| | As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. All of which has allowed the UW to be nationally recognized as a “Great College to Work For” for five consecutive years.
The School of Medicine has an outstanding opportunity for a Director of Academic Support.
The director of academic support reports to the associate dean for student affairs in the dean’s office, School of Medicine (UWSOM), and is responsible for leading and ensuring the delivery of academic skills and support programs to the School’s 1,100+ medical students. Support is provided in the areas of adult learning, remediation, academic enhancement, time management, knowledge organization, and test-taking skills to help students become independent learners. The director is responsible for providing synchronized oversight and supervision of academic advising and academic support services across the five state WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) region, including the six foundational science campuses along with over 200 clinical training sites. The director is also responsible for providing consultation and support to staff and faculty regarding student academic issues and for ensuring provision, congruency, and equity of academic advising and academic support services at all sites.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Under minimal direction of the associate dean for student affairs, the director of academic support will lead the ongoing implementation and continuous improvement for academic support services within the UWSOM. Major duties and responsibilities to include:
Direct and Provide Academic Support Services
Execute the mission of academic support, student affairs division, and the School of Medicine.
Share, communicate and contribute to the School’s vision, mission, and values for the direction of academic support services and develop a model to drive the culture and performance of the medical student learner experience to achieve excellence and improve outcomes.
Implement a comprehensive evidence-based program that ensures the provision of effective academic support services that support medical students’ learning and academic development.
Align programs with the curriculum and actively respond to issues and academic concerns, in the context of continuous quality improvement.
Develop and implement policies and procedures for academic and support programs, which are compliant with federal and state laws (including American with Disabilities Act and Title IX), University of Washington policy, and LCME accreditation.
Conduct benchmarking studies and make recommendations regarding content and delivery of academic support services.
Deliver and develop group presentations and workshops for students and faculty on relevant academic support issues, such as, insight and skill development sessions based on cognitive learning theory and appropriate student development theories, including current learning strategies and resources.
Develop individual collaborative study plans for Seattle-based students to address learning skills, time and study management, knowledge organization, testing skills/preparation, and other areas of academic concern.
Provide referrals to associate and/or assistant dean of student affairs, mental health counseling, career advising, disability services, medical consultation, and/or advanced assessment services as appropriate.
Provide resources and support for remediation and reassessment of exams, including USMLE board exams, and coursework in collaboration with course, block, and thread directors.
Serve as a key consultant, in close collaboration with the student affairs and curriculum personnel, in the development of interventions and support strategies, along with faculty, regional deans, college mentors, and clerkship directors, to monitor student progress and provide strategic academic case management services.
Collect and analyze current and historical SOM student academic data. Prepare comprehensive reports on academic outcome performance data for all medical students and engage in continuous quality improvement for academic support services.
Program Management, Supervision, Consultation & Coordination of Services
Design, implement and sustain academic support programs to promote medical student retention and success. Develop and monitor intervention strategies for the retention of under-prepared and at-risk students.
Lead and provide oversight in the coordination of academic support services within the WWAMI region and hosts appropriate informational meetings with WWAMI academic support personnel from all regional WWAMI sites. Monitor provision of services at all regional sites.
Work in partnership with regional deans, curriculum leaders, mentors, faculty, and staff – within and outside of the division – to address student academic issues, needs, and concerns; provides leadership in the coordination of academic case management; provides key consultation to medical students; and makes recommendations regarding academic issues to the associate dean of student affairs and other personnel as appropriate.
Communicate with medical students, faculty, mentors, and administration regarding academic issues, medical student concerns, and current events/trends in curriculum delivery, licensing exams, and assessments/evaluations.
Develop and maintain a library (online and otherwise) of self-directed learning and testing resource material for medical students and faculty; provide assistance to regional sites in accessing resources/creating physical libraries.
Negotiate and recommend various vendors to provide services, discounts, seminars, etc. for medical students at each regional site; collaborate with administrative director and academic affairs financial office to monitor and regulate access to resources provided by School.
