Core Faculty, Doctor Of Physical Therapy (DPT)

JOB TITLE: DPT Core Faculty

DEPARTMENT: Physical Therapy

LOCATION: Hybrid-Remote

STATUS: Exempt

SUPERVISOR TITLE: Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Director

General Purpose Of The Job

The Core Faculty provides leadership in physical therapy education by delivering high-quality instruction and guidance, playing a pivotal role in shaping the educational experiences of Doctor of Physical Therapy Students. Core faculty are responsible for teaching designated courses, crafting and maintaining course materials, incorporating online resources, and fostering an engaging learning environment. Additionally, this role entails active participation in advising, course assessment, and evaluation, with a commitment to continuous improvement in teaching methods and materials. The core faculty member is expected to adhere to the Core Values of the Physical Therapy profession, possess expertise in teaching, communicate effectively both in writing and orally, collaborate successfully with diverse stakeholders, handle detail-oriented tasks while maintaining confidentiality, and manage a wide spectrum of responsibilities within the DPT Program. This position requires licensure in California or their state of residence, along with a comprehensive understanding of higher education and contemporary clinical practice, including legislative, regulatory, legal, and practice-related issues impacting physical therapy education and the profession. Active engagement in professional activities at the local, state, and national levels is essential, in alignment with SCU’s faculty rank requirements.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• General Responsibilities
• All core faculty members employed by Southern California University of Health Science (SCU) are required to continually enrich and update their education by participating in workshops or seminars each year while employed by the institution.
• All core faculty members are expected to maintain professional standards, attitude, and performance levels to ensure effective, safe, ethical, and legal performance in all aspects of the position.
• All members of the SCU community are expected to develop and maintain professional relationships with all staff, faculty, and students and exhibit positive and professional conduct.
• Core faculty are appointed workload by the DPT Program Director in direct alignment with the workload policies of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
  
  

• Teaching and Education Responsibilities:
• Teach courses as agreed upon with the DPT Program Director.
• Develop and annually review course syllabi, update as appropriate.
• Select appropriate instructional methods.
• Develop course materials with integration of online resources.
• Request necessary course equipment, materials, and/or supplies.
• Plan and present course content.
• Arrange and coordinate guest speakers with approval.
• Supervise and coordinate course adjuncts.
• Complete and return final grades within program deadlines.
• Participate in course assessment and evaluation.
• Update course content, teaching methods, and materials as needed.
• Seek and participate in annual training for online instructional teaching methods.
• Participate in the student’s advising program as an academic advisor as assigned.
• Maintain regular virtual office hours.
• Travel required to SCU campus to teach onsite classes as assigned. These courses may be scheduled during days, evenings, and weekends.
• Obtain appropriate faculty rank.
• Service Responsibilities:
• Contribute to department, school, and university through active involvement that enhances academic programs and governance.
• Participate in orientation sessions, faculty meetings, and fulfill academic responsibilities.
• Engage in the academic decision-making processes within the department.
• Serve on various committees, coordinate courses and programs, contribute to curriculum development, and partake in instructional workshops within one's expertise. Additionally, participate in policy and program reviews and other learning assessments.
• Act as a representative on both school or college-level and university-level committees and accept assignments on task forces and committees.
• Support co-curricular activities, including organizing, participating in, or presenting at faculty forums or workshops, advising and sponsoring clubs and societies, assisting with extra-curricular or co-curricular university events, and attending program graduation ceremonies.
• Specific service expectations for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program will be determined and articulated.
  
  

• Scholarship Responsibilities:
• Core faculty members are expected to serve as professional role models to students and colleagues in scholarly activity and in critical investigation and experimentation for the purpose of increasing human knowledge.
• Keep abreast of the new knowledge in the field to ensure courses, syllabi, instructional materials and techniques, and teaching methods are current and appropriate, and to participate where appropriate, in school or university-sponsored curriculum development programs and projects.
• Engage in distinctive course and academic program development efforts; to participate in professional colloquia, seminars, and workshops; and to share ideas and the results of scholarly and artistic endeavors with peers both at the university and in the larger academic/artistic community.
• Examples of scholarly activities and professional development include but are not limited to the following:
• Publication of research findings in peer‐reviewed journal articles, academic papers, book chapters, books, or other writing normal to the discipline
• Obtaining internal or external research grants, fellowships, and other funding awards
• Department, college, university, state, national, and international honors, and awards
• Juried exhibits and performances
• Invited presentations, exhibits, and performances.
• Invited evaluations and reviews of the work of other professionals.
• Participation on review panels for outside funding agencies
• Service as either editor or referee for professional publications.
• Leadership of committee work for, and participation in scholarly and professional organizations.
• Sustained activity in program development
• Advanced study, certifications, and professional leadership seminars
• Scientific research projects in physical therapy or closely related field involving DPT students when applicable.

