Job Description:
1. GENERAL POSITION INFORMATION
Position Name: Director of Clinical Education, Assistant/Associate Professor – Hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Remote
Classification: Exempt, benefitted
FTE : Full-time
Work Hours: Variable due to online nature of program. Generally, Mon-Friday 9a-3p
(PST), with remainder on evenings and weekends
Department/Division: College of Graduate Studies
Supervisor: Director, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
2. POSITION SUMMARY
The Director of Clinical Education (DCE), Assistant/Associate Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (Hybrid), serves as a core faculty member with primary responsibility for the development, implementation, coordination, assessment, and continuous improvement of the clinical education curriculum. The DCE is responsible for teaching within the DPT curriculum, with teaching assignments determined by program needs and individual expertise. The DCE may need to travel to campus once per semester to assist with onsite faculty-led clinical experiences and lab immersions.
The DCE provides leadership for all integrated and terminal clinical education experiences and works collaboratively with faculty, students, Site Coordinators of Clinical Education (SCCEs), Clinical Instructors (CIs), and clinical partners to ensure achievement of program outcomes and compliance with accreditation standards. Responsibilities include clinical site development and management, student placement and monitoring, clinical instructor development, assessment of clinical education outcomes, accreditation support, and continuous quality improvement of the clinical education program.
The successful candidate must hold a doctoral degree from an accredited institution, maintain an active and unencumbered physical therapist license in a United States jurisdiction, and hold or be eligible to obtain Oregon physical therapist licensure by the start date of employment. The candidate must also possess the qualifications required of a Director of Clinical Education as defined by CAPTE accreditation standards.
Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package including employer sponsored health, dental and vision insurance plan options. 403(b) retirement plan with up to 10% match after one year. Tuition waiver eligibility for UWS academic programs after one year of employment. Free and reduced cost care in the campus health center for employees and their immediate family members. Paid vacation, sick, wellness time and holidays.
3. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Teaching (35%)
- Develop and teach courses within the DPT curriculum consistent with faculty expertise and program needs.
- Prepare syllabi, update course materials, participate in course and program learning outcome assessment, and engage in curriculum development.
- Deliver instruction within online, hybrid, and face-to-face educational environments using university-supported technologies.
- Integrate contemporary evidence, clinical expertise, and professional standards into classroom and laboratory learning experiences.
- Assess student learning through formative and summative evaluation methods and provide timely, constructive feedback.
- Advise and mentor assigned DPT students regarding academic performance, professional behaviors, clinical readiness, and professional development.
- Collaborate with faculty to ensure student preparedness for progression into clinical education experiences.
- Demonstrate commitment to building an inclusive learning community that values diversity, equity, belonging, accessibility, and cultural humility.
Director of Clinical Education Administration (50%)
Clinical Education Leadership
- Provide leadership for the planning, development, implementation, coordination, assessment, and continuous improvement of the clinical education curriculum.
- Ensure that clinical education experiences are organized, sequential, and integrated with the didactic curriculum.
- Collaborate with core faculty to establish and assess clinical education outcomes.
- Participate in curriculum assessment and continuous quality improvement processes related to clinical education.
Clinical Site Development and Management
- Develop, recruit, maintain, and evaluate a sufficient number, quality, and variety of clinical education sites and partnerships to support student learning, program outcomes, projected cohort sizes, and program growth.
- Ensure clinical education experiences are consistent with clinical education course objectives, program goals, and accreditation expectations.
- Establish and maintain current clinical affiliation agreements and monitor agreement currency and compliance.
Student Placement and Monitoring
- Coordinate and assign students to integrated and terminal clinical education experiences using transparent, equitable, and educationally sound processes.
- Monitor that students obtain clinical experiences representative of the lifespan, continuum of care, health promotion, prevention, wellness, and conditions commonly encountered in physical therapy practice.
- Collaborate with faculty and clinical educators to assess student readiness, professionalism, competence, and safety for clinical education experiences.
- Monitor student performance during clinical education experiences and coordinate remediation efforts when performance concerns arise.
- Maintain accurate student placement, performance, and clinical education records.
Clinical Instructor and Clinical Partner Support
- Serve as the primary liaison between the DPT Program and clinical education sites.
- Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with SCCEs, CIs, and other clinical education stakeholders.
- Communicate program expectations, policies, procedures, and clinical education objectives to clinical education faculty.
- Provide orientation, mentoring, training, and support for SCCEs and CIs.
- Promote clinical instructor development and engagement through educational programming and professional development opportunities.
- Monitor the effectiveness and appropriateness of clinical instruction, supervision, and feedback provided to students.
Assessment, Compliance, and Accreditation
- Collect, manage, analyze, and report clinical education assessment data, including student performance outcomes, clinical site quality, clinical instructor effectiveness, stakeholder feedback, and graduate outcomes.
- Maintain clinical education databases and tracking systems that support placement, compliance, assessment, accreditation, and reporting requirements.
- Generate reports and use assessment findings to support accreditation activities, strategic planning, continuous quality improvement, and data-informed decision making.
- Monitor student compliance requirements related to clinical education experiences, including health, legal, and site-specific onboarding requirements.
- Ensure adherence to university, program, regulatory, and accreditation requirements related to clinical education.
- Participate in CAPTE accreditation activities, annual reporting, self-study preparation, and site visits.
- Conduct clinical site visits, virtual consultations, and clinical partner meetings as needed.
