Physical Therapy Doctoral Program - Assistant or Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Education

Bethel University is a leader in Christ-centered higher education with approximately 4,700 students from 50 states and 32 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Bethel offers bachelor's and advanced degrees in nearly 100 fields. Educationally excellent classroom-based and online programs equip graduates to make exceptional contributions in life-long service to God and the world.

Bethel University's Christ-centered mission includes a commitment to equal educational opportunity and equal employment opportunity. Bethel does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, familial status, or age in its admissions, educational programs, or employment practices.

About the role

Bethel University seeks a faith-led professional for the Director of Clinical Education (DCE) role within our accelerated, 28-month hybrid DPT program. As the program pursues CAPTE accreditation, the DCE will provide strategic and collaborative leadership in drawing up a clinical education program that advances the vision of the profession.

Acting as a vital bridge between the classroom and the clinic, the DCE will partner with academic faculty to ensure clinical experiences are seamlessly aligned with our systems-based didactic coursework. This forward-looking role is central to developing the clinical curriculum and policies required for candidacy and accreditation. The DCE will ensure full alignment with CAPTE standards while positioning Bethel at the forefront of innovative, evidence-based physical therapy education.

What you'll do

This is a 12-month full-time tenure-track faculty appointment.

Core Responsibilities

1. Administrative Leadership & Clinical Management (40% of Load)

* Clinical Curriculum & Accreditation Leadership:
Design, implement, and assess all Clinical Experiences and Integrated Clinical Experiences (ICE) to ensure full alignment with CAPTE standards. This includes developing student progression policies, clinical readiness requirements, and comprehensive assessment plans to track outcomes and ensure program excellence. You will lead the development of the clinical education infrastructure for candidacy and accreditation phases, contributing key data and narratives to all self-studies and compliance reports.

* Site Development & Relationship Management:
Strategically recruit and maintain a diverse network of local, regional, and national clinical partnerships to ensure varied practice settings for students. This includes managing all formal Clinical Contracts, and Letters of Intent (LOI), while cultivating strong professional relationships with site coordinators.

* Operations, Compliance & Logistics:
Oversee all student placement logistics, including rotation matching and tracking of clinical requirements such as immunizations, background checks, and HIPAA/OSHA certifications. Build and maintain robust data systems for tracking clinical hours, patient exposure types, site evaluations, and student performance data (CPI).

* Training & Strategic Growth:
Select, implement, and train Clinical Instructors (CIs) in the effective use of assessment tools to ensure consistency across sites. Collaborate with the Program Director and faculty to build the clinical education infrastructure from inception and contribute to the long-term strategic planning of clinical education growth.

2. Teaching & Instructional Delivery (40% of Load)

* Core Instruction:
Serve as a core faculty member responsible for direct instruction, syllabus development, and student evaluation within assigned courses.

* Student Mentorship &

Coaching:

Support student success through holistic academic coaching, focusing on remediation and classroom performance, while mentoring evidence-based capstone projects or clinical research.

* Pedagogical Excellence:
Apply current educational theory and evidence-based teaching methods to enhance student learning.

* CI Development:
Facilitate the evaluation of student performance (e.g., CPI) and lead workshops for Clinical Instructors to ensure high-quality supervision.

3. Scholarship & Professional Development (10% of Load)

* Active Inquiry:
Maintain a consistent agenda of scholarly inquiry in accordance with CAPTE core faculty requirements.

* Dissemination:
Contribute to the profession through research, scholarly accomplishments, or the integration of evidence-based practice into the academic environment.

* Accreditation Inquiry:
Participate in accreditation-related scholarship, assessment analysis, and quality improvement initiatives related to clinical education outcomes.

4. Service & Institutional Governance (10% of Load)

* Committee Engagement:
Serve on program, departmental, or university-level committees as assigned by the Program Director.

* Student Guidance:
Provide academic and professional mentorship to students, focusing on career mapping, residency…