• Professional Responsibilities:
• Support the mission, vision, goals, and objectives of SCU and the DPT Program.
• Participate in appropriate national, state and local professional and scientific organizations.
• Participate in special projects or activities as requested by the Program Director of the DPT Program.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with all staff, faculty, and students in the DPT Program.
• Conduct oneself in a positive and professional manner as a representative of the DPT Program and SCU.
• Adhere to all DPT Program and USC policies and procedures.
• May engage in clinical practice as a physical therapist.
• Engage in community service by providing volunteer assistance to an agency or organization, particularly as that assistance derives from professional knowledge and expertise or provide pro bono (unpaid professional) services to local, state, regional, national, or international organization.
• Actively participate as an effective member of a team by completing assigned duties, accepting additional assignments or reassignments.
  
  

• Professional Development Responsibilities:
• Participate in annual professional development activities that demonstrate continued education in the faculty member’s area of expertise.
  
  

• Practice Responsibilities:
• Maintain, in relation to the faculty member’s area of expertise, contemporary practice knowledge.
• Maintain unrestricted license as a Physical Therapist in California or the state of residence.
• Clinical specialization in a discipline appropriate for teaching responsibilities, as evidenced by academic preparation, board certification, or documented clinical practice.
• May be active in clinical practice, to maintain certifications or contemporary practice expertise.
  
  

• Education, Experience, and Essential Tasks:
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship and relocation allowance is not available for this position.
• Physical therapist with an active, unrestricted license in California or the state of residence.
• Earned Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (or tDPT) or academic doctoral degree (preferred) (PhD, EdD, DSc, etc.) from an accredited university.
• Specialist Certification plus DPT required if no academic doctoral degree.
• Must meet training and background check qualifications and comply with the Protection of Minors policy.
• Upon hire, the candidate must have reliable transportation to facilitate travel to SCU worksites and other locations as required by the position. This includes access to an airport with regular flights to Southern California, if applicable.
• Able to teach classes scheduled during days, evenings, and weekends.
• Successful faculty will be able to work in an environment that utilizes excellent time and stress management skills.
  

Attendance

Must be punctual and timely in meeting all requirements of performance, including, but not limited to, attendance standards and work deadlines; beginning and ending assignments on time; and scheduled work breaks, where applicable.

Onsite

This position requires as needed onsite support and/or attendance to meet the essential functions of the job. Onsite activities may include but are not limited to the following: immersion lab, faculty meetings, strategic planning sessions, orientation, and graduation.

Intellectual

Synthesizes complex or diverse information, Collects and researches data, uses intuition and experience to complement data, Designs workflows and procedures, generates creative solutions, uses feedback to modify designs, demonstrates attention to detail, identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner, gathers and analyzes information skillfully, develops alternative solutions, works well in group problem solving situations, develops project plans, coordinates projects, communicates changes and progress, completes projects on time and budget, manages project team activities, assesses own strengths and weaknesses, pursues training and development opportunities, strives to continuously build knowledge and skills, shares expertise with others.

Interpersonal

Manages difficult or emotional situations, responds promptly to faculty and student needs, solicits student, faculty, and other stakeholder feedback to improve service, responds to requests for service and assistance, meets commitments, develops, and maintains courteous and effective working relationships with students, faculty, other stakeholders, vendors and/or any other representatives of external organizations.

Leadership

Develops workable implementation plans, communicates changes effectively, builds commitment and overcomes resistance, prepares, and supports those affected by change, monitors transition and evaluates results, makes self-available to faculty, develops faculty’s’ skills and encourages growth, solicits and applies customer feedback (internal and external), fosters quality focus in others, improves processes, products and services.

