FULL-TIME LECTURER DEPARTMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

The Department of Occupational Therapy at Tufts University has an opening for a full-time, non-tenure-track lecturer to teach and advise occupational therapy graduate students, beginning September 1, 2022. The position requires expertise in occupational therapy practice, and clinical and evidence-based reasoning. The candidate should have at least one clear area of expertise and be able to direct their expertise toward the promotion of activity and participation of individuals with disabilities, or at risk for disability, and among diverse populations across settings and the life span.

The Department of Occupational Therapy is a graduate department in the School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University. Tufts is a teaching and research 1 institution with a rigorous intellectual culture and established ties to the surrounding communities. The school offers students and faculty alike in-depth educational and service-learning experiences and opportunities to explore interdisciplinary approaches to teaching, learning and scholarship. Tufts University has a commitment to become an anti-racist institution, and the Department of Occupational Therapy shares this commitment.

The new faculty member will be teaching, advising, and mentoring students in our entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) program.

A doctoral degree in occupational therapy or a related field will be required. (e.g., PhD, EdD, ScD, OTD). Candidate must have national certification as an occupational therapist and qualify for Massachusetts state licensure. Additionally, applicants should have 5 or more years of clinical experience and demonstrated clinical and/or academic teaching experience in their area of expertise.

All application materials must be submitted via Interfolio at apply.interfolio.com/105295 . Applicants should submit a cover letter, CV, a Teaching Statement highlighting experience, interests, philosophy, and three confidential letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendations should be addressed to Professor Nancy Baker, Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy, and be submitted directly to Interfolio by the recommenders. The cover letter should describe the candidate’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

For questions about the position, please contact Jessica Harney, Department of Occupational Therapy Program Director, at Jessica.harney@tufts.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

In order to ensure a healthy and safe work environment, Tufts University is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccine before their start date. Employees who cannot receive the vaccine because of a disability/medical contraindication or sincerely held religious belief may request an accommodation (e.g., an exemption) to this requirement. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine requirement.  

Tufts University, founded in 1852, prioritizes quality teaching, highly competitive basic and applied research, and a commitment to active citizenship locally, regionally, and globally. Tufts University also prides itself on creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. Current and prospective employees of the university are expected to have and continuously develop skill in, and disposition for, positively engaging with a diverse population of faculty, staff, and students.

Tufts University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our faculty and staff and fostering their success when hired. Members of underrepresented groups are welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Read the University's Non-Discrimination statement and policy. If you are an applicant with a disability who is unable to use our online tools to search and apply for jobs, please contact us by calling Johny Laine in the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) at 617-627-3298 or at johny.laine@tufts.edu. Applicants can learn more about requesting reasonable accommodations at http://oeo.tufts.edu.

Institution Information                                                                                   

The University of New Hampshire is an R1 Carnegie classification research institution providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs of distinction. UNH is located in Durham on a 188-acre campus, 60 miles north of Boston and 8 miles from the Atlantic coast and is convenient to New Hampshire’s lakes and mountains. There is a student enrollment of 13,000 students, with a full-time faculty of over 600, offering 90 undergraduate and more than 70 graduate programs. The University actively promotes a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry.

The UNH Diversity Resource Guide with information and programming available in the seacoast area, New Hampshire, and the region can be found here: https://www.unh.edu/hr/diversity-resource-guide

Summary of Position                                                 

The University of New Hampshire Department of Occupational Therapy program is seeking applicants for the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator (AFWC), a 9-month clinical faculty position. This person will work closely with the BS OTA Program Director to develop the new OTA program particularly in regard to curriculum planning and embedded fieldwork opportunities. In addition, the AFWC will be responsible for all aspects of the planning and implementation of fieldwork experiences for OTA students once the program begins.

*Applicants who bring additional diversity to our department are encouraged to apply to support our commitment to continually provide an education that prepares future occupational therapists to offer quality services to all persons within our diverse nation and advocate for the historically marginalized communities and individuals.

Duties/Responsibilities

Fieldwork and Teaching

• 1.      Ensure compliance with ACOTE standards pertaining to fieldwork.
• 2.      Establish and maintain quality fieldwork sites and are sufficient in scope and number to allow completion of graduation requirements in a timely manner in accordance with the policy adopted by the program.
• 3.      Ensure that fieldwork experiences are designed to promote clinical reasoning and reflective practice, to transmit the values and beliefs that enable ethical practice, and to develop professionalism and competence in career responsibilities.
• 4.      Communicate with students and fieldwork educators about progress and performance during fieldwork.
• 5.      Provide resources and/or training to fieldwork educators on the UNH OT curriculum, philosophy and mission and assist with developing site-specific learning objectives through additional resources and/or trainings
• 6.      Manage the process by which memoranda of understanding and site-specific data are kept current.
• 7.      Document all fieldwork experiences, including mechanisms for formal evaluation of student performance.
• 8.      Document a mechanism for evaluating the effectiveness of supervision during level II fieldwork and provide resources to enhance the supervision skills of fieldwork educators.
• 9.      Document a mechanism to monitor students’ satisfaction with their preparation for level II fieldwork and their satisfaction with the experience.
• 10.    Maintain current knowledge of occupational therapy literature, regional licensure, and ACOTE requirements related to fieldwork.
• 11.    Review, update and maintain the UNH Fieldwork Manual and ensure students know where to find the manual online.
• 12.    Teach classes that pertain to fieldwork, including any preparatory classes needed prior to and/or during fieldwork.
• 13.    Mentor and advise students through the fieldwork education process.
• 14.    Collaborate with the OT program director and OT AFWEC director in regard to fieldwork education experiences
• 15.    Teach courses, based on professional expertise, offered by the Occupational Therapy Department

Service

• ·        Consistent with the service mission of the University, the AFWC is expected to engage in service activities at university, departmental, college, and professional levels.

Additional Job Information                                       

UNH is a federal contractor within the meaning of the Executive Order on Ensuring Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal Contractors. This position may require that you be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the future, unless you apply for and receive a religious or medical exemption.

Acceptable Minimum Qualifications                          

• ·        Master’s degree from an institution accredited by a USDE recognized institutional accrediting agency
• ·        Minimum of 3 years (5 years preferred) as a practitioner and/or educator
• ·        Eligible for Occupational Therapy licensure in the state of New Hampshire
• ·        Initial NBCOT certification
• ·        Previous experience in fieldwork
• ·        Work experience as an OTA or collaborating with an OTA

Salary Information                                                    

Salary is complemented by a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental, retirement, tuition, and paid time off.

Special Requirements 

A background check will be required as a condition of employment.

Special Instructions to Applicants                              

INTERFOLIO USERS: If using Interfolio to submit letters of reference, please follow the special instructions at this link: https://pa-hrsuite-production.s3.amazonaws.com/2729/docs/126635.pdf

Instructions for reference providers can be access at: https://support.interfolio.com/m/29600/l/266335-submit-a-letter-of-recommendation-to-interfolio

Applicants must apply https://jobs.usnh.edu/postings/45838

The University System of New Hampshire is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access/Affirmative Action employer. The University System is committed to creating an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusiveness across our campus communities and encourages applications from qualified individuals who will help us achieve this mission. The University System prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.