Scholarship (10%)
- Maintain contemporary expertise in physical therapy practice, clinical education, and health professions education.
- Participate in scholarly activities consistent with program and university expectations.
- Engage in scholarly dissemination through presentations, publications, professional writing, and collaborative projects.
- Utilize scholarship to advance physical therapy education, clinical education, and professional practice.
- Support student scholarly activity when opportunities align with expertise and program needs.
- Participate in research and quality improvement activities with program faculty and university collaborators.
Service (5%)
- Participate actively in DPT program, college, and university committees.
- Contribute to accreditation, strategic planning, assessment, and curricular initiatives.
- Participate in professional organizations at local, state, regional, and national levels.
- Represent the DPT Program at professional meetings, recruitment events, and community engagement activities.
- Support initiatives that advance the mission, strategic priorities, and visibility of the DPT Program and University.
4. UWS CORE VALUES
Best Practices: We maintain high standards by using and integrating evidence across multiple disciplines.
Curiosity: We are innovative, open minded, and forward thinking.
Inclusiveness: We are respectful, mindful, and welcoming of different ways of being, thinking, and doing.
Professionalism: We are responsible, respectful, and accountable.
Student-Focus: We work for
the common good of students’ academic and professional success.
Whole-Person Health: We promote physical, mental and emotional wellness in all facets of the UWS experience.
5. POSITION QUALIFICATIONS
Required
Education & Training
- Earned doctoral degree (DPT, PhD, EdD, ScD, or equivalent) from an accredited institution.
- Degree in Physical Therapy from an accredited physical therapist education program.
Certifications & Licenses
- Active, unencumbered physical therapist license in a United States jurisdiction
- Oregon PT License effective by start date.
- Current membership and participation in relevant professional organizations.
Experience
- Minimum of three years of full-time post-licensure clinical practice experience as a physical therapist.
- Minimum of two years of experience as a Clinical Instructor (CI) or Site Coordinator of Clinical Education (SCCE), or
- Minimum of two years of experience involving teaching, curriculum development, and administration within a physical therapist education program.
Related Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
- Knowledge of clinical education processes, accreditation expectations, and contemporary physical therapy practice.
- Proficiency with educational technologies, learning management systems, videoconferencing platforms, and database systems.
- Ability to collect, manage, analyze, and report program and clinical education data to support assessment, accreditation, and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
- Intermediate to advanced computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, Adobe Acrobat Professional, and cloud-based collaboration platforms.
- Knowledge of FERPA and student privacy regulations.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, belonging, and cultural humility.
Other Qualifications
- Strong organizational, interpersonal, advising, counseling, and problem-solving skills.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with students, faculty, SCCEs, Clinical Instructors, and clinical partners.
- Ability to assess student clinical performance and facilitate remediation processes when needed.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and competing administrative responsibilities.
- Demonstrated commitment to collegiality, collaboration, and shared governance.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while managing complex administrative responsibilities.
- Ability to exercise professional judgment and sound decision-making in academic and clinical education matters.
- Ability to adapt to changing educational, accreditation, healthcare, and technology environments.
- Ability to maintain professionalism and confidentiality in interactions with students, faculty, staff, and clinical partners.
- Willingness and ability to travel for clinical site development, site visits, clinical partner engagement, and university-related activities as required.
- Willingness and ability to follow direction from the Program Director, Dean, and university administrators consistent with university policies.
Preferred
Education & Training
- Academic doctoral degree (PhD, EdD, ScD, or equivalent).
Certifications & Licenses
- Board-certified clinical specialist.
- APTA Credentialed Clinical Instructor or Clinical Instructor Trainer designation.
- Additional specialty certifications relevant to physical therapy practice.
Experience
- Previous experience as a Director of Clinical Education or Associate Director of Clinical Education.
- Experience with CAPTE accreditation processes and standards.
- Experience with Exxat or similar clinical education management software.
- Experience in hybrid or distance education environments.
- Experience with program assessment, outcomes evaluation, and continuous quality improvement processes.
Related Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
- Experience with Exxat, CoreELMS, Complio, or similar clinical education management systems.
- Experience with outcomes assessment, accreditation reporting, and continuous quality improvement processes.
- Experience utilizing dashboards, reports, and other data management tools to monitor program effectiveness.
- Advanced knowledge of curriculum assessment and educational outcomes evaluation.
- Familiarity with adult learning theory and online instructional best practices.
- Experience designing, delivering, and assessing instruction in online and hybrid learning environments.
Other Qualifications
- Established professional network of clinical education partners.
- Experience developing and maintaining clinical affiliation agreements.
- Experience supporting clinical instructor development and clinical faculty education initiatives.
6. APPLICATION, SCREENING AND HIRING PROCESS
Screening of applicants will begin immediately, and the position will remain open until filled. Please submit a cover letter and resume.
Official transcripts from prior institutions of higher learning must be received prior to offer being extended to the finalist.
University of Western States conducts background checks for the finalist or finalists of staff and faculty positions. The type of background check will vary by position type.
University of Western States offers a generous compensation and benefits package, as well as the opportunity to work for a leader in the field of education. To learn more about our competitive benefits and additional rewards, including generous paid time-off, medical and dental insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, retirement plan with employer contribution, multiple flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, click the link below.
https://www.uws.edu/about/employment/
University of Western States is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
