position is a full-time, 12-month, non-tenured core faculty member appointment holding the rank of clinical assistant, clinical associate, assistant, or associate professor of physical therapy. Rank and salary are commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Actively engage the Catholic Franciscan mission and identity of Marian University by modeling the Franciscan Sponsorship Values and honoring the legacy of the founding congregation through transformative education, unity in diversity, leadership through service, integrating faith and life, and institutional policies.
• Contribute to the creation of a mission, vision, and strategic plan for the developing programs that supports innovation, accessibility, leadership, and excellence in physical therapy education and practice.

Clinical Education Leadership:

• Lead the physical therapist assistant clinical education team, providing guidance and delegation to clinical education program staff.
• Oversee the recruitment, mentorship, and professional development of clinical instructors (CIs) and Site/Center Coordinators of Clinical Education (SCCEs).
• Assist with development and coordination of clinical education aspects of strategic planning and monitoring of clinical education goals/outcomes.
• Foster a culture that promotes dignity, justice, and unity in physical therapy clinical education.

Clinical Education Operations & Curriculum:

• Plan, develop, coordinate, and facilitate the clinical education operations and curricula within the Department of Physical Therapy.
• Establish and strengthen collaborative partnerships with clinical education sites that represent contemporary physical therapy practice and uphold the mission of the physical therapy programs at Marian.
• Collaborate with Marian University Health Professions leadership team to develop and implement formal clinical affiliation agreements inclusive of the diverse learning needs of students.
• Facilitate quality clinical learning experiences for students, ensuring compliance with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) standards.
• Collaborate and communicate with clinical education partners and faculty to address the diverse learning needs of the students and assess the quality of clinical education experiences.
• Facilitate mentorship of clinical education faculty (SCCEs and CIs) to boost connections between didactic content and clinical application.
• Develop and revise (as needed) physical therapy clinical education policies and procedures, informing students and clinical faculty on policies and monitoring adherence during clinical education experiences.
• Place, supervise, and communicate with students while on clinical education experiences
• Communicate information about clinical education with core faculty, clinical education sites, clinical education faculty (SCCEs and CIs), and students.

Clinical Education Assessment and Accreditation:

• Implement data-driven decisions through collection and interpretation of clinical education data to assess the needs of the program, faculty, students, and clinical partners.
• Maintain compliance with CAPTE accreditation standards related to clinical education policies, procedures, and practices.
• Ensure continual assessment and improvement of the clinical education program, utilizing feedback from clinical sites, students, and faculty to drive enhancements.

Teaching:

• Create and deliver learning experiences that are consistent with the program's mission and curricular guiding principles.
• Provide honest and meaningful assessment of student learning, competence and behaviors that cultivate reflective and adaptive learning.
• Demonstrate teaching effectiveness and appropriate use of educational technology
• Assess student progress toward entrustment of professional physical therapy activities through clinical education experiences.

Scholarship:

• Promote a culture prioritizing evidence-based practice.

Service:

• Role model Franciscan values through collaborative endeavors and service to the university, profession, and communities.

Program:

• Initiate, adopt, evaluate, and uphold program and University policies, procedures, and practices including, but not limited to:
  
  
  
  • Admission requirements
  • Academic policies (i.e. grading policy)
  • Professional behavior policies (i.e. related to ethical behavior, essential functions)
  • Clinical Education
  • Student progression through the program
  
  
  
  
• Engage in developing and implementing expectations for student behaviors and skills that ensure competency and safety before engaging in clinical education.
• Participate in the assessment of students' professionalism, competence, safety, and readiness for clinical education, in cooperation with other faculty.

Others:

• Other duties as assigned by the PTA Program Director or the Director of Physical Therapy.

University and Department Expectations:

• Strong organizational, communication, interpersonal, problem-solving, and mentoring skills
• Able to travel to clinical education sites as needed
• Communicates regularly with supervisor and clinical sites
• Participate in recruitment and retention activities for students
• Ensure compliance with university and departmental policies and procedures
• Contribute to development and assessment of department goals, objectives, and strategic plan
• Adheres to the department budget
• Regularly participates in academic unit meetings
• Knowledge of legislative, regulatory, legal, and practice issues affecting physcial therapist assistant clinical education
• Support the accomplishment of the University strategic goals
• Knowledge of and a commitment to the mission of Marian University
• Participate in annual faculty evaluation consistent with university practices
• Shows courtesy and respect in interactions with fellow employees, students subordinates, and supervisors

Required Qualifications:

The Director of Clinical Education (DCE) will demonstrate the academic and professional qualifications and relevant experience requisite for providing effective clinical education leadership for the physical therapy programs, faculty, and students. Qualifications include all the following:

• A clinical degree in physical therapist assistant or physical therapy (PTA, BSPT, MSPT, DPT)
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  A minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of recognized standing (individuals with a graduate degree may be given preference pending overall experience)

  
  
• Hold an active, unencumbered, Indiana physical therapy license or physical therapist assistant license/certification or be eligible for licensure/certification in Indiana
• At least three years of full-time (or equivalent) post-licensure/certification clinical practice
• At least two years of clinical practice as a SCCE and/or CI or two years of experience in teaching, curriculum development, and administration in a physical therapy education program.

Preference will be given to those with previous experience in clinical education and/or teaching in a physical therapy education program (DCE, Assistant DCE, etc.), APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor, experience with CAPTE accreditation, active professional service at the local, state, or national level, and/or ABPTS certification or PTA Advanced Proficiency.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

For Consideration All Applications Require:

1. Cover Letter
2. Current resume or CV
3. Contact information of three professional references. The reference contact information must be entered after the application is submitted in the "My Presence" section of the applicant profile.
4. Responses to the supplementary mission & identity questions.

Please Review Marian University's Mission & Identity Statement before responding to the supplementary questions on your application:

https://www.marian.edu/faith

Marian University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.