Description

Program Director, Clinical Mental Health Counseling

POSITION

Spalding University is seeking a Director of Clinical Mental Health Counseling

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of the Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program (CMHC) will oversee the graduate program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The successful candidate will have an opportunity to shape the direction of the program through curriculum development, faculty hiring and mentoring, and student recruitment that values inclusive practices in mental health counseling and personal development. The program started in fall 2020 and has graduated two classes of professional counselors and was CACREP accredited in summer 2023. Current CACREP accreditation has been accorded until 2031.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain and develop (when necessary) curriculum for the CMHC program that complies with Kentucky licensure standards for professional counseling
• Lead search committees, strategy, and logistics for faculty hires and recruit topnotch faculty who are experts in their specializations in the counseling profession (and work with senior academic administration and HR in notifications on the Spalding website and elsewhere)
• Provide leadership, mentorship, pedagogical guidance, and professional collaboration with all faculty and demonstrate an inclusive, input-seeking, and collaborative leadership style with program colleagues
• Recruit talented and passionate graduate students and work closely and collaboratively, with graduate recruiters and other leaders in Enrollment Management
• Maintain a clear, thoughtful, organized, and reasonably fast timeline for expeditious replies, acceptances, and admission of prospective students in the MA in CMHC graduate student funnel in order to attract high quality students; utilize the program’s administrative coordinator to assist in all recruitment processes
• Focus on maintaining CACREP accreditation and ensure compliance with the University’s regional accrediting body for new programs (SACSCOC)
• Develop policies and procedures for the MA in CMHC program
• Handle student complaints and concerns and work with the Dean of Graduate Education on applying appeals processes (found in the catalogue and in program policy manuals)
• Partner with and support the Clinical and Field Experience Coordinator on growing sites for clinical education partnerships
• Teach two courses per semester from the onset of appointment (per negotiation with supervisor/Dean of Graduate Education and the Provost)
• Sit on university committees and Graduate Education taskforces (e.g. President’s Council, Graduate Committee, Faculty Senate, and Graduate Program Directors Council)
• Maintain a program that reflects the diversity of graduate students at an urban university

Qualifications

SKILLS AND EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Program Director must have a doctorate in counselor education or a related field that meets CACREP Program Director standards and results in standing as a core CACREP faculty member in the program
• Should have strong background and experience in CACREP accreditation knowledge and leadership in a graduate counseling program; past roles as a director, chair, or clinical and field experience coordinator is preferred
• An interest in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary inter-professional healthcare education (in order to find common ground with other Spalding graduate programs such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, social work, clinical psychology, and athletic training.
• Technologically savvy (e.g., solid use of digital tools, campus LMS, computer budgeting tools, PowerPoint, Excel, analytics-driven decision-making, etc.)
• A license to practice (e.g., LCP) or credentials to be license-eligible in Kentucky are required
• Some experience as a faculty member or program administrator is required; two to five years’ experience in a graduate counseling program and knowledge of tenure process is preferred
• Solid, demonstrable university-level teaching experience in a CMHC or other counseling program at the graduate level is required; teaching evaluations preferred
• Understanding and application of scholarship and research within a teaching-oriented doctoral university is required; a verifiable record of scholarly presentations, publications, and practice (or a mixture and a demonstrated potential for solid scholarly progression as director and a faculty member) is preferred
• Commitment to inclusiveness and collegiality in personal and professional work and mentoring students and faculty on the importance of multicultural and multidisciplinary applications
• Level of teaching appointment on tenure-track and rank may be negotiable with the Provost
• Commitment and alignment with Spalding University’s Mission is essential
• Ability to teach an online or hybrid course is expected (or willingness to develop one)
• Potential of developing an online program (separate from the face-to-face program) as a potential additional option for new remote student populations is a strength
• Active membership and participation in local, regional, national, and international (one or more of these) professional counselor education organizations is required

INTERRELATIONS

• Regular or daily contact with administration, faculty, staff, and students is expected
• Regular contact with the general public
• Promotion of the MA in CMHC program on and off campus and on weekends may be required at times during the year
• Ability to embrace building bridges in the local community and interacting with alumni, friends of the CMHC program and Spalding University, colleagues, professionals, and leaders off-campus in order to bring interest into the program from organizations, professional counselors, and a wide range of organizations and counseling professionals and others in the mental health community and beyond
• Must be able to work with, listen to, appreciate, and collaborate and lead with diverse populations
• Ability to model best practices for faculty, staff, and students and to comport oneself professionally with faculty, students, staff, and administration
• Must be able to present information, program policies, regulations, etc. and, work with faculty, staff, etc. and, at times, deliver negative news or difficult information to share and enforce unit and university policies with faculty and staff

CONTACT

All applications are made through the Paycom Applicant Tracking System.

The Search Committee will begin reviewing applications and CVs during the week of December 4-8, 2023. Short listed candidates will most likely be interviewed virtually in January 2024 and finalists are expected to be brought to campus in February or early March 2024. The start date is negotiable. The position offers a competitive salary. The search will proceed until a final candidate for the position is hired. The Search Committee welcomes applications from qualified applicants at any time and at all stages of the process.

For additional questions, please contact:

Dr. Kurt W. Jefferson

Dean of Graduate Education

Spalding University

Chair of Search Committee for the

Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program

903 S. 4th Street

Louisville KY 40203

Office: 502-873-4172

E-mail: kjefferson@spalding.edu

ABOUT SPALDING UNIVERSITY:

Spalding University offers a comprehensive package including medical, dental, vision, Spalding matching contribution up to 5% to your 403b/Roth retirement plan, generous Paid Time Off program, Parental Leave, 21 holidays including 2 weeks off at the end of the year, paid life insurance and short-term disability, paid time for volunteering, free gym membership, and more.

Situated in the heart of downtown Louisville, Kentucky’s largest city, Spalding University combines a rich social justice history and a commitment to community service as we attract students who desire a high-quality education in a very personalized setting. An engaged faculty serves nearly 2300 students at the bachelors’, masters and doctoral levels, providing real-world learning in liberal and professional studies.

Faculty, staff and students are united by the institutional mission: Spalding University is a diverse community of learners dedicated to meeting the needs of the times in the tradition of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth through quality undergraduate and graduate liberal and professional studies, grounded in spiritual values, with an emphasis on service and the promotion of peace and justice.

With a focus on service and leadership, Spalding offers all students a mission-driven connection to community and comprehensive learning resources while striking a distinctive balance serving the educational needs of both the traditional student and the working student. In addition, our unique6-week class delivery format affords students scheduling flexibility amidst other life responsibilities.

Spalding aspires to become the first choice for students of compassion and service, with a commitment to cultural diversity, equity and inclusion, celebrated for a rigorous yet nurturing environment, emulated for interdisciplinary, collaborations, and acclaimed for contributions to the community.

Spalding University is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. The University complies with all federal, state and local equal employment opportunity laws. It is the University’s policy not to discriminate against any individual or group of individuals and to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, veteran status or other protected status. All job offers are contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment drug screening and criminal background check.