Aspen Group, Inc. is an education technology holding company that leverages its infrastructure and expertise to allow its two universities, Aspen University and United States University, to deliver on the vision of making college affordable again.
Reporting to the Associate Dean, School of Nursing and Health Sciences, the Program Director is charged with overseeing the day-to-day operations and activities of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, including its faculty, students, and curricula, that contribute to targeted student learning outcomes and acceptable persistence, retention, and graduation rates. The Program Director ensures quality educational experiences and a supportive and inclusive learning environment for students that reflect the mission, core values, and purposes of the University and the School. The Program Director fosters a culture of student, staff, and faculty success while working with other academic and operational leadership and staff. The Program Director creates opportunities for success in meeting goals and maintains up-to-date knowledge of accreditation standards to ensure that the DNP program is meeting all requirements.
Essential Functions/Duties/Responsibilities:
- Provide strategic direction and leadership for the program.
- Implement policies, processes, procedures, and systems to support student progression through the program.
- Ensure the program’s curricular quality, working with Curriculum Services on development, revision, and evaluation as needed.
- Recommend, hire, coach, evaluate, and remediate qualified and properly credentialed faculty to support growth and projected enrollments in the program; ensure faculty comply with the policies and procedures outlined in the Faculty Handbook; hold regular program faculty meetings.
- Develop and provide appropriate training for program Project Chairs and Committee members.
- Collaborate with academic and operational departments on activities related to accreditation; institutional policy design and implementation; and operational procedures and processes.
- Monitor the program’s persistence, retention, and graduation rates and recommend changes for improvement.
- Participate in the institutional assessment processes by leading timely program-specific data dialogues that review student learning and institutional research data and recommend improvement initiatives.
- Maintain a current program handbook; conduct a timely review of the program webpage for required updates.
- Review and decide student appeals and credit transfer equivalencies; address student concerns as needed to resolve issues.
- Maintain currency in graduate nursing education through professional development and scholarly activity.
- Promote and support faculty and student involvement in scholarly activities.
- Participate in school and university committees and scholarly activities, as assigned.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications and Education Requirements:
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree or similar required. Active, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license required. Active, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license required.
- A minimum of three years’ experience in nursing education, including experience in a leadership role. Previous experience as a program director is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated experience in complying with the regulations and processes of institutional and programmatic accreditation associations and state and federal higher education compliance requirements.
- Demonstrated ability to work with faculty, staff, and students of diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
- Ability to successfully manage multiple tasks in a timely manner within a fast-paced environment. • Ability to think strategically and prioritize effectively.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, and a high level of professional integrity.
- Strong time management and organizational skills in a dynamic, constantly changing environment.
- Preferred familiarity with Microsoft Office and/or Google Office Suites, Learning Management Systems, and virtual communication platforms.
Work Environment
The essential functions of the job are usually performed in an environmentally controlled facility where the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. This position may involve working in a combination of office and classroom environments. While performing the job duties, the employee is regularly required to sit; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee may sometimes be required to lift and/or move objects weighing up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus. The work environment and physical demands described are representative of those required of an employee to perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodations.
Remote Work Requirements
This job is fully remote. Employees must have a designated, private, quiet workspace. Remote employees are expected to be on camera for meetings and training sessions. Employees are responsible for abiding by all FERPA privacy laws within their home-work environment. While employees will have some flexibility to work with their managers and determine their schedules, all work must be completed during standard workweek hours; employees are not permitted to work evenings or weekends as a standard schedule.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Aspen University's Student Affairs teams work to foster an environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We serve a diverse student group and want to make sure that diversity is also represented in our student support teams. Applicants of all backgrounds and identities are encouraged to apply.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $68,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Monday to Friday
Education:
Experience:
- program director: 1 year (Preferred)
- nursing education/leadership: 3 years (Required)
License/Certification:
Work Location: Remote
