POSITION SUMMARY:

The Principal Faculty member, as a full-time faculty instructor in the Physician Assistant (PA) Program, is primarily responsible for course instruction and/or course coordination in the didactic and/or clinical phase of the program. This individual is expected to demonstrate effectiveness in course design, delivery, and evaluation, and plays a critical role in supporting students to achieve the program’s student learning outcomes and the competencies required for PA practice.

Under the guidance of the Director of Didactic Education, Director of Clinical Education, and the Program Director, the Principal Faculty member contributes to curriculum development, program assessment, and continuous quality improvement in accordance with the  ARC-PA Accreditation Standards. This role includes active participate in program planning, student advising, academic support, and other activities that foster student and programmatic success. The Principal Faculty member holds a faculty appointment  (rank commensurate with experience) within the Physician Assistant Program.

In addition to faculty responsibilities, this position serves as Chair of the Admissions Committee for the Physician Assistant Program. In this role, the Chair oversees  all admissions processes ensuring alignment with  ARCPA accreditation standards to guide applicant review, interview scheduling, selection decisions, and data tracking throughout each admissions cycle. The Chair is responsible for coordinating recruitment events and new student orientation. This role requires knowledge of, and adherence to, policies and regulations pertaining to fair practices and other admissions related standards. The Chair of Admissions is also expected to work in synergy with their counterpart at other South University PA programs to promote consistency and excellence in admissions practices across campuses.

In fulfilling the responsibilities of this role, the incumbent is expected to uphold and promote the philosophy of South University, which emphasizes quality services to students and stakeholders; development, engagement, and recognition of employees; sound economic and operational principles; and an environment that fosters innovation, positive thinking and institutional growth. This position offers a $10,000 signing bonus. 

KEY JOB ELEMENTS:

• Serves as the Chair of the Program’s Admissions Committee, scheduling and leading all Committee meetings, to be held at least quarterly.
• Oversees all academic aspects of the admissions processes, including submission of proposals for admissions policy or requirements changes, management of the annual admissions cycle, and serving as the program’s subject matter expert on admissions.
• Conducts ongoing analysis of program’s admissions processes and prepares an annual admissions report as part of the program’s ongoing selfassessment and quality improvement efforts.
• Coordinates the Student Ambassador Program and serves as the faculty advisor.
• Provides teaching and instruction in the PA program including:

• Coordination and instruction of courses as assigned based on program needs.
• Teaching in areas of clinical and/or professional expertise.
• Serving as a small group facilitator and student faculty advisor.

• Assists with curriculum development, which includes the design and implementation of the curriculum.
• Assists with ongoing curriculum evaluation and improvement.
• Contributes to curriculum development, including the design and implementation of courses within the program.
• Participates in ongoing curriculum evaluation and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
• Evaluates student performance during objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), lab practicals, clinical reasoning sessions, problem-solving activities, and technical skills training and assessment during the didactic and clinical phases.
• Reviews and evaluates student performance on submitted assignments, projects, and presentations ensuring use of quality evidence-based resources and citations.
• Develops course examinations for and maps exam questions to ARC-PA Accreditation Standards and the NCCPA Content Blueprint to ensure alignment with program learning outcomes.
• Provides input to support accreditation efforts, program self-assessment, and periodic review of the program’s mission and goals.
• Engages in service, community and campus outreach, Program Advisor Committee (PAC) meetings, and scholarly activities appropriate to the role of a full-time Principal Faculty member.
• Participates annually in faculty development opportunities focused on teaching effectiveness and staying current in medical knowledge.
• Assists with clinical site development, monitoring, and relationship management as needed to support the clinical phase of the program.
• Provides remedial instruction to support student academic success and progression through the program.
• Assists with other responsibilities as determined by the Directors of Didactic/Clinical Education, the Program Director, or campus leadership.
• Performs duties as assigned and outlined in the faculty job description and in accordance with the provisions of Faculty Supplement to the South University Employee Handbook.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Terminal degree in healthcare disciplines such as physician assistant, pharmacy, medical doctor, and public health. Minimum of a Master’s degree is required.
• Eligibility for professional licensure/certification in the applicable state and healthcare discipline (if applicable) or holds an active, valid, and unencumbered state license.
• 1-2 years teaching experience in a graduate health-related profession highly preferred.
• 2 years of clinical experience required, if applicable.
• Experience in PA/medical classroom teaching preferred.
• PAs must have graduated from an accredited PA program and have current NCCPA certification or emeritus status.
• Emeritus clinicians are not required to hold active licensure.
• Physician Assistant is preferred.

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. 
• Strong interpersonal skills with student and staff populations.
• Superior organization, prioritization, and self-motivation skills.
• Strong computer skills, including MS Office Suite, ExamSoft, and WebAdMIT.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The term "qualified individual with a disability" means an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the position.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate professionally in person, over the telephone, through email and other electronic means, move about the office or school, handle various types of media and equipment, and visually or otherwise identify, observe and assess. The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 10 pounds unless otherwise specified in the job description. The individual must be able to travel out of the local area with an occasional overnight stay to participate in a variety of conferences and meetings.

South University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces diversity as a critical step in ensuring employee, student and graduate success. We are committed to building and developing a diverse environment where a variety of ideas, cultures and perspectives can thrive.