Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program Founding Director - Austin, United States - InsideHigherEd

Description

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program Founding DirectorAcademic Affairs

St. Edward's University, a nationally ranked, independent Catholic university and Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) in Austin, Texas, seeks applicants for the Founding Program Director to develop its Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy. St. Edward's University (SEU) is launching doctoral degree program in Occupational Therapy in August 2026. SEU is on track with ACOTE accreditation of the OTD. New laboratory and teaching spaces are currently being designed as part of a two-phase multi-million facilities remodeling project. This is a 12-month position with full-time faculty rank and reassigned time for administrative responsibilities. St. Edward's is characterized by its commitment to the Holy Cross educational mission to educate the hearts and minds of a diverse student body that is deeply committed to social justice.

The successful candidate will work effectively with colleagues across disciplines to establish the Department of Occupational Therapy and program of study. Candidates must have a doctoral level degree and must be an initially certified occupational therapist licensed in or eligible for licensure in the State of Texas. The Program Director must have 8 years of documented experience in the field of Occupational Therapy, including clinical and administrative experience, at least 3 years' full-time (or equivalent) teaching experience at the post-baccalaureate level, and an active scholarly agenda.

St. Edward's University embraces excellence through diversity and especially encourages applications from women and members of underrepresented racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender minority groups. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to supporting a diverse student body.

Essential functions include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• The Chair will assume primary responsibility for up to 9 credits/year as negotiated by the Dean and Provost.
• Participate in scholarly activities as defined by the Faculty Handbook and by the accrediting agency, ACOTE, in light of administrative expectations.
• The Chair is expected to maintain currency within his/her professional area of expertise.
• Have an advising load commensurate with administrative responsibilities; advise and facilitate student registration for appropriate courses in the proper sequence.
• Participate in recruitment and enrollment activities including advising potential applicants and completing transfer curricula analysis for incoming students.
• Lead departmental faculty/staff meetings, retreats, committees and activities including, but not limited to, open house and/or student recruitment projects.
• Serve on at least one Faculty Senate or University committee and actively engage in university governance.
• Work with the Dean and Office of Academic Affairs to monitor, report, and assure compliance with ACOTE Accreditation Standards.
• Coordinate regular program assessment and evaluation, development of an annual strategic planning, process, and preparation of an annual report.
• Oversee ongoing curriculum development and improvement.
• Develop, propose, and monitor budgets and program expenses.
• Coordinate advertising, interviewing and hiring of Faculty and staff.
• Supervise and evaluate faculty including assigning teaching responsibilities and advising loads.
• Review, evaluate, assess and assist faculty with professional development plans.
• Develop course schedules each semester; coordinate with other departments regarding course needs and scheduling issues.
• Supervise and evaluate administrative and hourly staff including approval of leave time.
• Promote and participate in interprofessional opportunities to benefit DOT faculty and students.
• Monitor student progression, develop and propose retention strategies, and advise students who are in academic jeopardy.
• Provide information and recommendations for professional development, including the completion of forms and letters of recommendation for scholarships and employment.
• Responsible for regulatory and policy compliance as it applies to the position.

Special Skills: The person in this position will be required to have the following skills:

• Ability to use standard office technology and equipment.
• Communication skills to work with individuals across various disciplines and departments which will allow the individual to respond to the needs of students, faculty and administration within and outside of the classroom.
• Organizational skills to enhance responsiveness to regional and specialized accreditation demands and deadlines.
• Leadership skills to create a positive environment in order to respond productively and efficiently to accreditation standards and ongoing changes in the education.
• Self-motivation and an ability to create a strong team response are also important attributes to help the University respond appropriately to expectations of accreditation and the ever-changing educational environment.

Ethics Obligation: The program Director must understand and agree to abide by the

current AOTA Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics

For detailed information, please see the job description (Add link).

The University offers an excellent TOTAL REWARDS package An overview of St. Edward's University employee benefits is available at;

Medical & Rx Coverage (HSA & FSA Available), Dental, Vision, Short Term Disability Insurance, Long Term Disability Insurance, Life & Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance, Employee Assistance Program, Pet Insurance, Annual Leave & Paid Sick Leave, Retirement Plan, Tuition Benefits, Paid Holidays, and Services & Discounts

HOW TO APPLYApplicants should apply online at Application packages should include:

a cover lettera current curriculum vitaea portfolio of professional worka portfolio of teaching worka statement describing your teaching philosophy and your approach to working on projects with a diverse body of undergraduate studentsnames and contact details for three professional or teaching referencesIn addition, all applications must include a statement on how they would integrate the University's Holy Cross mission into their work. Your Mission Integration statement should be included as a separate document. See Statement Prompt below for instructions.

Mission Integration Statement Prompt:St. Edward's was founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross, from which it acquired distinguishing characteristics that include the courage to take risks, an international perspective and the commitment to provide educational opportunities for students of varied cultural, religious, educational and economic backgrounds. In support of the mission, the different backgrounds of St. Edward's students, faculty and staff enrich our community and represent a significant part of our culture and commitment to excellence. We value the individual differences, life experiences, unique capabilities and innovative talent that our employees and students contribute to our vibrant academic environment. St. Edward's honors and respects all members of its community by fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment that respects the dignity and worth of each person and stresses the obligation of all people to pursue a more just world. While serving as a faculty member at St. Edward's University, how would your individual differences, life experiences and unique capabilities contribute to the mission as described above? Describe how your prior work aligns to the university's mission. Applicants should submit materials by February 19, 2024, for full consideration; however, the position will remain open until filled.ABOUT ST. EDWARD'S UNIVERSITYFounded in 1885 by the Congregation of Holy Cross, St. Edward's University is a private, Catholic, liberal arts institution of 2,900 undergraduate and 700 graduate students located in Austin, Texas. It is an exciting time to be part of the St. Edward's community as the university increases its global engagement to educate students for the opportunities and challenges of a 21st-century world. SEU is a diverse community that appreciates faculty and students from all backgrounds. Consistent with its Holy Cross heritage, the university maintains a strong commitment to diversity and global initiatives. More information about St. Edward's University may be found at

Commitment to the Holy Cross Mission

St. Edward's University is a diverse community devoted to proactively nurturing a campus-wide culture that promotes and ensures equity, respect, inclusion and safety for all members regardless of race, color, national origin, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity, socio-economic background, or physical ability. We are one University that opens our hearts and minds to conversations, to learning and to creating a community that is welcoming of all. Regardless of position, it is expected that each employee will embrace this commitment and demonstrate an attitude of respect toward and acceptance of all members of our community. For more information on our commitment to diversity, please visit our website:

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: St. Edward's University, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. We require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency for employment, and we are not offering visa sponsorship at this time.
Background Checks: A criminal history background check is required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.