Academic Coordinator – Physician Assistant Program (25-09)

Francis Marion University’s School of Health Sciences invites applications for an Academic Coordinator in the Physician Assistant Program. This is a twelve-month, full-time, tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant/Associate Professor in the Physician Assistant Studies program. The Academic Coordinator will support program assessment efforts in collaboration with the program director, and perform other departmental duties, including, but not limited to, student advising/mentoring, teaching, scholarship, and participation on department, school, and university wide committees.

The Academic Coordinator is a key member of the leadership team and in concert with the Program Director supports all curricular, assessment, and instructional aspects of the Physician Assistant Program. Initial duties will include the ongoing preparation for the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) provisional accreditation site visits. Other duties include teaching, scholarship, academic advising, service, admissions, and professional activities.

**Faculty may designate a practice/clinic day that works within the class schedule/department processes.  (The practice/clinic day at times may be modified or changed depending on Program/curriculum needs)  

 Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

1. Oversee implementation of curricular design, mapping and coordination of scheduling of program and faculty (to include adjunct faculty).
2. Serve as chair of the PA Program’s Academic Curriculum Committee
3. Serve as chair of the Student Affairs and Progressions Committee. (SAPC)
4. Support program director with accreditation documentation and problem-solving activities related to the didactic and clinical curriculum.
5. Identify and support the implementation of innovative medical education pedagogies and methodologies.
6. Review, revise, and assist in the development of programmatic instruments including reports and surveys.
7. Assist in developing a semester-by-semester on-going analysis of outcome assessment for core didactic and clinical courses to program director in concert with PA Program learning outcomes and core PA didactic faculty.
8. Assist in the implementation, review and evaluation of ongoing curriculum evaluation to maintain program expectations and support accreditation compliance.
9. Assist in a comprehensive evaluation process for the physician assistant program, ensuring there are valid and reliable measures to assess student achievement of program objectives/competencies, course reviews, faculty teaching and programmatic effectiveness.
10. Obtains and utilizes data from a variety of sources including internal and external benchmarking, research findings and outcomes data.
11. Assist in the admission, success, remediation, and retention of physician assistant students during the didactic and clinical educational training.
12. Teach, evaluate, and advise didactic physician assistant students.
13. Serve on committees and subcommittees related to education and curriculum and serve as a resource to other committees as necessary.
14. Engage regularly with students/student representatives to provide a participatory forum for students to voice educational issues and provide ongoing feedback.
15. Monitor and report on regional, national and international trends in physician assistant education.
16. Performs other duties as assigned by the program director and his/her designee.

Qualifications:

• Licensure or eligibility for South Carolina licensure as a physician assistant.
• NCCPA board certification required.
• 3 or more years of clinical experience.
• Experience in PA/medical education classroom teaching and PA education administration.
• 1-2 years’ experience as academic director or academic coordinator is desired.
• Terminal degree for profession required; and
• Commitment to excellence in teaching, advising, and mentoring.

Preferred Qualifications:  Doctorate level degree with concentration in Education and Experience and knowledge with ARC-PA standards.

Formal Accountability: Reports to the Program Director of Physician Assistants Studies Program.

The Physician Assistant Program is in the new, state of the art, Luther F. Carter Center for Health Sciences building, which is also home to FMU’s Graduate Nursing, Graduate Psychology, and Occupational Therapy programs. Located directly across the street in the Hugh and Jean Leatherman Medical Education Complex, is the FMU Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program and in-house Psychology ABA and SLP clinics.

Francis Marion University (FMU) is a state-supported, regional university located in Florence, South Carolina. FMU has been named a “Great College to Work For” since 2013, as determined by the Chronicle of Higher Education-sponsored survey of higher education institutions. In addition, it has been recognized for its excellence in education by several national ranking agencies, among them the US News and World Report survey, which has named FMU as one of its top regional universities in the South for more than a decade.

Candidates will find Florence, South Carolina to be an excellent place to live. Florence enjoys award winning schools, affordable cost of living, excellent healthcare, and robust recreational programs including sports, community events, and festivals. Florence is a growing city with a vibrant arts culture. Within a few-hours’ drive are several metropolitan areas, including Columbia, South Carolina; Charleston, South Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; Savannah, Georgia, and a short drive to the northeastern South Carolina beaches. Florence’s thriving downtown was recently awarded the prestigious Great American Main Street Award, which recognizes communities for their excellence in comprehensive preservation-based commercial district revitalization.

A start date of Spring 2025 is negotiable.

Required Materials:

1. Letter of Interest (Referencing Position Number (25-09).
2. Copies of all transcripts (official transcripts are required of the successful candidate).
3. Curriculum vitae.
4. Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three letters of reference; and
5. FMU Faculty Application.

To obtain the FMU Faculty Application, please click here.

Send Complete Application Packet to: Dr. Charlene Wages, Vice President for Administration and Planning, Francis Marion University, PO Box 100547, Florence, SC 29502-0547 or FAX to (843) 661-1202, or email to HRAssist@fmarion.edu.

For additional information, please contact Dr. David L. James, 843-661-4426. dljames@fmarion.edu

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

As Francis Marion University has continued to be recognized for its diverse student body, it especially welcomes applicants who can affirm and enhance its mission.

Applicants honorably discharged from a branch of the United States Armed Forces, who meet the minimum training and experience requirements, are given employment preference by all State agencies and higher education institutions in SC.

An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution