Program Director and Department Chair, Assistant/Associate Clinical Professor, Dental Hygiene

Sacred Heart University•Fairfield, CT

15d•Onsite

About The Position

Sacred Heart University's College of Health Professions (CHP) is seeking a founding Program Director for its new BS in Dental Hygiene Program. This full-time, 12-month, non-tenure-track faculty position also includes the role of Chair of the Dental Hygiene Department. The successful candidate will provide academic, clinical, and administrative leadership, guiding the program's development, launch, and ongoing success, including achieving and maintaining Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) accreditation. Key responsibilities include integrating didactic, laboratory, and clinical education; overseeing curriculum design and assessment; managing the dental clinic's operations; developing clinical education partnerships; and leading faculty recruitment and supervision. The goal is to ensure high-quality program delivery, student success, and alignment with workforce needs. Faculty rank will be commensurate with qualifications.

Requirements

Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Graduate of a CODA-accredited Dental Hygiene program or equivalent preparation.
Current Connecticut licensure as a Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH), or eligible.
Current state of Connecticut local anesthesia certificate.
Demonstrated strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills.
Knowledge of Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) standards and processes or demonstrated ability to rapidly assume accreditation leadership responsibilities.
Familiarity with infection control, OSHA, and HIPAA requirements.
Minimum of three years full-time clinical experience as a dental hygienist.
Minimum of two years teaching or clinical instruction experience.
Demonstrated knowledge of curriculum development, student assessment, and educational theory.
Experience with supervision, instruction, and evaluation of students in clinical settings.
Experience in the operations of an on-campus dental clinic.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience as a program director, clinical coordinator, or other relevant formal academic leadership role.
Evidence of scholarly activity, professional engagement, and/or leadership in the field.

Responsibilities

Provide overall leadership, administration, and strategic direction for the BS in Dental Hygiene program.
Lead program development, implementation, and continuous evaluation to ensure alignment with institutional mission, workforce needs, and accreditation standards.
Ensure ongoing compliance with CODA accreditation standards and oversee all accreditation activities, including reporting, self-study preparation, and site visits in collaboration with institutional leadership.
Develop, implement, and maintain program policies, procedures, and strategic planning initiatives.
Collaborate with college leadership on budgeting, staffing, enrollment planning, and resource allocation.
Serve as a liaison with clinical affiliates, healthcare partners, and advisory stakeholders to support program quality and clinical placement capacity.
Oversee the operation of the dental clinic, including patient standards, staff management, budgeting, equipment maintenance and procurement, inventory, HIPAA compliance, infection control, and regulatory compliance.
Support student recruitment, admissions processes, and community engagement efforts to promote program visibility and sustainability.
Oversee development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of a competency-based curriculum across didactic, laboratory, and clinical education components in alignment with University and CODA standards.
Ensure curriculum alignment with accreditation standards, professional certification expectations, and workforce needs.
Develop policies, manuals, and student handbooks.
Coordinate course scheduling, sequencing, and faculty assignments to support effective program delivery.
Engage in clinical education planning and evaluation in collaboration with clinical sites and clinical instructors.
Direct systematic program assessment and continuous quality improvement processes using student learning outcomes, clinical performance data, and credentialing results.
Monitor program effectiveness indicators, including retention, progression, completion, and certification pass rates.
Recruit, supervise, retain, and evaluate program faculty and clinical instructors, ensuring instructional quality and consistency with program standards.
Provide instructional leadership in collaboration with faculty to support curriculum development, assessment, and revision.
Teach within the program as appropriate, utilizing effective, evidence-based, and student-centered instructional approaches.
Advise and mentor students regarding academic progression, clinical performance, and professional development.
Address student concerns and academic issues in alignment with university policies and student success standards.
Foster a student-centered learning environment that promotes professionalism, clinical competence, and ethical practice.
Maintain current expertise and professional competence through continuing professional education.
Engage in service and scholarly activities consistent with the discipline and faculty expectations.
Fulfill the roles and responsibilities of a clinical faculty member as outlined in the Faculty Handbook.