Widener University Institute for Occupational Therapy Education Program is actively seeking a full-time, 12-month position Clinical Assistant/Associate Professor to serve as the Director of Fieldwork Education (DFWE) for the Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) Program in the College of Health and Human Service.
The candidate will have graduated with a degree in Occupational Therapy and earned a doctoral degree from an accredited college or university. The candidate must also have initial certification by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), eligibility for OT Licensure in Pennsylvania with at least three years of clinical experience with supervision responsibilities with Level I and Level II students. Responsibilities include teaching courses on campus and online (when requested), serving as academic advisor and/or mentor for students and/or student organizations, contributing to scholarship through presentations and/or publications, maintaining currency in the academic discipline through continuing study, professional development, and/or participation in professional activities, pursuing service and leadership opportunities within the Program, College, University and profession, serving as Doctoral Capstone Faculty Mentor (4-5 students per year), and other duties assigned by the Director.
This DFWE reports to the Director of the Institute for Occupational Therapy Education and is responsible for the OTD Program compliance with the fieldwork requirements defined by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) and outlined in the accreditation standards. The DFWE administers all aspects the fieldwork portion of the program which includes oversight of Level I and Level II Fieldwork rotations. Responsibilities also include interfacing with fieldwork educators for on-going clinical site development. A significant portion of the DFWE’s annual work load is dedicated to the management and administration of the fieldwork program, and fieldwork-related teaching. The workload is as follows:
- 20% assigned to service.
- 10% assigned to clinical practice.
- 70% assigned to development for fieldwork and teaching. The DFWE has a 50% teaching (4-5 credit/semester) credit release from teaching expectations per semester.
The College, which has a focus on interprofessional education, service, and research, houses programs in clinical psychology, education, human sexuality, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant, speech-language pathology and social work. Our students represent a multitude of diverse identities. We aspire to develop a College faculty, staff, and curriculum that is anti-racist, anti-oppressive and reflects and respects our professional values. We seek to create an intentionally diverse educational community in which students, staff, and faculty perspectives are valued and meaningfully incorporated into our work.
Duties and Responsibilities: (include but are not limited to)
Essential Duties:
In Relationship to Fieldwork Sites
- Administer and oversee the fieldwork component of the OTD Program, including outreach to prospective sites, and formulating and overseeing contractual agreements.
- Collect, compile and report pertinent fieldwork data and information required for program evaluation, accreditation, and curriculum decisions.
- Provide guidance and support, as needed and requested, by the fieldwork setting and serve as a resource person for the fieldwork education community.
- Communicate activities, news, and other relevant information from the academic program to the fieldwork setting.
- Serves as an active member of the Philadelphia Regional Fieldwork Consortium of area DFWEs (includes attendance at general meetings, attending the annual Clinical Council Day, develop educational materials and sessions for clinical educators, committee assignments, and serving as an officer, as elected).
In Relationship to Students
- Interface with fieldwork educators supervising occupational therapy students regarding learning objectives and student performance in order to support quality educational experiences for students.
- Assign students to fieldwork placements.
- Visit fieldwork sites and communicate with fieldwork educators and students during rotations to monitor and facilitate student performance and progress (Level I and Level II Fieldwork).
- Address specific problems at fieldwork sites to support students as well as maintain collaborative relationship with sites.
- Regularly evaluate fieldwork settings through student feedback and/or visits to ensure quality fieldwork experiences.
- Update and maintain OT Student Fieldwork Manual.
Teaching
- Participate in curriculum development.
- Develop and teach courses in the OTD Program as negotiated with the Program Director including at a minimum all fieldwork related courses.
- Ensure courses and syllabi are current and available to all students.
- Demonstrate competency in knowledge and skills in teaching both in class and online as evidenced by supervisor, peer, and student evaluations.
- Documentation of expertise in areas of teaching responsibility and content delivery method (online or in class).
- Participate in team and/or interdisciplinary teaching.
- Use faculty development opportunities and teacher effectiveness tools to improve teaching.
- Supervise students on special projects including being a Capstone Faculty Mentor for (4-5 students) per year.
- Maintain regular office hours; guide or support students who reach out for assistance; identify students who are struggling and need extra attention or support to be successful (through use of email, phone or other appropriate means of communication).
General
- Attend all university academic events as required in faculty handbook.
- Attend all University, College, and Program faculty meetings.
- Advise students in OTD program.
- Assist in the accreditation process.
- Participate in student recruitment and admissions activities including interview days.
- Must demonstrate the ability to support the mission of Widener University as evidenced by teaching and learning assignments, advising, and mentoring of students.
- Participate in professional activities and service to the University, School, community, and the profession.
- Engage in scholarly/clinical work related to area of interest on a regular bases and as required by expectations of the Program.
- Conduct applied research as relevant.
- Be assigned as a faculty mentor to doctoral capstone students as appropriate (4-5 students/year).
- Engage with students via co-curricular activities.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: (Education/Training and Experience Required):
Required:
- Graduated with a degree in occupational therapy from an accredited college or university.
- Earned doctoral degree from an accredited college or university.
- Initial certification as an occupational therapist by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
- Pennsylvania state licensure as an occupational therapist.
- Minimum of 3 years clinical experience in occupational therapy including supervision of Level I and Level II fieldwork students (5 or more years preferred).
- Teaching/academic experience (Two years’ experience preferred).
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR UNUSUAL WORK HOURS:
- Must be able to sit, stand and move about classroom, campus or fieldwork site for extended periods of time. Must be able to sit and work behind a computer for 2 or more hours at a time.
- May need to lift supplies of up to 20lbs per item.
- May be required to be available to students via phone, email or other means of communication during nights and/or weekends.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Widener University is committed to fostering an inclusive community in which faculty, staff, and students from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or status as a protected veteran.
Widener University, an independent, metropolitan, doctoral-intensive university, connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention and experiential learning are key components of the Widener Experience. Located in Chester, PA, Widener's main campus is nestled between Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE, with Law Schools located in both Harrisburg and Wilmington. For more information about the university, please visit our website at www.widener.edu.
EOE M/F/V/D
