What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of MPA program position at Delaware State University?
General Description of the Position
Under the supervision of the Dean for School of Graduate, Adult and Extended Studies. The Director of the MPA program is responsible for the overall management and strategic process of the program to ensure it is in alignment with the university’s academic and professional goals. This is a 12-month appointment.
Essential Functions & Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
The following are the functions essential to performing this job:
- A pivot task for this position is to develop and implement an effective, innovative system which includes but not limited to recruitment, marketing, operations, communication, community engagement, academic development, budget control and finance.
- As the leader of the MPA program, the director will work with the faculty, staff, leadership team, and business community stakeholders to review existing processes to determine if appropriate for efficiency gains in the program.
- Collaboration with other DSU academic and administrative offices such as Admissions, Registrar, Financial Aid, Student Accounts and administration to accelerate the flow of student information to ensure compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards.
The individual in this job must possess these skills and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that they can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation using some other combination of skills and abilities:
- Provide strategic, operational expertise and oversight of the MPA program.
- Coordinates program implementation, enrollment, management curriculum, innovation and development, and assurance of learning through program assessment in partnership with faculty, advisory committees, and department chairs.
- Develop marketing and recruitment initiatives for the continued enhancement and growth of the MPA program, which includes outreach strategies for promoting the program internationally as well as in the United States
- Serve as a representative for DSU in the community development events, international programs that will showcase the university and identify opportunities to expand the MPA program.
- Serves as primary point of contact for prospective students.
- Promotes MPA Programs at information sessions.
- Collaborates in the review of applications for admission and makes admissions recommendations to The Graduate School
- Works with Academic Unit Heads to schedule faculty for MPA class offerings
- Provides written teaching performance feedback to faculty for development and use in faculty annual evaluation process.
- Estimates revenues and expenses for consideration and input into annual report for MPA Program budget.
- Teach up to 3 MPA courses per semester.
- Ensures adjunct MPA instructors meet faculty qualification standards.
- Creates program objectives, sets goals and reports outcomes.
- Provides academic advising to students to ensure academic retention and success.
- Manages the student grade appeal process.
- Assists in the mediation and resolution of student and personnel issues to assure due diligence and fundamental fairness.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualification Standards
- Education – An earned doctorate in a discipline related to public administration is preferred, however the MPA Director must hold at least a master’s degree in a related program of study with demonstrated experience in the field.
- Skills – Skills and experience in Public Administration and program management.
- Networking – Must be able to build and maintain positive working relationships with students, faculty, alumni, community partners, and funding agencies.
- Experience – A successful record of teaching and research, grant writing, and building community partnerships is preferred.
Performance Standards & EEO Statement
The criteria for evaluation in this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the DSU fundamentals
- Meet enrollment targets.
- Manage the budget for the MPA Program
- Monitor instructional quality control and conducts program assessment.
EEO Statement
Delaware State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, age, national origin, color, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship or disability, veteran or military status, gender identity or genetic information. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. The University is committed to the policy of equal employment opportunity in recruitment, hiring, career advancement, and all other employment practices.
Equal opportunity employer/program'' and “auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities''.