Assistant Dean for Master of Science and Doctor of Nursing Practice Programs

Position Description

Assistant Dean for Master of Science and Doctor of Nursing Practice Programs

Position Summary

The Assistant Dean for the Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs provides academic leadership in support of the College of Nursing teaching mission. The Assistant Dean for the MS and DNP Programs coordinates teaching faculty and facilitates discussion of teaching assignments and methods, graduate curricula, and student recruitment, marketing, and enrollment targets within both programs. This role evaluates program outcomes and strategizes improvements in the quality and delivery of graduate specialty offerings. It also ensures that graduate program activities are consistent with the vision, mission, values, and strategic goals of the College of Nursing. This role provides leadership and support for Specialty Track Directors within the MS and DNP programs and the Executive Director for Nurse Practitioner Education.

Principal Functions and Responsibilities

1. Academic Leadership: Provides leadership in developing, implementing, and evaluating the MS and DNP graduate programs and curricula to promote quality of academic outcomes.
   1. Maintains accreditation status and ensures integration of standards, as outlined by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) in respective programs. Helps prepare CCNE accreditation reports for the MS and DNP programs.
   2. Ensures that the MS and DNP curricula incorporate the necessary content and expected competencies put forth by The Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2021).
   3. Works collaboratively with the Executive Director for Nurse Practitioner Education to maintain compliance with the Criteria for Evaluation of Nurse Practitioner Programs: A Report of the National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education (National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties [NONPF], 2022).
   4. Facilitates discussion of continuity and coordination of graduate education, including content and sequencing for Bachelor of Science (BS) to MS, BS to DNP, and MS to DNP, and DNP to PhD (as indicated).
   5. Works collaboratively with the Nurse-Midwifery Specialty Track Director to maintain accreditation with the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) and compliance with standards for the practice of midwifery put forth by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM).
   6. Provides oversight and coordination of all core curriculum courses within the MS and DNP programs.
   7. Advances graduate education by monitoring issues, trends, and future direction of nursing.
   8. Provides leadership for strategizing and implementing new educational models, innovations, and specialty tracks.
   9. Oversees data collection and evaluation of MS and DNP programs in support of continuous quality improvement to maintain high quality education.
   10. Helps identify, prepare, and submit grant applications to support education or workforce initiatives and/or federally funded traineeships (e.g., Health Resources and Services Administration [HRSA]). Determines grant feasibility from curricula and resource perspectives.
   11. Maintains ongoing, active involvement as an educator within the MS and/or DNP programs.
   12. Provides input to division chairs regarding teaching assignments for graduate courses and helps identify qualified adjunct faculty.

2. Academic Administrative Leadership: Provides administrative leadership for MS and DNP academic nursing.
   1. Directs activities and oversees responsibilities of Specialty Track Directors within the MS and DNP programs and Executive Director for Nurse Practitioner Education, including orientation, mentoring, ongoing support, and provides input for their performance evaluations to division chairs.
   2. Regularly communicates with Executive Director for Nurse Practitioner Education and Specialty Track Directors within the MS and DNP Programs.
   3. Works collaboratively with Office of Student Affairs and Academic Operations and Specialty Track Directors within the MS and DNP programs to produce and maintain Policy and University policies, and update University General Catalog for each program.
   4. Helps resolve graduate student concerns (e.g., pre-matriculation needs, progression, academic misconduct).
   5. Works with Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Executive Director for Nurse Practitioner Education, Specialty Track Directors, and Office of Student Affairs and Academic Operations on admission, recruitment, and marketing strategies.
   6. Serves as administrative liaison to MS and DNP Programs and the Advanced Nursing Practice Curriculum Committees.
   7. Represents the CON at the Graduate School and other University-wide meetings.
   8. Works collaboratively with Executive Director for Nurse Practitioner Education and Specialty Track Directors within the MS and DNP programs to cultivate and maintain relationships with academic, community, and industry partners.

Criteria/Experience and Qualifications: 

• Graduate of an accredited College or School of Nursing and either hold a current Utah RN  License or be qualified to obtain a Utah RN License.
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing or a related field, or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is required.
• Eligible for appointment as a Career-Line or Tenure-Line Assistant Professor or higher rank.
• Strong and contemporary working knowledge of nursing profession, nursing education, higher education, and health care delivery.
• Demonstrated leadership and participation in accreditation, curriculum development and evaluation, academic advisement, and admissions processes.
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills, and the ability to work collaboratively and productively with individuals and groups.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to foster a collegial and respectful work and educational environment.
• Exemplary record of scholarly achievement commensurate with rank.
• Knowledge and experience in graduate nursing education, including curriculum development, teaching, and program evaluation.
• Knowledgeable about the profession of nursing, higher education, research/scholarship, and health care delivery.

Appointment: This is a full-time, 12-month administrative position appointed by the Dean of the College of Nursing in accordance with University guidelines, for a term of 3 years with possibility of reappointment. The individual will maintain a career- or tenure-line faculty appointment while serving in this role. The position is allocated 0.30 FTE for administrative service, with the remaining FTE allocated toward teaching, research and/or scholarship, service, and/or clinical practice.

Responsible to: The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Review & Evaluation: MS and DNP program specialty track directors, other assistant and associate deans, and faculty will formally review the Assistant Dean for the MS and DNP programs every three years.

