Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Director

Direct the educational activities of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program, develop and manage the approved curriculum, and design teaching schedule.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Manage and administer the program, including planning, evaluation, budgeting, selection of faculty and staff, maintenance of accreditation, and commitment to strategies for professional development.

• Supervise the activities of the department staff. Prepare teaching assignments.

• Determine, establish and implement department goals.

• Review student success rates by class and implement plan to reduce student withdrawals. Meet with students to encourage them to stay in the program. Maintain an 80% student success rate for all classes taught in the program.

• Monitor the department budget and expenditures. Make appropriate corrections and changes to maintain a profitable program.

• Coordinate and arrange for educational workshops and in-services for didactic and clinical faculty. Prepare didactic instruction to include course objectives.

• Maintain student grades in accordance with established policies. Prepare final grades at the end of each semester to update student records and transcripts.

• Evaluate the performance of students regarding course objectives and make necessary provisions to meet learning needs.

• Visit clinical sites to review and evaluate students' clinical performance and progress. Coordinate with site instructors to ensure clinical education is effective.

• Coordinate the clinical and didactic education for the OTA program. Coordinate and revise the clinical education plan.

• Ensures Pima notifies ACOTE of all program changes, expected and unexpected to ensure compliance. Ensures appropriate submission of required fees and documentation.

• Assist in submission of required fees and supporting documentation, graduation reports, licensing and certification results, and placement statistics for the OTA program with the Director of Regulatory Affairs.

• Assist in achieving full compliance with accreditation criteria within two years. Ensure continuing accreditation through the appropriate authorities. Communicate results of annual report to ACOTE.

• Develop and maintain a functional curriculum according to approved design. Evaluate course content and review new texts. Collaborate with administration in the design and implementation of the OTA program.

• Perform functions of an Occupational Therapy Assistant instructor.

The list of essential functions is not exhaustive and may be supplemented.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree from an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). If the master's degree was awarded prior to July 1, 2015 from an institution not regionally or nationally accredited at that time, the degree is still acceptable if the institution has since obtained regional or national accreditation.

• For degrees from an institution outside the U.S., ACOTE will determine an alternative and equivalent external review process.

• Graduate of an Occupational Therapy or Occupational Therapy Assistant accredited program recognized by U.S. Secretary of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

• Two (2) years of experience in a full-time academic appointment with teaching responsibilities at the postsecondary level.

• Five (5) years of experience in the field of occupational therapy; including at least clinical practice in Occupational Therapy or Occupational Therapy Assistant, administrative experience including, but not limited to, program planning and implementation, and an understanding of and experience with occupational therapy assistants personnel management, evaluation, and budgeting.

• Licensed Occupational Therapy or Occupational Therapy Assistant, or credentialed according to regulations in the state in which the program is located.

• Documented expertise in areas of teaching responsibility and knowledge of the content delivery method.

• Verbal and written communication skills.

• Knowledge of Word, Excel, Power Point and other computer skills.