Director, Clinical Education

PAY GRADE: 33E

CONTEXT OF THE JOB:

Under the limited direction of the Chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, the Director of Clinical Education is responsible for developing and managing assigned clinical experiences for second year MA-SLP students) and aspects of the clinical education component of the MA program in Speech Language Pathology.

Clinical education is an integral component of the University of Delaware’s Speech-Language Pathology curriculum. The Director of Clinical Education will be responsible for managing components related to the clinical education of second year MA-SLP students and coordinating with the Director of First Year Clinical Education. The Director maintains affiliations with clinical sites throughout the region and, together with our full-time Clinical Educators, is responsible for assigning and monitoring students in externship sites. In addition, the Director will provide direct patient services, teach within his/her area of expertise, perform scholarly activity in the area of Communication Sciences and Disorders and/or participate in service to the Department and/or University.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develops, plans, coordinates, facilitates, administers, monitors and evaluates second year clinical education activities and services on behalf of the academic program and in coordination with academic and clinical faculty.
• Serves as liaison between the Academic Institution and Affiliated Clinical Education Sites.
• Communicates to concerned stakeholders (e.g., the academic institution, clinical education sites, clinical faculty and students) pertinent information related to the educational program, the clinical education site, and health care changes affecting clinical practice and education.
• Monitors student clinical progress and assesses performance. Provides guidance and support as required to problem solve and discuss pertinent issues with student(s), and/or clinical supervisors/instructors.
• Assigns second year students to clinical sites with consideration to student learning styles, level of clinical expertise, and specific opportunities available at a given clinical site.
• Together with full-time clinical educators, evaluates clinical education sites through student feedback, on-site visits, and ongoing communications; routinely shares this information with academic and clinical faculty/staff.
• Provides feedback to clinical educators concerning their effectiveness in delivering clinical learning experiences based on student feedback and through direct observations.
• Performs academic responsibilities consistent with the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA), and with institutional policy.
• Manages administrative responsibilities consistent with CAA, federal/state regulations, institutional policy, and practice setting requirements.
• Identifies and utilizes university resources to assist with meeting clinical education program needs to effectively resolve issues.
• Develops policy and procedures for clinical site selection, utilization, and assessment.
• Establishes, develops, and maintains an adequate number of clinical education sites relative to quality, quantity and diversity of learning experiences (i.e., continuum of care, diagnoses, across the lifespan, health care delivery systems, payers, cultural-linguistic diversity) to meet the educational needs of students and the academic program, the philosophy and outcomes of the program, and evaluative criteria set by CAA and ASHA.
• Provides clinical education site development opportunities through ongoing evaluation and assessment of strengths and areas needing further development or action (e.g., in service training, discontinued student placements).
• Collaborates with clinical staff/faculty to promote, coordinate, plan, and provide clinical staff/faculty development opportunities using effective instructional methodologies and technologies.
• Encourages clinical staff/faculty to participate in local, statewide, and national forums designed to foster and discuss issues addressing clinical education.
• Maintains knowledge of current trends in health care and its effect on clinical education and apprises clinical educators and faculty of any changing trends.
• Makes recommendations regarding curriculum to faculty/staff based on feedback from affiliates and analysis of clinical education data collected.
• Represents the Communication Sciences and Disorders program at community, state, regional, and national events and helps to educate the University and larger communities regarding the profession of Speech-Language Pathology.
• Teaches courses and supervises students in the M.A. in Speech-language Pathology Program consistent with area(s) of expertise and provides direct services at the UD Speech- Language Hearing Clinic.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and seven years of clinical service, clinical education and/or clinical coordination experience. PhD preferred.
• Certification as a speech-language pathologist by ASHA. Licensed or eligible for licensure as a speech-language pathologist in Delaware.
• Strong communication, organization, interpersonal, problem-solving, and counseling skills.
• Ability to prioritize, plan and organize work independently.
• Ability to think strategically and to recognize new opportunities.
• Knowledge of educational, management, and adult learning theory and principles.
• Computer skills that  include word processing, e-mail, PowerPoint, Excel, and preferably some database experience.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies both within and outside the university.
• Knowledge of state and federal legislative, regulatory, legal, and practice issues affecting clinical education, students, and the profession of communication sciences and disorders.
• Ability to initiate, administer, assess, and document clinical education program outcomes.