Partner with the assistant dean of curriculum to oversee the remediation of failed USMLE exams, including medical student registration with National Board of Medical Examiners and designated test sites. Communicate USMLE board exam deadlines and other information to medical students
In collaboration with the academic affairs, provide leadership in identifying and implementing interventions supporting curriculum content, course difficulties, student academic performance trends, including information about post-secondary opportunities, clerkship timing/selections, implications/plans for licensing exam preparation, and inter-professional case management services for medical students.
Serve as a key consultant, in close collaboration with the director of counseling and wellness activities to ensure broad support for students across both academic and emotional difficulties; collaborate on presentations and workshops (for students, faculty, and medical student spouses/partners) on learning strategies, wellness, test anxiety, and other relevant topics.
Act as a liaison between students and Disability Resource Services at UW, Foundations deans and learning specialists at other partnering universities. Provide referrals for Disability Resource Services to medical students.
Academic Support Services Financial Management and Special Projects
Develop, manage, and adhere to the academic support services budget, including accurate forecasting of needs.
Manage the general accounting and reporting functions of an annual academic support services budget in excess of $20,000 provided annually by the School of Medicine.
Administer budgets, policies, and procedures that guide academic support services. Oversees and approves needs for purchasing supplies, services, equipment, and repairs. Reviews monthly activity report to monitor service and program activities.
Provide oversight of the medical student tutoring program. Evaluate the efficacy of the tutoring program and implement changes to improve quality and student outcomes to maximize learner success. Develop and administer methods by which tutors and the tutoring experience can be evaluated.
Collaborate with the associate dean of student affairs in goal setting and develop program recommendations (including any funding) for the initiatives and programs needed to fully operate the academic support program.
Serve as the principle liaison between the academic support team and the academic affairs administrative director; works directly with the administrative director and the dean’s office on financial reports, expenditures, and other budgetary issues related to academic advising and support.
Conduct meetings as necessary for the proper functioning of the academic support program, and all components which keep staff, students, and faculty informed of services available, current trends, and quality improvement.
Participate in professional development conferences and trainings as needed; participates in bi-monthly academic affairs, regional affairs, deans meetings, curriculum, and other faculty/staff meetings as needed.
Participate in student affairs office activities, including but not limited to: medical school orientation and transition programs, student affairs staff meetings, planning of class meetings, staff retreats, and faculty and staff developments.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Master's degree in educational psychology, counseling, adult learning, or related field.
Three years’ experience as an academic advisor or learning support role in a higher education setting.
Extensive professional experience working in adult learning and content remediation is required.
Must be familiar with standardized examinations that apply to medical students, (i.e., MCAT, USMLE, etc.)
Awareness of recruitment and retention issues related to students from diverse cultural, educational and geographic backgrounds.
Experience working with racial, cultural, and ethnic minority/underrepresented populations.
Proven administrative, financial and problem-solving skills.
Ability to interpret and communicate to others complex policies and procedures.
Proven leadership and strong oral and written communication skills.
Demonstrated experience working in large, highly structured environments.
Ability to work independently with a high degree of reliability, accuracy and productivity.
Ability to handle confidential information responsibly.
Demonstrated ability to maintain harmonious working relationships and effectively address complex and sensitive administrative issues.
Proven track record in exercising discretion and independent judgment effectively in decision-making processes.
Ability to work across multiple levels of an organization to achieve results.
Evidence of ability to be innovative in the work place.
Effective at dealing with sensitive issues and maintaining collegial relationships.
Computer proficiency with statistical software, word processing and databases in a Windows and/or Mac environment
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except where there are legal requirements such as license/certification/registration.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D. in psychology, education, counseling, or related field.
Teaching experience in the areas of basic science coursework, study skills, test management, and test preparation for students from various backgrounds and educational levels.
Experience working with health science student populations.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
The position requires the employee to work beyond a normal workweek (e.g. more than 40 hours a week) and intermittently requires evening and weekend time to participate in medical student programs, meet project deadlines and attend meetings. Some travel will be required to regional WWAMI sites and national meetings.
Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed. |
