Job Details
The Associate Dean and Director of Nursing Practice serves in a dual role as a senior academic administrator and faculty member within the School of Health Sciences. Reporting to the Dean, the Associate Dean provides leadership in advancing the School’s strategic priorities, academic excellence, enrollment growth, student success, faculty development, and community engagement. As a member of the School’s leadership team, the Associate Dean collaborates with the Dean and institutional…
stakeholders to support the planning, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of academic programs, operational effectiveness, and workforce-aligned initiatives across the School of Health Sciences.
In addition to maintaining faculty status at the rank of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor, the Associate Dean teaches undergraduate and/or graduate Nursing courses consistent with disciplinary expertise and program needs. The position provides direct leadership for nursing education and nursing practice initiatives, including oversight of clinical education, healthcare partnerships, faculty support, regulatory compliance, accreditation activities, and program operations. The Associate Dean serves as a key liaison between Barton College and healthcare organizations, ensuring high-quality clinical learning experiences and fostering partnerships that support workforce development, community engagement, and innovation in healthcare education.
The Associate Dean also serves as the chief academic and operational leader for the Nursing Program and is responsible for strategic planning, program quality, enrollment management, retention, student progression, licensure success, faculty effectiveness, budget oversight, and continuous improvement. The position also supports the development and implementation of new academic programs, certificates, and workforce-focused educational opportunities within the School of Health Sciences. Through data-informed decision-making and collaborative leadership, the Associate Dean monitors and advances key performance indicators, including enrollment, retention, graduation rates, licensure examination outcomes, employment placement, student satisfaction, and accreditation success, while supporting the mission and strategic goals of Barton College and the School of Health Sciences.
Essential Functions
Strategic Leadership
- Serve as a member of the School of Health Sciences leadership team and collaborate with the Dean to advance the mission, vision, strategic priorities, and operational goals of the College and School.
- Provide leadership in academic planning, program growth, enrollment management, student success initiatives, and workforce development efforts.
- Assist in the development, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of school-wide strategic initiatives.
- Contribute to budget planning, resource allocation, and long-range program development.
- Represent the School of Health Sciences in institutional, community, healthcare, and professional settings.
- Support interdisciplinary collaboration across academic programs to enhance student learning and workforce readiness.
- Serve as acting representative for the Dean as assigned.
Teaching & Faculty Responsibilities
- Teach undergraduate and/or graduate courses consistent with assigned expertise and program needs.
- Develop, revise, and maintain course syllabi, instructional materials, learning experiences, and assessments aligned with program outcomes and accreditation standards.
- Utilize effective teaching strategies and practices that promote student engagement, retention, and success.
- Evaluate student learning and provide timely, meaningful feedback.
- Maintain accessibility to students through maintenance of regular office hours, advising, mentoring, and professional development support.
- Participate in curriculum review, program assessment, and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
- Maintain professional licensure, certifications, and clinical competency as appropriate.
- Engage in scholarship, professional development, and service consistent with faculty expectations.
Nursing/Program Leadership
- Provide administrative and academic leadership for nursing programs and nursing practice/clinical initiatives.
- Collaborate with the Dean, institutional leadership, admissions, and healthcare partners to develop and implement strategies that support enrollment growth, retention, graduation, workforce development and licensure success.
- Lead program planning, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement activities.
- Prepare annual reports, strategic plans, assessment reports, accreditation documents, and regulatory submissions for compliance purposes.
- Analyze enrollment, retention, progression, graduation, and licensure data to inform decision-making and program enhancements.
- Lead the development of new academic programs, concentrations, certificates, continuing education offerings, and workforce-focused initiatives aligned with healthcare industry needs.
- Participate in the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and academic standards.
Clinical Education and Healthcare Partnerships
- Develop, strengthen, and maintain collaborative relationships with healthcare systems, community agencies, and clinical partners.
- Serve as the primary liaison between the College and clinical partners.
- Negotiate, oversee, and maintain clinical affiliation agreements.
- Ensure sufficient, high-quality clinical placements and experiential learning opportunities for students.
- Foster strategic partnerships that support workforce development, community engagement, research, and experiential learning.
- Collaborate with healthcare leaders to identify emerging workforce needs and opportunities for program expansion.
Faculty Leadership and Development
- Assist with the recruitment, onboarding, mentoring, development, evaluation, and retention of faculty (in Nursing and in the School overall).
- Coordinate faculty teaching and clinical assignments to ensure effective program delivery.
- Support faculty engagement in scholarship, accreditation activities, clinical practice, professional organizations, and community partnerships.
- Promote a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement among full-time and adjunct faculty.
- Facilitate professional development opportunities that strengthen teaching effectiveness and clinical expertise.
Accreditation, Regulatory Compliance, and Quality Assurance
- Ensure ongoing compliance with: North Carolina Board of Nursing regulations, Specialized and institutional accreditation requirements, Clinical agency requirements, Federal, state, and local regulations, College policies and procedures.
- Serve as the designated program representative to accreditation agencies, regulatory bodies, and professional organizations.
- Lead accreditation self-studies, program reviews, site visits, audits, and reporting processes.
- Maintain documentation and evidence necessary to demonstrate compliance and continuous improvement.
- Establish and monitor quality assurance processes that support program effectiveness and student outcomes.
Nursing Practice and Community Engagement
- Provide leadership for initiatives that strengthen nursing practice, community engagement, and healthcare partnerships.
- Explore and develop faculty practice opportunities that support teaching, scholarship, service, and workforce engagement.
- Collaborate with healthcare organizations to address regional and state workforce priorities.
- Identify and pursue grants, partnerships, and external funding opportunities that support nursing education and practice.
- Promote innovation and evidence-based practices that advance healthcare delivery and nursing education.
Student Success and Professional Development
- Champion initiatives that promote student recruitment, retention, progression, graduation, and licensure success.
- Monitor student performance metrics and implement evidence-based interventions to support achievement.
- Address student concerns related to academic, clinical, and professional development experiences.
- Support student organizations, leadership development, professional engagement, and career readiness initiatives.
- Participate in recruitment, outreach, admissions, and community engagement activities that enhance program visibility and enrollment.
Service
- Serve on departmental, school, and college committees, task forces, and strategic initiative teams.
- Participate in commencement ceremonies, faculty meetings, accreditation activities, open houses, and institutional events.
- Engage in professional organizations and community service activities that support the mission and reputation of the College.
Other
- Perform other duties, projects, and responsibilities as assigned by the Dean of the School of Health Sciences, VP for Academic Affairs and/or other College leadership.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution (Doctorate preferred or earned within an agreed-upon timeframe).
- Current unrestricted Registered Nurse license (or eligibility for North Carolina licensure).
- Minimum of three years of clinical nursing experience.
- Experience with nursing accreditation processes (CCNE, ACEN, or equivalent) strongly preferred.
- Previous teaching experience in higher education or clinical instruction.
- Demonstrated leadership and administrative experience.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to build collaborative relationships with faculty, students, healthcare partners, and external stakeholders.
- Knowledge of nursing education best practices.
- Knowledge of accreditation standards and regulatory requirements.
- Strong organizational and project management skills.
- Ability to analyze data and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
- Strong leadership, mentoring, and conflict-resolution skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic academic environment.
- Experience with budget development, resource allocation, and strategic planning preferred.
- Proficiency with learning management systems and instructional technology.