Associate Dean, College of Health Professions (CHP)

Description

Job ID

MJ9994-0901-1814

Position Classification

FT Administrator - Major Director

Position Summary

 The College of Health Professions (CHP) provides a transformative education grounded in the Mercy and Jesuit traditions. We are committed to preparing compassionate and competent health professionals, who are dedicated to serving and leading while respecting diversity and human differences, valuing social justice, and advocating for equitable healthcare within a global society. The CHP at the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) seeks applications for the position of Associate Dean of the CHP. Reporting to the Dean of CHP, the new Associate Dean will be responsible for maintaining the integrity of the programs, providing leadership for faculty, staff, and students, and ensuring the College and programs meet the standards required to maintain accreditation. The Associate Dean will be a collaborative and inspiring leader, working with faculty to promote entrepreneurship and innovation while building and improving partnerships within the institution, the profession, and the local and regional communities.

UDM is ranked 43rd in the country and 2nd in the state of Michigan by the Wall Street Journal America’s Best Colleges 2025.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• The associate dean’s primary responsibilities will include oversight of new programs and initiatives, ensuring faculty assignments, course offerings, assessments, accreditation applications, and timely curriculum updates.
• Collaborates with the Dean to develop, implement, evaluate, and revise policies that impact CHP programs/certificates to ensure clear and relevant standardization across programs.
• Collaborate with Directors, Program Chairs and Coordinators to plan, implement and assess curricula.
• Develops faculty workload assignments for submission to the Dean, as well as ensure financial health and stability of programs and certificates.
• Fosters relationships with academic and industry stakeholders to ensure the College’s connection to changes and trends happening in healthcare, and the higher education landscape.
• Collaborate with the dean, directors, chairs, and coordinators to ensure each academic unit complies with all relevant state and national accreditation standards and regulatory requirements, including the collecting and maintaining evidence for compliance.
• Collaborates with the college’s leadership team to develop and oversee recruitment and enrollment strategies, as well as orientation processes to increase program enrollment and enhance the student orientation experience.
• Collaborates with the Dean to develop and foster partnerships with health care systems and organizations to provide mutually beneficial educational programs and collaborative research opportunities related to CHP initiatives.
• Participates in the recruitment and orientation for faculty with the goal of hiring and retaining exemplary faculty who are leaders in their disciplines.
• Participates in the evaluation of faculty as designated by the Dean.
• Participates in the development of grant/foundation applications to support CHP programs and initiatives.
• Assists in College/University fund raising activities.
• Perform other related duties as required. 

The values that guide this work are:

• Learning: We commit to academic excellence that fosters integrity, intellectual rigor, personal development, and student-centered learning in an environment that values reflection and inclusivity.
• Mercy: We commit to heartfelt solidarity with those suffering and in need, and to engage in transformative acts of mercy and justice; love, compassion, forgiveness, caring, and kindness.
• Justice: We commit to confronting oppressive systems as we recognize all persons’ innate dignity and uniqueness reflected in the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and the Mercy and Jesuit traditions.
• Service: We commit to selfless service and advocacy in recognizing and responding to the needs of all with a focus on the disadvantaged, underserved, and vulnerable populations.
• Community: We commit to collaborating with others at a local, national, and global level, whose mission is to improve health equity, eliminate health disparities, and enhance health outcomes.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• An earned terminal doctoral degree (PhD or EdD, or DSc) in one of the Health Sciences fields of study from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Successful higher education teaching and scholarly experiences to enable appointment at Associate/full Professor rank.
• A successful record of academic teaching, research, and scholarship with appropriate credentials in an academic department (preferably Occupational or Physical Therapy fields of study).
• A minimum of five (7 preferred)  years of academic leadership experience in health professions in the higher education setting, including experience as department chair/  program director with multiple faculty and staff direct/indirect reports.
• Demonstrable experience in management, budgeting, planning, and completing projects.
• Leadership experience with both undergraduate and graduate academic programs, and experience with both online and face-to-face teaching environments.
• Experience with developing and implementing new academic programs, and with academic technologies.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

The job may require lifting lightweight objects (1 to 15 pounds) with no repetitive bending or stooping.

Physical Requirements

The job may require lifting lightweight objects (1 to 15 pounds) with no repetitive bending or stooping.

Work Environment

Regular exposure to favorable conditions such as those found in a standard office and classroom. Environment subject to change pending semester workload and inclusion/exclusion of clinical site to consideration of environment.

Licenses/Certifications

Valid Michigan PT or OT licenses or licensed in another state with eligibility to practice in the state of MI.

Salary/Pay Information

Commensurate with experience

Anticipated Schedule

The appointment begins February 2025. Monday to Friday 8.30 AM to 5.00 PM

Special Instructions

 Application should be made online and should consist of:

• A cover letter explaining your interest in the position and the school.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Three references with contact information.
• A diversity statement (e.g. describe your experiences working with diverse populations and activities including plans to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion).
• Copies of unofficial transcripts should be available upon request.

Employee Benefits

 At the University of Detroit Mercy, we continually strive to provide a high-quality, comprehensive benefits package to our valued employees. We offer our employees the following benefits: 

· Medical -

         o Three health plans to choose from with a large national provider network

· Dental -

        o UDM’s School of Dentistry FREE to you and your dependents

        o Option to purchase additional dental plan through UNUM

· Vision - 

        o Exams and lenses every 12 months

· Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Accounts offered.

· Employee Assistance Program -

        o Provided to everyone in your household.

· Short-Term and Long-Term Disability.

· Life and AD&D - 

         o One times base salary up to a hundred thousand dollars.

· Option to purchase additional life insurance, accident insurance, and/or critical illness insurance

· Tuition Remission Benefit for you, your spouse, and children. 

· Retirement Plan -

        o UDM provides matches up to 8%

Michigan’s largest, most comprehensive private University, University of Detroit Mercy is an independent Catholic institution of higher education sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy and Society of Jesus. Detroit Mercy seeks qualified candidates who will contribute to the University’s mission, diversity, and excellence of its academic community. University of Detroit Mercy is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer with a diverse student body and welcomes persons of all backgrounds.