Assistant/Associate Professor (Master of Health Administration Program Director) - School of Public Health

West Virginia University

About The Position

The School of Public Health at West Virginia University (WVU) is currently accepting applications for a full-time Program Director for its Master of Health Administration (MHA) program. This position also comes with a faculty appointment in the Department of Health Policy, Management and Leadership in a non-tenure track. The Program Director will serve as a role model for scholarship through publishing and participation in other scholarly activities (to the extent expected of your faculty effort). The Program Director will facilitate a sense of community among the MHA students. About the Opportunity The Program Director is responsible for coordinating and supervising the administration and governance of the MHA Program within the Health Policy, Management, and Leadership Department at WVU School of Public Health. As the program advances toward achieving accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), the Director will lead efforts to attain and maintain full accreditation status. Key responsibilities include engaging faculty, colleagues, and staff on academic matters affecting enrolled students and applicants; collaborating with the MHA External Advisory Board; participating in fundraising initiatives with the WVU Foundation; and representing the MHA Program to local, regional, state-wide, and national health administration and provider organizations. The following duties and responsibilities will satisfy expectations for this role:

Requirements

Master of Health Administration degree or higher
Extensive industry experience (10-15+ years)
Proven track record of successful teaching within a healthcare administrative program at the higher education level.
Active membership in professional organizations such as AUPHA, MGMA, ACHE, or NAHSE

Nice To Haves

Experience with CAHME accreditation processes
Strong understanding of competency-based education

Responsibilities

Oversee effective recruiting efforts in collaboration with program, department, and School of Public Health staff and resources to ensure the enrollment of qualified students in both the online and residential MHA programs.
Review applications that deviate from minimum admission thresholds, including evaluations of prerequisite coursework and transfer credit requests.
Represent the MHA program to student organizations, campus-wide audiences, the WVU system, and regional/national entities to promote recognition of the program’s educational outcomes and graduate success.
Ensure a timely, fair, and equitable application review process that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in student interviews and admissions recommendations; participate in applicant interviews as needed.
Actively participate in recruitment and admissions activities to maintain compliance with policies and procedures, achieve strong enrollment numbers, and attract highly qualified students.
Collaborate with faculty and administrative support to achieve and maintain full CAHME accreditation, monitor compliance with accreditation standards, and submit all required periodic reports to CAHME, CEPH, AUPHA, and WVU offices.
Ensure ongoing adoption and integration of new accreditation standards as they are introduced.
Maintain compliance with all relevant school-level and Health Sciences Center (HSC)-level policies related to the program.
Assign faculty advisors to students based on matching career interests and faculty expertise and maintain an advising program that includes semesterly meetings to discuss academic progress, skill development, career aspirations, networking opportunities, practicum experiences, post-graduate planning, and professional engagement.
Serve as both a formal and informal mentor to all MHA students, making yourself available for meetings to address topics outlined in (a).
Collaborate with faculty mentors as needed to understand and establish clear expectations for students’ academic and professional development.
Gather advice and guidance from the MHA Professional Advisory Council regarding current and emerging health administration competencies.
Facilitate engagement between the Advisory Committee and faculty, students, and staff on evolving trends in health administration, including educational and marketing materials, capstone projects, and research opportunities.
Seek support and funding for special projects and initiatives.
Ensure compliance with CAHME requirements regarding committee membership and meeting frequency.
Chair an MHA-focused committee comprising faculty, staff, and students to address new initiatives, accreditation standards, curriculum development, and faculty recruitment.
Provide strategic input to SPH leadership on issues affecting the welfare of MHA students and the School of Public Health.
Lead periodic reviews of the curriculum, course sequencing, competency assessments, and faculty needs to ensure continuous improvement.
Engage regularly with SPH alumni to foster ongoing positive relationships and support for the program.
Develop and manage resource budgets for the MHA program, demonstrating fiscal responsibility and success in meeting admission, graduation, retention, and financial targets.
Achieve placement goals for practicum, fellowship, and career placement metrics for students and graduates.
Collaborate with the Offices of Student Success, Academic Success, and WVU administration as needed to support program objectives.
In partnership with the Senior Director for Academic Success, develop and execute an annual Practicum Preceptor Networking event for first-year students.
Working with faculty and the Senior Director of Academic Success, develop and host an annual Fellowship Prep Day for second-year students.
Create and distribute periodic newsletters to students, alumni, program supporters, and faculty, highlighting program updates and recognizing achievements.
Represent the MHA program with organizations such as AHA, WVHA, ACHE, AUPHA, CAHME, MGMA, local health departments, and others.
Collaborate with the Office of Student Success to maintain a professional program image through office decor, supplies, and environment that support students, staff, and faculty.
Identify and develop scholarship opportunities and other funding sources for the program in partnership with the WVU Foundation, SPH resources, alumni, and external organizations.
Explore and implement new engagement initiatives for students and faculty, such as case competitions, where feasible.
Participate in exit interviews with graduating students to gather feedback and identify areas for program improvement.
Engage actively with student organizations and their regional and national affiliates.
Lead quality improvement initiatives within the MHA program to enhance program effectiveness and student experience.
Write letters of recommendation for applicants pursuing fellowships, advanced education, scholarships, and provide verification of enrollment for professional memberships.
Oversee the administration of the Upsilon Phi Delta honor society.
Lead the development and execution of the annual strategic planning process.
Provide curricular leadership by identifying opportunities to enhance and expand coursework and student competencies to meet the evolving needs of the healthcare industry.
Coordinate faculty assignments for teaching MHA and undergraduate health services administration courses, facilitating effective scheduling and resource allocation.
Serve as the instructor of record for the graduate seminar.
Coordinate adjunct faculty needs by recruiting, securing, and collaborating with the school’s business office to develop and sign contracts prior to the start of each academic year or semester.
Ensure that all adjunct faculty are fully oriented and proficient in all relevant university platforms (e.g., SOLE, e-campus) and other tools necessary for delivering a high-quality learning experience.
Conduct regular evaluations of all courses associated with the MHA and undergraduate health services administrative programs, providing formal reviews and constructive feedback to support continuous quality improvement.
Review student evaluation feedback for all MHA courses, discuss any adverse comments or issues with the course instructor, and provide constructive feedback to promote ongoing teaching excellence.
Cover MHA classes as needed to ensure program continuity and support faculty availability.
Support faculty in delivering high-quality teaching and mentoring to MHA students, fostering an engaging and supportive learning environment.
As with all graduate program directors within the School of Public Health, coordinate and/or co-teach the MHA capstone course (HPML 659), ensuring a seamless integration of curriculum and student experience.