Since 1912, The College of St. Scholastica (CSS) has been preparing students for a life of purpose and meaningful work by emphasizing the Catholic Benedictine values it was founded on. The College serves an enrollment of approximately 4,200 in undergraduate and graduate degree programs throughout three schools—School of Health Professions, School of Arts and Sciences, and Stender School of Leadership, Business and Professional Studies. The U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks CSS among the best colleges and universities in the region for academic excellence, and Money Magazine has cited the College in the top third of all four-year colleges in the country based on graduation rates, educational quality, affordability, and alumni earnings. The College of St. Scholastica is a vibrant, growing independent private college with its main campus overlooking Lake Superior in Duluth—recently named the #1 Best Town by Outdoor Magazine, with unlimited outdoor opportunities within the city and the surrounding areas.
CSS is seeking a leader with vision and entrepreneurial skills to continue the growth, development, and quality standards for which the Department of Medical Science is known. The Chair will provide strategic leadership and management of the Department and works collaboratively with colleagues in nursing and the health sciences disciplines along with shared clinical experiences in a local clinics and hospitals.
The Chair is responsible for the administration of the Medical Science Department to include academic programs; recruitment, leadership, and student development; as well as internal communications and coordination of external marketing of the program in conjunction with other CSS departments. The Department of Medical Science Chair and PA Medicine Program Director, will serve as the chief representative of the Department and is a is a 12-month, full-time appointment and is directly responsible to the School of Health Professions Dean.
Key Results/Responsibilities
The Program Director and Academic Department Chair is responsible for the following:
- Effectively leading the department by exhibiting:
- Exhibiting responsiveness to issues related to personnel
- Strong communication skills
- Proactive problem solving
- A student-centered approach to graduate education
- Participate in annual review of the program’s mission statement, goals, and competencies
- Serving as academic department chair and program leader responsible for:
- Program organization
- Oversight and direction of program administration
- Leading evidence-based ongoing program development and program planning in collaboration faculty
- Managing the PA Medicine program's accreditation processes as required by the ARC-PA
- Overall fiscal management of the department and PA Medicine program
- Collaborating with program faculty and instructional staff to develop and revise curriculum
- Preparing reports as needed for the College, ARC-PA and the Higher Learning Commission
- Adhering to the overall instructional, scholarly, and service professional expectations of the department
- Supervising the PA Medicine medical director, faculty, and department staff
- Conducting and managing faculty and staff evaluations as well as academic operations.
- Assisting with the ongoing procurement of clinical placements as needed.
- Be knowledgeable about and responsible for:
- Department and PA Medicine program organization and administration.
- Fiscal management of the department and PA Medicine program.
- Providing oversight of continuous programmatic review and analysis, in collaboration with the faculty.
- Ensuring adherence to ARC-PA Standards and policies, including completion of ARC-PA reports and other required documents.
- Department and program planning and development.
- Overseeing the admission process for students (including CASPA) and information sessions for prospective students.
- Participate in development, coordination, evaluation and revision of curriculum and program.
- Participate in the ARC-PA Accreditation-Provisional and future Accreditation-Continuing process
- Instruct in areas of knowledge in clinical/didactic phase courses.
- Participate in student applicant recruitment and admissions, academic advising and student remediation.
- Participate in scholarly activity, faculty development, committees and community service
- Maintenance of clinical practice encouraged.
Required Qualifications
- Doctoral Degree (PhD, EdD, DHSc, DMSc, ScD, etc.) and a degree in PA Studies. Must be a PA-C with current NCCPA Board Certification
- Licensed to practice as a PA in the State of Minnesota within six-months of appointment as Program Director.
- Previous program administrative experience, experience with accreditation procedures and program assessment,
- three years of teaching experience
- five years of clinical experience as a PA are required.
- Effective, energetic leadership skills with strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively with students, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders required.
Preferred Qualifications
- History of peer-reviewed scholarship
- Established record of leadership in academic planning, administration, developing and supporting research, clinical care, and teaching
- Recent and relevant clinical and teaching experience;
- Demonstrated leadership within the profession
- Leadership experience including team and project management
- Experience working effectively with a wide diversity of people.
- Strong cross-cultural communication skills.