Associate Dean for Academic Quality, Accreditation, and Compliance, Jefferson College of Nursing, Thomas Jefferson University, Center City Campus

Jefferson Health Plans•Palmyra, NJ

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Dean for Academic Quality, Accreditation, and Compliance provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for academic quality assurance, accreditation, regulatory compliance, and continuous program improvement across all programs within the College of Nursing. This role holds primary accountability for the design, implementation, and performance of the College’s academic quality infrastructure. The Associate Dean ensures that all academic programs meet and exceed standards established by specialized accreditors, state regulatory bodies, and institutional accrediting agencies, including the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (and other state boards of nursing), Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA), and Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). This role has explicit authority over the Systematic Evaluation Plan (SEP), program outcomes thresholds, and academic quality metrics, ensuring that performance benchmarks are established, monitored, and enforced across all programs. The Associate Dean also has institutional responsibility for ensuring academic equivalence across all instructional locations and modalities, including in-person, hybrid, and online programs. In addition, the Associate Dean ensures that all distance education programs comply with state authorization and Board of Nursing requirements across jurisdictions, including the approval and oversight of clinical placements for students completing practica outside the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Requirements

PhD in Nursing or related field, or EdD
At least one graduate degree in nursing
Unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license, with eligibility for licensure in Pennsylvania
Eligibility for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or higher
Minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership experience in nursing education
Demonstrated expertise in accreditation processes (e.g., Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, Middle States Commission on Higher Education)
Strong knowledge of academic assessment, program evaluation, and outcomes measurement
Experience with curriculum design and alignment to competency-based frameworks
Exceptional attention to detail and organizational leadership skills

Nice To Haves

Experience leading successful accreditation reviews or site visits
Experience with multi-site and distance education program delivery
Experience managing state authorization and out-of-state clinical compliance
Record of scholarship or leadership in nursing education, quality, or accreditation

Responsibilities

Lead all initial and continuing accreditation processes across undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs
Serve as primary liaison to accrediting and regulatory bodies (e.g., CCNE, BON, COA, MSCHE)
Oversee preparation of self-studies, substantive change reports, annual reports, and site visit coordination
Ensure compliance with all applicable accreditation standards and regulatory requirements across programs and sites
Establish and maintain a proactive accreditation calendar and readiness infrastructure
Own and operationalize the College’s Systematic Evaluation Plan (SEP), including authority over design, implementation, and enforcement
Establish, approve, and monitor program outcomes thresholds (e.g., licensure, certification, completion, employment, and progression metrics)
Require and oversee action plans for any outcomes that fall below established benchmarks
Ensure systematic, ongoing evaluation of mission, curriculum, resources, and outcomes consistent with national expectations for program quality and improvement
Lead root cause analysis and continuous quality improvement initiatives across programs
Ensure documentation is audit-ready and defensible across all accrediting and regulatory reviews
Lead institutional alignment of curricula with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials (2021) competency-based framework
Oversee curriculum mapping, gap analysis, and progression validation across all programs
Ensure that competency-based education principles are consistently applied across curricula, supporting measurable and transferable student competencies
Partner with program directors to ensure curricular rigor, coherence, and compliance
Hold primary accountability for ensuring academic equivalence across all instructional locations and delivery modalities
Establish and enforce standards for consistency in curriculum implementation, evaluation methods, grading practices, and student learning experiences
Ensure that outcomes, course expectations, and assessment strategies are equivalent regardless of site or modality
Monitor and evaluate cross-site performance data to identify variation and implement corrective actions
Ensure that expansion to new instructional locations maintains full compliance with accreditation and regulatory expectations
Ensure compliance with all state board of nursing requirements, including curriculum approvals, reporting, and program changes
Oversee compliance for distance education and online programs across all states in which students are enrolled
Ensure that programs meet requirements for state authorization, out-of-state clinical placements, and licensure eligibility
Establish processes to verify that students enrolled from other states (e.g., California) are eligible to complete clinical experiences in their home state and meet that state’s Board of Nursing requirements
Maintain up-to-date regulatory intelligence across jurisdictions and ensure program alignment with evolving requirements
Oversee submission of regulatory documents, including curriculum changes and site approvals
Oversee the collection, validation, analysis, and reporting of academic and programmatic data
Ensure integrity, consistency, and accessibility of data used for accreditation and decision-making
Develop dashboards and reporting systems to support program leaders and faculty
Align assessment systems with institutional effectiveness and regional accreditation expectations
Provide leadership in faculty development related to assessment, accreditation, and competency-based education
Support faculty in developing measurable student learning outcomes and evaluation strategies
Promote a culture of shared accountability for academic quality and outcomes
Serve as a key member of the senior academic leadership team
Align academic quality initiatives with institutional strategic priorities, including program growth, innovation, and expansion
Provide consultation on new program development, modality changes, and expansion to new sites
Ensure that academic quality infrastructure scales effectively with institutional growth
Teach 1–2 courses per academic year, as needed
Actively engage in college, university, and professional service

Benefits

Comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time colleagues
Medical (including prescription) insurance
Supplemental insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Life and AD&D insurance
Short- and long-term disability
Flexible spending accounts
Retirement plans
Tuition assistance
Voluntary benefits, which provide colleagues with access to group rates on insurance and discounts
Tuition discounts at Thomas Jefferson University after one year of full time service or two years of part time service
Medical (including prescription) insurance for all colleagues, including those who work less than part-time (including per diem colleagues, adjunct faculty, and Jeff Temps)
Growth opportunities and continuing education