Assistant/Associate Teaching Professor or Assistant/Associate Professor of Pract

Located in Boston’s historic Fenway area, Simmons University has a strong tradition of empowering women and challenging traditional gender roles. Simmons was founded for equality 125 years ago as one of the first higher education institutions dedicated to helping women become leaders. Today, our university continues to grow and evolve and now offers Boston’s only women’s undergraduate program and graduate programs open to all.

You’re joining our community at an especially exciting time as we continue to innovate for the future. Simmons recently launched a six-school academic structure that leverages our expert faculty and longstanding expertise in professions that make our communities stronger. In addition, we continue to highlight our high-value education proposition that is delivering greater ROI to students and putting them on the fast track to career growth and success. You’ll find that people who work here truly believe in our mission of preparing students to become social justice-oriented leaders who excel in their professions and their communities. This commitment and pride make for a dynamic workplace.

As a university that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices–at all levels, for all positions–ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.

School: School of Nursing

Department: Nursing@Simmons

Title: Assistant/Associate Teaching Professor or Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice, Graduate Nursing (PMHNP
Supervisor: Director of Advanced Practice - PMHNP Programs

This Graduate Nursing faculty is a twelve-month, full-time, contract position that is responsible for the successful delivery of graduate nursing curriculum.

Teaching Responsibilities:

Teaching is one of the primary position responsibilities of this position. The standard teaching load forfull-time Graduate Nursing contract faculty is seven courses per academic year (or the equivalent as approved by the Dean). The faculty’s responsibilities also include:

• Teaching and administrative responsibilities;

• Serving as Course Coordinator for courses as determined by the Program Director, and managing all program needs and day-to-day operations related to assigned courses;

• Key responsibilities include overseeing the curriculum, faculty, and overall student experience in all coordinated sections throughout the academic year;

• The Course Coordinator plays a key role in ensuring academic rigor and curricular alignment, while meeting the needs of current students and aligning with the overall vision of the standards of the School of Nursing and the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE);

• The Coordinator is instrumental in making recommendations for course development and revisions and working with the course iteration team to realize these changes;

• The Course Coordinator works closely with the Staffing Specialist to vet and hire adjunct faculty for designated online course sections in collaboration with the Program Director;

• The Coordinator ensures faculty readiness and mentors other Section Instructors in teaching and learning methods, and works to develop and retain faculty;

Essential Functions of the Course Coordinator further include:

Curriculum Support and Delivery:

• Manages the educational process to ensure every student and Section Instructor indesignated courses is involved in a positive educational experience through the learning,teaching, and social environment, and is meeting curricular learningobjectives/competencies;

• Elicits, supports, and implements curricular revision and development from SectionInstructors to ensure course and program objectives are achieved;

• Responsible for all course edits/improvements and in reviewing assessment methods for designated courses;

• Responsible for all course iterations and any revision and/or major redesign worknecessary to ensure consistent quality for designated courses;

• Survey the effectiveness of coursework throughout and following the term of each designated course;

• Manage, maintain, and update the content within designated courses for continuous quality improvement;

​

Oversight of Student Experience & Resolution of Student Issues:

• Through collaboration with the Program Director, academic support staff, and otherpertinent individuals, assist in investigating and resolving escalated student educational issues andstaff/faculty matters according to School of Nursing and University policies and procedures;

• Work closely with the academic support team and other pertinent individuals to closelymonitor the overall student experience in designated courses;

• Oversee and ensure consistency in all grading practices in designated courses;

• Openly communicate with the Operations team and program leadership regarding course,instructor, and/or student-related problems and concerns;

• Collaborate with Office of Student Affairs and Office of Accessibility Services on studentconcerns;

• Review final student grades for distribution curve; handle escalated issues regardingstudent grades;

Section Instructor Supervision:

• Provide faculty Section Instructor mentoring, training, evaluation and development for designated courses;

• Ensure faculty Section Instructor readiness around online teaching and learning methods, playing a crucialrole in talent development and retention for designated courses;

• In collaboration with the Staffing Specialist, interview and approve adjunct faculty/Section Instructors toteach within assigned courses;

• Collaborate with the Operations team and program leadership to ensure evaluation andassessment of adjunct faculty/Section Instructors for designated courses are being conducted on an annual basis;

