Job Description:

Ohio University is currently accepting applications for the Director of The Rush Elliott Pre-Health Advising Center ( PAC ).

The Director of Pre-Health Advising Center ( PAC ) serves both Biological Sciences and the broader university community by preparing students for professional schools in medical fields. This person is also responsible for all academic and career advising initiatives (including guidance on scholarships, internships, and career pathways), retention initiatives, and orientation coordination in the Department of Biological Sciences.

Job duties include:

Academic Advising and Career Coaching Students:

• Advise Pre-Health Students on Curriculum, Professional Opportunities, and Career Pathways: Stay informed of the most recent trends in medical professional schools and medical career pathways. Develop strategic partnerships with medical professional programs to promote our students’ success and increase student resources and opportunities. Prepare students from all majors at Ohio University for admittance to medical professional schools.­­ Develop and lead Professional Development and Medical School Application workshops and informational materials for use in the PAC and across campus. Serve on advisory committee for the OU- HCOM Early Assurance program. Advise student Pre-Health clubs, currently including AMSA PreMed, Phi Delta Epsilon, Pre- SOMA , Pre-Dentistry, and Pre-Optometry clubs. Guide and collaborate with academic advisors across campus in keeping current with recommendations and preparation strategies for medical professions. Manage the annual PAC budget of $5,000. Participate in National Association of Advisors of Health Professions in order to advance professional knowledge and mentor advisors in the profession.

• Develop and Coordinate Retention Initiatives: Continually review trends in the student experience. Identify struggles of students and develop strategies for student success in STEM disciplines. Collaborate with faculty and staff in Colleges of Arts & Sciences and Health Sciences & Professions to define short- and long-range strategic objectives for retention program development and execution (such as the current BIOS 1700 multi-faceted retention initiative), develop materials and procedures to help students make choices that lead to greater success, develop assessment tools and oversee the measurement of effectiveness.

• Lead Learning Communities: Lead the coordination and improvement of all Biological Sciences Learning Communities for incoming first year students in collaboration with University College and Biological Sciences faculty, so that each learning community seminar propels Biological Sciences students to be as successful as possible in their chosen field. Design and teach the Pre-med Learning Communities each Fall term to introduce freshmen to opportunities in research, community service and professionalism.

• Lead Biological Sciences Academic Advising: Supervise two full time Success Advisors who focus on first- and second-year academic advising to promote early success. Manage all advising assignments, supervise the BIOS Advising and Resource Room activities, including training and supervising 10-12 peer mentors each term, working with the Department Curriculum chair to review and resolve any advising issues (such as DARs substitutions and waivers) and counsel students who have not met requirements. Serve as academic advisor for approximately 50 undergraduate students in the Biological Sciences major. Stay current with Appreciative Advising models and university resources and educate advisors in Biological Sciences about effective advising approaches and university resources, in order to improve advising efficacy.

• Lead Orientation Efforts: Coordinate all undergraduate orientation programs for Biological Sciences including Bobcat Student Orientation, one day orientation programs, transfer orientation, and Relocate Day, and Welcome Weekend Department Orientation. Identify faculty collaborators, coordinate orientation guidance for students, and lead a seamless advising experience for Biological Sciences majors from Orientation to the first semester of entry.

• Oversee Departmental Scholarship and Awards: Annually gather scholarship fund information, create and promote scholarship applications to students, review completed applications and make recommendations of eligible recipients for each category to the scholarship committee. Contact all scholarship applicants with scholarship status and coordinate all aspects of the scholarship and awards banquet.

• Serve on Department /College Committees (Curriculum, Awards, Assessment, Professional Advisors): Serve as representative of the Pre-Health Advising Center and as the Department Advising Coordinator on the Department Curriculum committee. Assist Department Chair and faculty with development of departmental tools such as Learning Objectives and assessment measures.

• Why Choose Ohio University?

https://www.ohio.edu/hr/jobs/working-ohio

https://www.ohio.edu/hr/benefits

• Our Campuses:

https://www.ohio.edu/medicine/about/campuses

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree plus 5 years of related work experience

• Master’s Degree plus 3 years related work experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Higher Education, CSP , or a STEM related area is preferred.

Planning Unit: College of Arts & Sciences

Department: Arts and Sciences, Dean's Office

Applicants may contact this person if they have questions about this position: Julie Masterson, Employment Coordinator, masterso@ohio.edu

Employment Type: full-time regular

Advertised Salary:

Salary is commensurate with experience and credentials and is accompanied by our generous university benefits such as tuition for self and dependents, a comprehensive insurance package (including but not limited to health, prescription, vision, dental, and life insurance), an excellent retirement plan including company contributions, parental leave, adoption reimbursement, and more. OHIO is also proud to offer wellness programs, on-site wellness facilities, and a generous employee assistance program. Additional Information is available at https://www.ohio.edu/hr/benefits/.