Program Chair, BSN

Job Description Summary:

Position Summary: This BSN Program Chair role includes a faculty appointment within the CoN and reports to the Associate Dean of Nursing Programs. The position integrates administration, teaching, scholarship, and service:

1. Teaching involves creating dynamic learning environments and supporting students in achieving course and program outcomes. Faculty actively contribute to the development, implementation, assessment, and revision of the nursing curriculum to prepare graduates for today’s complex healthcare settings.
2. Service includes contributions to the University, the profession, and the community. Faculty engage in meaningful service that supports institutional mission and values, promotes public well-being, and enhances professional development.
3. Scholarship encompasses activities that generate, translate, disseminate, or apply knowledge in ways that advance nursing education, practice, and policy.

This position supervises campus Directors and is responsible for overall program coordination across the prelicensure (BSN, ABSN, ELMSN) and post-licensure (RN-BSN) program specialization. The Program Chair serves as the strategic academic and administrative leader for the BSN degree program, ensuring its quality, relevance, and alignment with regulatory, licensure, and accreditation standards. This role is responsible for advancing instructional excellence, supporting scholarly engagement, and fostering positive student outcomes.

The BSN Program Chair oversees program-level planning, faculty evaluation, and continuous curricular improvement (in collaboration with the Associate Dean of Curriculum & Faculty), while also managing faculty and student-related matters. Additional responsibilities include maintaining accreditation and university policy standards, overseeing the program budget, and collaborating with Academic Affairs leadership to support institutional and college-wide strategic priorities. The BSN Program Chair exemplifies ethical leadership, professional integrity, and effective communication in all aspects of their work.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Major Areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to:

Administration (90%)

General Management

• Responsible for undergraduate BSN program-level planning, accreditation oversight, university representation, and strategic alignment.
• Develops and manages the undergraduate portion of the ELMSN program in collaboration with graduate leadership and faculty.
• Oversees strategic initiatives and ensures BSN program compliance with CCNE and university standards.
• Supports BSN, ABSN, and ELMSN program reviews in collaboration with the Associate Dean of Curriculum & Faculty
• Maintains the integrity of instruction at all program delivery sites.
• Provides oversight of didactic, clinical, lab, and simulation course schedules, faculty assignments, and supervision of Directors and program staff.
• Promotes collaboration between the College of Nursing leadership, university departments, and external academic and practice partners.
• Works with the Clinical Coordination Director to secure and support clinical practice sites, including telemedicine, and oversees related documentation and deadlines.
• Authors report (e.g., program evaluations, accreditation submissions) and review survey data to guide continuous quality improvement.
• Provides input to budget formation and recommends policy and procedure changes as needed.
• Completes ATT verifications for the California Board of Registered Nursing.
• Serves as the Program Director for the California Board of Registered Nursing.
• Serves as a model of professionalism and professional service to directors, faculty, staff, and students.
• Participates in university ceremonies and events related to the BSN program.

Students

• Oversees student recruitment and admission.
• Oversees the development and implementation of student program orientation, including didactic and clinical courses; processes, procedures, expectations, and consequences.
• Facilitates informal resolutions to student disputes after course faculty and coordinators have intervened.
• Communicates issues regarding student performance to program administrators on an ongoing basis.

Faculty

• Oversees the hiring of qualified faculty
• Oversees faculty course assignment.
• Oversees faculty development.
• Completes annual faculty evaluation for faculty.

Scholarship/Service/Practice (5%)

• Uses current literature to design evidence-based teaching and evaluation practices.
• Demonstrates inquiry into teaching, learning, student development, and evaluation methods.
• Models scholarly qualities of integrity, courage, perseverance, vitality, and creativity.
• Designs and implements scholarly activities, including dissemination and peer review, as agreed upon with the evaluator.
• Participates in Faculty Organization, College of Nursing, and University meetings and committees as needed.
• Provides service to the profession, community, and through attendance at University and College of Nursing events.

Teaching (5%)

• Teaches in the area of expertise and supervises/teaches in classroom, laboratory, community, acute care, and preceptorship settings as needed.
• Creates a dynamic, learner-centered environment using diverse, evidence-based teaching methods that support varied student learning needs.
• Models reflective and critical thinking; mentors students, confers on progress, and assists with individualized learning plans.
• Maintains and enhances subject matter expertise and teaching competence.
• Collaborates with colleagues to ensure course and curriculum integrity, including coordination with the Department Director on at-risk students or unusual occurrences.
• Prepares and evaluates written examinations, papers, projects, and independent studies; assesses student performance across settings.
• Documents student progress on required forms.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications & Requirements

Education & Experience

• Earned a doctorate in nursing or education from an accredited institution of higher learning (e.g., PhD, DNP, or EdD).
• Active, unencumbered license as a Registered Nurse (RN) in California
• Demonstrated teaching experience with various student populations
• Demonstrated experience in academic administration
• Experience with different modalities for instructional delivery

Skills

• Excellent written and oral communication.
• Knowledgeable about graduate education and academic administration.
• Excellent customer relations

Abilities

• Ability to function effectively as an academic leader, member of a team, and independently.
• Ability to receive detailed information through verbal and written communication.
• Ability to read and write clear documents.
• Hand and finger dexterity for computer, text, calculator, copy machine, and telephone use.
• Must be able to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word in person or on the telephone.

Work Environment:

Office Location: Oakland Campus – Onsite

• This is an onsite position based in Oakland, CA requiring regular in-office presence to support daily operations, collaboration, and student or team engagement.
• Work is performed primarily on campus in a dynamic academic environment, with direct interaction across multidisciplinary teams.

Mental/Physical Requirements:

This position will be performed in an office setting. The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers.

Benefits:

Medical, dental, vision, paid time off, retirement plans, commuter benefits, tuition assistance, and other offerings.

Employee Status:Regular

Exemption Status:United States of America (Exempt)

Time Type:Full time

Pay Range:

$114,000 to $140,000 depending on experience

Samuel Merritt University currently provides base salary ranges for all positions-on job advertisements-in the United States based on local requirements. Individual compensation will ultimately be determined based on a variety of relevant factors including but-not limited to qualifications, geographic location, and other relevant skills.