Application and Inquiries: Interested candidates should apply online at https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/171706

The application requires: 1) curriculum vitae, 2) cover letter, 3) teaching philosophy, and 4) three letters of recommendation from individuals external to the University of Utah and U of U Health. Please note that letters must be signed, dated and on letterhead Teresa Garrett, Search committee chair at teresa.garrett@nurs.utah.edu or Cami Zollinger, Faculty Affairs Manager at cami.zollinger@nurs.utah.edu.

The College of Nursing: The University of Utah College of Nursing is a premier nursing education institution with nationally ranked undergraduate and graduate programs. The College of Nursing prepares nurses at all education levels – BS, MS, DNP, and PhD – and has a current enrollment of more than 680 students. U.S. News & World Report rankings include: #11 Nurse-Midwifery program, #25 Doctor of Nursing Practice program, #31 Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, #49 Online Master of Science in Nursing program.

Baccalaureate Program

• Nursing Early Assurance Program (NEAP)
• Prelicensure Track
• Online RN to BS Track

Master of Science Program

• Nursing Education
• Nursing Informatics
• Nursing Leadership
• Gerontology
• Dual Gerontology – Master of Physician Assistant Studies

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

• Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
• Family Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
• Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Nurse-Midwifery
• Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
• Dual Nurse-Midwifery/Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
• Post-MS to DNP: Organizational Leadership
• Post-MS to DNP: Direct Care

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Nursing

Dual PhD-DNP

• Family DNP/PhD
• Nurse Midwifery DNP/PhD
• Women's Health DNP/PhD

The College also offers both undergraduate and graduate certificates, and an undergraduate minor in gerontology.

With a $43 million grant funding portfolio, the College is consistently ranked in the top 30 in NIH funding among Colleges of Nursing. The College of Nursing is a focal point for clinicians and researchers to collaboratively design, lead, and achieve equitable improvements for the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. Our high priority research programs include the areas of health equity, social determinants of health, and chronic/serious illness and complement our strengths in women’s health, gerontology, caregiving, informatics, and clinical and translational research. The College strives for excellence in patient care and community engagement. Approximately 45 faculty and 20 staff provide clinical care in the areas of primary care, acute care, behavioral health, women’s health, and bereavement care; and often precept students. The College has 95 full-time and 17 part-time faculty, and all have 12-month appointments. Twenty-seven faculty are appointed to the tenure line, and 85 to the career line. The College of Nursing has 10 Endowed Chairs, and is home to the Gerontology Interdisciplinary Program, College of Nursing Simulation Center, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW) program, HRSA-funded Nurse Education, Practice, Quality & Retention (NEPQR) program, HRSA-funded Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP), Family Caregiving Collaborative, Center of Excellence for Exposure Health Informatics (CEEHI), and the Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence.

In 2017, the College of Nursing was the first recipient of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) New Era for Academic Nursing Award. The College also received the AACN Exemplary Academic-Practice Partnership Award in 2018. In collaboration with University of Utah Health (U Health), the college works to improve individual, family, and community health and quality of life.

The University of Utah: The University of Utah ("the U") – located in Salt Lake City, Utah – is an R1 university, and member of the American Association of Universities. In 2024, is a member of the Big 12 Conference. University President Dr. Taylor Randall has a vision for the U to become a top 10 public university with unsurpassed societal impact, to grow to more than $1 billion in annual research expenditures, and to achieve an enrollment of 40,000 students. For the last 4 years, the U enrolled a record number of first-year students. The 2023 class of first-year students was 24% larger than the incoming class of 2020. The University of Utah drives unsurpassed societal impact by preparing students from diverse backgrounds to be leaders and global citizens who strengthen our society and democracy; generating and sharing new knowledge, discoveries, and innovations that supercharge our economy and improve lives locally, nationally, and globally; and engaging local, national, and global communities to promote education, health, and quality of life.

The Martha Bradley Evans Center for Teaching Excellence supports the University of Utah’s mission and core values of student success and teaching excellence by promoting engaging and transformational student learning experiences. The Martha Bradley Evans Center for Teaching Excellence strives to improve teaching effectiveness through evidence-based pedagogy, while serving the needs of teaching-oriented faculty, instructors, and graduate students. By doing so, they celebrate and strengthen the belonging, sustainability, and success of the University of Utah campus and community.

University of Utah Health – the only academic medical center in the Mountain West – includes numerous interdisciplinary entities such as the Huntsman Cancer Institute, the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital, the Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research Training Institute, and the NIH-funded Utah Clinical & Translational Science Institute (CTSI) that support education, practice, and team science. With five hospitals, 12 community clinics, and a growing network of regional affiliates, U Health’s catchment area covers five surrounding states, and roughly 10% of the United States.

Health Sciences schools include the College of Nursing, College of Health, College of Pharmacy, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, and School of Dentistry. The Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library advances education, research, and health care through information access, service, and innovation, and serves the education, research, and clinical needs of faculty, scientists, health professionals, and students.

The University of Utah Health (U of U Health) is a patient focused center distinguished by collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. The U of U Health values candidates who are committed to fostering and furthering the culture of compassion, collaboration, innovation, accountability, acceptance, integrity, quality, and trust that is integral to our mission.

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students, staff, faculty and patients from diverse backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education, employment opportunities, and quality healthcare for historically underrepresented groups.

Individuals from historically underrepresented groups, such as minorities, women, qualified persons with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action:

Director/ Title IX Coordinator

Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (OEO/AA)

135 Park Building

Salt Lake City, UT 84112

801-581-8365

oeo@utah.edu

Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu

For more information: https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/

To inquire about this posting, email: employment@utah.edu or call 801-581-2300.