• Hold regular meetings with Section Instructors to ensure course expectations are beingmet, including prepping Section Instructors for course content and objectives for eachsession;

• Periodically observe synchronous classes with each Section Instructor to ensureconsistency and quality in designated courses;

• Provide regular, accurate, and timely assistance, feedback and support to SectionInstructors relative to their performance in designated courses;

• Keep documentation of Section Instructor work and correspondence (as necessary),maintaining and reporting participation in adjunct faculty evaluations as appropriate;

• Foster and encourage Section Instructors to promote a culture of learning thatvalues respect, professionalism, mutual responsibility, lifelong learning, and ethics, as well as personaland professional development;

• In the case of emergency, find a replacement Section Instructor and/or cover theteaching for that section until a replacement can be found for designated courses;

Immersion Programs – Faculty may be asked to participate in and support immersive student clinical preparedness events held on our Boston campus during the academic year;

Section Instructor - Teach graduate nursing courses throughout the contractual year:

• Teach material from approved curriculum in accordance with assigned course schedule;

• Assume responsibility for the academic supervision and teaching of the students registered for the term;

• Provide full coverage for all scheduled synchronous sessions/live sessions of online lectures for assigned courses;

• Motivate students to actively participate in all aspects of the educational process, including but not limited to class discussions, outside assignments/projects, research, enrichment activities, etc.;

• Maintain and evaluate records of student’s academic and clinical performance within the grading systems of the Learning Management System (LMS) and the University;

• Maintain all administrative/academic components of the course section, including grading of assignments, exams, and appropriate activities;

• Provide regular, accurate, and timely student-specific assistance, feedback, and support to students relative to their performance;

• Respond in a clear and well-expressed manner to student questions within one to two business days;

• Foster and encourage a culture of learning that values respect, professionalism, mutual responsibility, lifelong learning, and ethics, as well as personaland professional development;

• Post a weekly student communication to the course platform’s “announcements/wall” with guidance, updates, reminders, and expectations;

• Post and host office hours for students.

​

Service Responsibilities:
The faculty member is expected to provide service to the University and contribute to the University’s pursuit of its mission. These responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Participating as a team member in curriculum development and maintenance;

• Participating in program, School, and University meetings, committees, activities, and Commencement;

• Participating and assisting in faculty governance.

Professional Engagement Responsibilities:

All contract faculty are expected to maintain currency in their discipline and licensure as required to carry out their duties at the University, including:

• Participating in professional development to remain relevant in discipline;

• Maintaining certifications, if applicable, to continue currency in the field;

• Maintaining involvement in the broader academic and professional community in accordance with disciplinary/professional standards.

Qualifications/Skills:

• Must hold a nursing degree at the Master’s level or higher.

• Must have a doctoral degree [DNSc, DNP or other doctoral degree (PhD or EdD)], be in the process of completing a doctoral degree, or be willing to enroll in a doctoral program with the ability to complete it within five years.

• Must have current PMHNP (Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner) national board certification.

• Experienced, board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner license required.

• Current PMHNP clinical practice is required.

• Nursing graduate education experience preferred; at least 5 years of academic experience for candidates without a doctoral degree.

• Graduate-level clinical or didactic teaching experience preferred.

• Online teaching exposure/experience preferred.

• Must obtain/maintain Massachusetts RN license.

• Massachusetts APRN license required for any Boston campus-based teaching.

• Demonstrated commitment to collegiality when interacting with others within the University community.

• Demonstrated ability to work with students across a broad range of social and personal identities and perspectives.

Terms of Service: This is a remote 12-month contract role that reports to the Director of Advanced Practice - PMHNP Programs. Consistent with the Faculty Policy Manual (FPM), the standard teaching load for full-time contract faculty at Simmons University is seven courses per academic year or the equivalent workload. Faculty are expected to adhere to all applicable Simmons policies.

Instructions to Applicants: Please upload all applicable application materials (e.g. resume/cv, cover letter, writing sample, teaching philosophy, etc.) in the Application Materials box on page 2 ("My Experience") of this application. Documents can be uploaded individually or as a combined document (e.g. PDF).

Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual’s community experience. As a university committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices–at all levels, for all positions–ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.

Originally posted on Himalayas