Academic Chairperson -- Occupational Therapy

Chicago State University is seeking a highly qualified individual to lead its Department of Occupational Therapy within the College of Health Sciences. The mission of the department to prepare a diverse student body to become provide education designed to prepare diverse, competent, and effective occupational therapists skilled in and effective at meeting the needs of clients within demands of rapidly changing service delivery systems. The program is designed to provide a transformative educational experience that develops entry-level therapists seeks to develop therapists who possess foundational skills in the principles of the occupational therapy profession. We strive to produce graduates who exhibit the and the ability to integrate knowledge into practice while using evidence, the critical thinking, and reflective abilities necessary to address the multiple take on a variety of roles of (i.e., practitioner, consultant, educator, manager, researcher, and advocate) within traditional and emerging service delivery systems. In keeping with this mission, the chairperson provides leadership for a combined Bachelor of Health Sciences and Master of Occupational Therapy program. Additionally, the chairperson participates in research, service, and some teaching within the professional program.

Duties include but are not limited to: Develop, in consultation with faculty members, goals and objectives for the Department in the areas of education, research and scholarly activities, and service, which articulate with the College’s mission and programmatic goals and objectives; Assure that the Department meets union contractual guidelines and regulations; Prepare, in consultation with faculty members in the department, course goals and objectives, descriptions and revisions of educational and training programs and curricula, and course descriptions for the College of Health Sciences catalog and for the Curriculum Committee; Work with the Curriculum and Assessment Committees to assure the academic rigor and integrity of the aforementioned courses; Prepare, in consultation with the Dean, the annual budget and supervise the implementation of the budget; Critically review department records on a regular basis to evaluate the quality of the education, research, and service provided; Facilitate the development of research programs and stimulate the faculty to participate actively in research programs; Supervise and plan for department facilities; Select department staff, supervise their duties, and evaluate their performance, when applicable in accordance with the non-academic personnel policies in force; Assign to other members of the Department such specific duties as will make possible effective operations of the Department; Schedule, prepare the agenda for, and preside over all departmental faculty meetings and forward minutes of these meetings on a regular basis to the members of the Department and the Office of the Dean; Maintain up-to-date departmental records; Prepare an annual report on the Department’s progress;  Recruit faculty, as needed, to meet the mission of the Department and acquaint new faculty members with department and college policies and procedures; Perform annual faculty performance reviews, prepare written evaluations and professional development plans, make candid and documented recommendations regarding promotion in academic rank/advancement to tenure/renewal of contracts of members of the Department; Organize the instructional schedule of the Department giving due consideration to individual faculty workload and delegate teaching responsibilities of each discipline to assure that the educational obligations for courses administered by the Department are satisfied; Evaluate student complaints regarding the Department or its members and handle them in accordance with standard institutional procedures; Encourage and facilitate the professional development of members of the Department, including active participation by faculty members in professional societies and in research/scholarly activities;  Establish and coordinate corporate and professional liaisons; Present lectures, workshops, and laboratory exercises, as required, within the professional curriculum; Assist the Dean with the procurement and allocation of public and private funding; and Perform other duties as assigned by the Dean. 

Minimum Qualifications for this position:

A degree in Occupational Therapy and an earned doctorate in Occupational Therapy or a relevant field. Current certification by NBCOT, Eligibility for or a current Illinois occupational therapy license. 

Preferred Qualifications for this position: A minimum of 10 years of experience in the field of occupational therapy, including practice as an occupational therapist and administrative experience as well as at least 5 years-experience in a full-time academic appointment with teaching responsibilities, with a good track record of scholarship and grantsmanship. 

If interested apply to Chicago State University via our People Admin System at the following location: https://chicagostate.peopleadmin.com/