CON Specialty Coordinator for Professional Graduate Track

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Faculty Policies

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER COLLEGE OF NURSING
Specialty Coordinator for Professional Graduate Track	Subsection: 4.4.8
Section 4.0 - Faculty Policies	Originating Date: January 2018
Responsible Reviewing Agency: Professional Graduate Nursing Affairs Committee Final Approval: Executive Council	Revised: November 2022 (changes) Revised: December 2024 (changes)

General Position Description

The specialty coordinator position is primarily responsible for planning and facilitating implementation of the curriculum relative to the program objectives and outcomes. The specialty coordinator communicates with the director of the MSN program, the director of the DNP program, specialty faculty team members, students, administrators, and agency personnel as appropriate to facilitate the effective implementation of the specialty courses in the MSN, BSN-DNP, or PGC programs. In addition to facilitating the current curriculum the specialty coordinator maintains and expands knowledge of national trends within the specialty, helping to lead changes that can be approved through appropriate channels. Further this individual leads the rest of the team insuring adherence to processes (e.g., admissions) within their sphere of influence.

This responsibility is an opportunity for professional growth and development of leadership skills and should be rotated among faculty who have had previous experience teaching in the specialty curriculum. In addition to responsibilities to the specialty curriculum, the specialty coordinator may be asked to provide input into team members’ ongoing performance and development. The specialty coordinator reports to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs and keeps the appropriate program director, assistant deans, and other administrators informed as needed.

General areas of responsibility include coordination of specialty course curriculum implementation and instructional methods, communication, evaluation and development of the curriculum, and resource identification. This position builds on the role of the faculty team member and provides opportunity to serve as a leader.

Organizational Relationships

The specialty coordinator reports to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs and maintains open communication with the MSN program director, the DNP program director, and the assistant deans. The specialty coordinator collaborates with other specialty coordinators and faculty to coordinate course offerings and program improvement.

Responsibilities of the Position

1. Curriculum and Instruction
   
   The specialty coordinator carries primary accountability for facilitating implementation of the specialty curriculum. This position is responsible for ensuring that certification and accreditation requirements are met for the specialty curriculum. The specialty coordinator works with the course coordinators and other faculty team members to assure a coordinated student plan of study and efficient use of resources (classrooms, lab, clinical sites, etc.). The specialty coordinator works with team members, program directors, LRC directors and staff, and assistant deans to coordinate specific teaching responsibilities and other activities within the curriculum.
   
   The specialty coordinator serves as a catalyst and champion for curriculum development and revisions. For clinical courses, this position works with faculty team members to select clinical experiences for students. The specialty coordinator ensures that in clinical courses all completed clinical evaluations of students are collected and filed at the end of the semester. The specialty coordinator ensures that all forms necessary for students to sit for the certification exam are completed at the end of the student’s program. The specialty coordinator collaborates with other specialty coordinators and program directors to develop and implement systems that promote efficient use of resources and successful implementation of the curriculum.
2. Communication
   
   The specialty coordinator establishes communication channels within the faculty team to facilitate information exchanges and the development of a positive working environment within the team. The specialty coordinator provides information and facilitates discussion about student advising, recommendations for changes in specialty courses based on course evaluations and national recommendations (e.g., NONPF, NTF, CCNE), teaching methods, student issues, and system changes to all team members. The specialty coordinator assists in planning, presenting and evaluating the orientation activities for new faculty or graduate assistants in relation to curriculum implementation, including classroom and clinical teaching strategies. The specialty coordinator actively participates in the appropriate program-level committees, chairs the specialty faculty team meetings, and identifies issues and suggests solutions to the program directors and to the other specialty coordinators. The specialty coordinator mentors new team members and/or graduate assistants as needed.
3. Evaluation
   
   The specialty coordinator works with the team members to ensure that evaluation measures are appropriate and relevant within courses and across the specialty track. The specialty coordinator serves as a resource in planning academic accommodations or remediation for individual students as needed. For clinical courses, the specialty coordinator is available to faculty to assist in evaluating students’ clinical performances and developing plans for improvement if warranted. The specialty coordinator, in collaboration with faculty team members, reviews student academic and clinical performances as requested by students and/or faculty team members. The specialty coordinator may refer students to available and appropriate resources for counseling and/or academic assistance. The specialty coordinator works in collaboration with the student services coordinator, the director of Student Services, the appropriate program director, and the associate dean for academic programs and ensures appropriate policies and procedures are followed.
4. Resources
   
   The specialty coordinator collaborates with team members to determine the number of students to accept each admission cycle based on the number of certified faculty available to work in the graduate program, the number of available preceptors, and the number of available clinical sites. The coordinator works with the faculty team members, other specialty coordinators, LRC directors, program directors, the assistant deans and the associate dean for academic programs to identify necessary faculty and material resources needed to effectively implement the curriculum. The specialty coordinator works with the appropriate personnel in academic programs to arrange for contracts and agreements with affiliating agencies.

Terms of Service

The specialty coordinator serves for three to five years. The specific length of the term is negotiated with the Associate Dean for Academic Programs. The specialty coordinator may be reappointed for a second or subsequent terms.

Appointment Requirements

• An earned doctorate in nursing or a related field
• Certification in specialty and an APRN license to practice in Nebraska (if the position is for an NP specialty)
• Experience in graduate teaching and curriculum development
• Demonstrated leadership abilities, managerial skills, creativity, ability to make timely decisions, effective collaboration skills, and the ability to be open to the ideas of others and to constructive feedback
• Evidence of academic scholarship
• Demonstrates clinical expertise and specialty emphasis evidenced by current and/or previous practice site(s) and scholarship.
• Clinical and tenure-track faculty are eligible for this role. The ranks of associate and full professor are preferred.