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Position Function:

The Department of Physical Therapy at Mississippi State University is seeking applicants for the inaugural Director of Clinical Education (DCE) level to support our developing hybrid entry-level DPT program. This is a full-time, 12-month position. The position is tenure-track, with a focus on developing clinical education resources, handbooks, policies, and procedures necessary to establish a new DPT program, aligned with the university's mission, vision, and CAPTE standards. As a founding member of the faculty team, there is also a responsibility for developing community relationships and clinical contracts. The overarching goal is to establish processes that ensure that the clinical education component of the curriculum meets accreditation standards and is intentionally integrated within the curriculum. As the program grows, there will be a continued need to develop new sites and to assess relationships and outcomes related to clinical education performance, student development, and program outcomes.

The DCE is responsible for planning, developing, coordinating, monitoring, and assessing the clinical education component of the program. The DCE collaborates with and mentors students through the clinical education experience. Additional responsibilities include planning and implementing educational opportunities for clinical educators; assisting with recruitment and admissions processes; advising students; providing service to the department, college, and community as strategically planned and appointed; participating in scholarly endeavors; and other duties as assigned by the PT Department Head/Program Director.

Salary Grade:  UC

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges.  For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Director of Clinical Education Development
• Collaborates within the state and national consortia to connect with other DCEs to promote, coordinate, plan, and provide clinical instructors’ development opportunities using effective instructional methodologies and technologies with approval of the Program Director.
• Attends clinical meetings and local consortium meetings.
• Encourages clinical faculty to participate in local, regional, and national forums.
• Tracks and responds to current trends in health care and their potential impact on clinical education and apprises clinical educators and faculty of any changing trends.
• Responsible for regulatory and policy compliance as it applies to the position.
• Communicates between the Academic Institution and Affiliated Clinical Education Sites.
• Markets, recruits, and develops new sites and manages and maintains relationships with existing sites (including site visits).
• Initiates and negotiates clinical site agreements in collaboration with university contract officials.
• Communicates with appropriate stakeholders (e.g., clinical education sites/facilities, faculty, and students) to maintain current with policies and practices of the educational program, the clinical education sites, and any potential health care changes affecting clinical practice and education.
• Communicates and oversees communication with clinical instructors (CIs), and students to align placements, establish schedules, and assess student performance.
• Provides guidance and support as required to problem-solve and discuss pertinent issues with students.
• Places, facilitates participation and professionalism, and communicates with students while on clinical experiences.
• Evaluates clinical education sites through student feedback, on-site visits, and regular communication to ensure CAPTE compliance.
Clinical Education Program Planning, Implementation, and Assessment
• Development of students as clinicians in all domains of professional clinical practice; appropriately assesses student learning and performance.
• Mentors and supports other academic faculty about their role and responsibilities related to clinical education (e.g., clinical site visits, determining readiness for the clinic).
• Analyzes the clinical education and doctoral experiential component of the program's academic outcomes for compliance with accreditation standards.
• Advances the vision of the profession and delivers new ideas with a forward-looking perspective of clinical education.
• Appropriately communicates to faculty and program directors on student and curriculum information.
Clinical Site Development
• Develops and maintains the policies and procedures for clinical site selection, utilization, and assessment to meet CAPTE expectations.
• Maintains an adequate number of clinical education sites relative to student numbers, learning and experiential needs, mission, vision, and philosophy of the university, program, outcomes, and CAPTE evaluative criteria.
• Provides clinical education site development through ongoing assessment of strengths and areas for development (e.g., support, training, review of student placements) as approved by the Program Director.
Faculty Responsibilities
• Prepares and delivers course instruction as assigned.
• Maintains an environment conducive to learning and facilitates student participation.
• Assesses student performance, monitors student progress, and provides timely feedback.
• Advises PT students with academic, professional and/or personal matters.
• Establishes a scholarship plan and participates in scholarly work commensurate with university and CAPTE standards.
• Serves on programmatic and university committees as assigned.
• Serves as university liaison in community and/or professional activities.
• Supports students in community service initiatives on a rotating basis.

DECISION MAKING / GUIDELINES
N/A
SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY
This role does not require supervision.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:
• Must hold a physical therapy degree awarded by a CAPTE-accredited academic program.
Experience:
• A minimum of 3 years of full-time post-licensure clinical experience.
• Two years of clinical practice experience must include experience as a site coordinator of clinical education or clinical instructor in physical therapy, or a minimum of two years of experience in teaching, curriculum development, and administration in a physical therapist education program.
• Rank and salary are commensurate with education and experience.

Required License / Certification:
• Must be licensed as a physical therapist (PT) in Mississippi OR eligible to be licensed in Mississippi within the first six months of employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Terminal doctorate degree (e.g., PhD, DrPH, EdD, DSc).
• Previous experience as DCE.
• Experience in scholarly activity.
• Credentialed in a clinical area of expertise (e.g., ABPTS, ACSM, NSCA).
• Experience using EXXAT.
• Preference given to candidates who reside within, or are willing to relocate to, a reasonable commuting distance from Meridian, MS.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Higher Education Experience
• Professional Education Experience

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Work is primarily performed in a standard office environment within a collaborative health sciences school. The environment may occasionally be exposed to moderate noise levels. Work involves using personal computer equipment for 6 to 8 hours a day. Work also includes the physical demands associated with a traditional office setting, e.g., walking, standing, carrying promotional materials, and other physical functions as necessary.
• Physically able to lift various materials up to 25 pounds on an occasional basis.
• While performing required job tasks, physically able to bend, crouch and reach continuously.
• While performing required job tasks, physically able to remain seated, frequently to continuously.
• While performing required job tasks, physically able to remain standing up to 15% of the time.
• Possesses dexterity abilities required to operate a computer and other office equipment to perform related job responsibilities.

Instructions for Applying:

Link to apply:  http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/

All applicants must apply online at www.msujobs.msstate.edu and submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three professional references.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.