Assistant Dean, Experiential Learning

Job Details

Fairfield University is a co-educational, comprehensive Jesuit university with a 200-acre campus located along the scenic shoreline community of Fairfield, CT. The University is comprised of approximately 3,500 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students pursuing degrees within 5 schools: The College of Arts and Sciences, The Charles F. Dolan School of Business, The School of Engineering, The Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies, and School of Education and Human Development. As an expression of our Jesuit, Catholic mission and identity, Fairfield embraces a liberal humanistic approach to education, encouraging critical thinking, cultivating free and open inquiry, and fostering ethical and religious values.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

DIVISION: Academic

DEPARTMENT: Egan School

PRIMARY WORK LOCATION: Fairfield, CT campus, Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies

UNUSUAL WORK CONDITIONS: May be required to attend off-hour meetings and events, and travel to the Austin campus, as necessary.

EMPLOYEE TYPE: Exempt, Supervisor

BASIC FUNCTION: The Assistant Dean for Experiential Learning serves as the School’s primary lead for experiential education across the Egan School. The Assistant Dean also leads the development and stewardship of experiential partnerships, ensuring that relationships with healthcare systems, community organizations, and other external partners support high-quality student learning and respond to evolving workforce needs. The Assistant Dean ensures that experiential learning opportunities are compliant with accreditation and regulatory standards, and aligned with academic program goals.

EDUCATION: Graduate degree in Nursing, Public Heath, or related health discipline; eligible for appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor

EXPERIENCE: Experience in clinical education, experiential learning administration, or academic program coordination in a health system or higher education setting. Demonstrated experience with partner engagement, relationship management. Experience with clinical placement systems preferred.

REPORTS TO: Associate Dean for Student Success

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

I. Experiential Learning Coordination

• Oversee coordination of clinical and field placements, internships, practicums, simulation, study abroad programs, interprofessional learning experiences, community-engaged learning, and other immersive educational experiences across programs.
• Support alignment between experiential learning experiences and academic program objectives.
• Coordinate placement logistics and capacity planning across multiple programs and sites.

II. Clinical and Community Partnerships

• Develop and sustain strategic relationships with healthcare systems, public health agencies, community organizations, and other experiential partners.
• Serve as the School’s primary liaison for experiential learning partnerships, representing the School in partner meetings, workforce initiatives, and collaborative planning discussions.
• Identify opportunities to expand experiential capacity and strengthen workforce pipelines through new or enhanced partnerships.
• Oversee the development, renewal, and maintenance of affiliation agreements with healthcare systems, community organizations, and experiential partners, ensuring agreements meet regulatory, legal, and institutional requirements.
• Collaborate with partners to ensure clinical and field experiences align with workforce needs and professional practice expectations.
• Support development and maintenance of affiliation agreements and partnership documentation.

III. Experiential Quality and Compliance

• Engage clinical and community partners in evaluation and continuous improvement of experiential learning sites and preceptor experiences.
• Oversee systems and processes that track and maintain student, faculty, and site compliance with clinical, regulatory, and partner requirements, ensuring alignment with accreditation standards and institutional policies.
• Ensure appropriate processes are in place for monitoring compliance requirements such as licensure, certifications, background checks, immunizations, and other experiential prerequisites.
• Monitor compliance systems to ensure documentation integrity, audit readiness, and timely completion of required experiential credentials.
• Monitor quality and effectiveness of experiential learning sites and placements.
• Coordinate site and preceptor evaluations and quality improvement processes.
• Ensure compliance with accreditation standards and regulatory requirements related to experiential learning.

IV. Faculty and Program Support

• Work with faculty and program leaders to ensure experiential learning activities support program accreditation and student learning outcomes.
• Support faculty and staff in facilitating interprofessional education experiences across programs and disciplines.
• Support faculty and clinical adjunct instructors in delivering high-quality experiential education.
• Assist in resolving placement challenges or site-based concerns.

V. Collaboration and Coordination

• Work closely with the Assistant Dean for Student Experience, Associate Dean for Student Success, Department Chairs, and Program Directors to support student success initiatives.
• Collaborate with university offices such as Legal and Marketing to support contractual and communication needs.

VI. Leadership and Supervision

The Assistant Dean may supervise or coordinate the work of:

• Clinical placement operations and compliance tracking staff
• Simulation and experiential learning staff
• Administrative personnel supporting experiential learning systems

Performs such other duties, responsibilities, and activities as required by supervisor and as departmental/University needs indicate.

Disclaimer

The above information indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain, and should not be interpreted as containing, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, activities, and/or qualifications required or expected of employees assigned to this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, and new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.

Category: Academic - Admin

All offers of employment are contingent upon a satisfactory background check.

Fairfield University provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.