Organization

Demonstrates knowledge of contemporary physical therapy practice, aligns work with strategic goals, analyzes outcomes and adapts strategy to changing conditions. All employees are responsible for observing safety and security procedures as applicable and reporting potentially unsafe conditions to management.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Required Education And/Or Experience

• Earned terminal academic doctorate in a discipline appropriate for teaching responsibilities, or Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (or tDPT) with ABPTS specialization in a discipline appropriate for teaching responsibilities.
• Understanding of higher education and contemporary clinical practice appropriate for leadership in physical therapy clinical education
• Knowledge of legislative, regulatory, legal, and practice issues affecting didactic and clinical education, students, and the profession of physical therapy
• Physical therapist with an active, unrestricted PT license in California or the state of residence.
• Active in professional activities at local, state, and/or national levels.
• Experience consistent with University System for Faculty Rank
  
  

Language Skills

Level 5: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

Computer Skills

Competent in Microsoft Office Suite, Proficiency in Learning Management Systems, Ability to design and develop online courses, familiarity with collaborative platforms and tools for online communication and collaboration, experience with online classroom platforms, effective digital communication skills.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Active unrestricted license as a physical therapist, member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), member of the APTA Academy of Education.

Other Skills And Abilities/Qualifications

Strong teamwork skills, teaching style able to help create an environment of inclusion, imbued with kindness, integrity, and determination, excellent communication skills; verbal, non-verbal, and written (positive or challenging situations), active listening skills, committed to developing and sustaining strong and substantive community relations, interpersonal Skills – professional, respectful and inclusive, uphold professional values and ethics.

Physical Demands

This position requires the ability to meet the physical demands necessary for the successful performance of essential job functions. Reasonable accommodation will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to fulfill these requirements. While engaged in the responsibilities of this role, the faculty member will frequently be seated, standing, or walking and engaged in verbal communication. Additionally, manual dexterity involving the use of hands for tasks such as finger manipulation, handling, and reaching, along with the ability to maintain close vision and adjust focus, are essential for this position.

Work Environment

The work environment entails maintenance of a private home office with considerations for ergonomic efficiencies. The immersion lab setting mirrors a clinical laboratory or physical therapy clinic setting, and the following descriptions detail the typical conditions encountered while fulfilling the essential job functions. Reasonable accommodation will be considered to facilitate individuals with disabilities in performing these essential functions. While engaged in the responsibilities of this role, the faculty member may occasionally be exposed to factors such as moving mechanical parts, potentially hazardous chemicals, outdoor weather conditions, and vibrations. The noise level in this work environment typically ranges from moderate to loud.

Expectations of SCU Employees

The SCU President’s Cabinet has identified a set of values and attributes that are bare minimums for employment, those that are core to who we are as a university, and values to which we aspire. Further identified are qualities and attributes desirable for employees in general, and senior leadership specifically. This is in harmony with principles found in The Advantage, by Patrick Lencioni.

SCU Core Values

• Integrative Health: We teach, learn, collaborate, and lead by creating an open environment for multiple disciplines and professionals to bring their shared and unique skills together for the benefit of patients and students.
• Evidence-based Practice: We value a culture of inquiry, assessment, research, scholarship, and judicious use of current best evidence to inform our decisions and work.
• Health Equity: We value people equally. We strive to educate graduates that are prepared to improve individual and community health.
• Inclusivity: We welcome everyone regardless of age, race, ethnicity, class, religion, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other similar or protected status. We believe inclusivity leads to more diversity in our reasoning, better representativeness in our conclusions, more ingenuity in our problem solving, and greater equity in our care.
  
  

Profile Qualities

• Customer service focused
• Willing to invest in student/client success by fostering positive relations, guidance, and assistance
• A belief that no task that improves the University is beneath us/servant leadership
• Be an ambassador of the brand
• Be a part of recruitment
• Resource innovator
  
  

Profile-Specific Qualities By Category

• They promote positivity and teamwork.
• They actively work to build up teams and break down silos.
• They actively work to be part of the solution.
• They actively work to empower themselves and their teammates, working together in decision making processes.
• They see how they can affect the bigger picture.
• They understand how their role helps to build the future of integrative healthcare.
• They pay attention to the details.