Compensation Range:
Annual Salary: $80,031.00 - $101,985.00
National University is a veteran-founded, San Diego-based nonprofit. Since 1971, our mission has been to provide accessible higher education to adult learners. Today, we educate a student body from across the U.S. and around the globe with more than 230,000 alumni worldwide. Our three schools and three colleges offer more than 200 accredited and licensed graduate and undergraduate programs. National University holds accreditation through the Western Senior College and Universities Commission (WSCUC).
Position Summary
National University is seeking a dynamic and experienced nursing leader to serve as the Academic Program Director (APD) for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Licensure Programs. This is a full-time faculty position that combines program leadership with teaching, scholarship, and service responsibilities.
In this role, the APD provides vision, leadership, and administrative oversight for the BSN licensure programs across three campuses. The APD ensures excellence and compliance with the standards of the California Board of Registered Nursing (CABRN), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and the policies of National University. Responsibilities include developing and evaluating curriculum, recruiting and mentoring faculty, guiding student advisement, and overseeing clinical partnerships and budgetary operations. The APD plays a vital role in maintaining program quality, supporting accreditation efforts, and fostering innovation in nursing education.
As a faculty member, the individual in this role also contributes directly to the student experience by teaching, advising, and mentoring. Faculty responsibilities include engaging course content, contributing to curriculum design, participating in departmental initiatives, and collaborating with colleagues across the university to support the success of a diverse student population.
This position offers a balance of leadership and teaching with appropriate course release provided to support administrative responsibilities. The APD collaborates closely with the Associate Dean of Nursing and serves as a key leader in advancing the mission of the Department of Nursing and the School of Health Professions.
Academic Program Director, BSN Licensure Programs
Essential Functions
- Responsible for the continued, successful accreditation/approval of the BSN licensure programs through curriculum assessment, evaluation and completion of reports required for accreditation.
- Plan, organize and administer the processes and operations of the BSN licensure programs.
- Responsible for maintaining NCLEX pass rates as established by California Board of Registered Nursing (CABRN) and Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
- Develop program curriculum according to National University processes with input from faculty.
- Collaborating with the Associate Dean of Nursing develop the budget for the BSN licensure programs.
- Collaborating with the Associate Dean of Faculty and the Associate Dean of Nursing, is responsible for hiring faculty for all three campuses.
- Assess and determine faculty load in collaboration with the Associate Dean of Nursing and Associate Dean of Faculty.
- Work with Campus Operations and Staffing to plan, schedule, and ensure adequate staff for courses and clinical experiences.
- Ensure all university required processes are completed by designated deadlines (i.e., PARs, 5-year reviews, compliance trainings, FAPs, AARs, , etc.).
- Responsible for annual program assessment and comprehensive program reviews; gather and analyze data including student outcomes on formative and summative exams, NCLEX reports, progression and persistence data, student enrollment processes, and maintain the systematic evaluation plan. Work in collaboration with the SOHP Director of Assessment and Accreditation for WSCUC, CABRN and CCNE accreditations to support continuous improvement.
- Responsible for monthly reporting to the Associate Dean of Nursing to include program updates and decisions made by nursing committee meetings for the BSN programs. Committees include Curriculum, Student Affairs, and Faculty Affairs.
- Communicate changes in state and federal regulations to appropriate people.
- Participates in the grievance process if student issues escalate.
- Support Campus-Assistant Program Directors, Nursing Campus Operations and BSN students through quarterly visits to all BSN campuses.
- Participate, as able, in all three campus pinning ceremonies and support community events in which BSN students are present.
- Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with clinical partners and make routine clinical site visits.
- Network with community, business, and industry partners to build a strong advisory board to gather feedback from stakeholders to maintain currency with industry trends.
- Collaborate with professional organizations to understand changes in the field and explore future trends.
- Serves as the acting BSN liaison between National University, SOHP, and the CABRN.
Instruction
- Include multiple methods of engagement to create a positive learning environment that encourages motivation and persistence, maintaining frequent communication with students; offering opportunities for ongoing interaction to discuss feedback, addressing concerns, and plans; making accommodations to address learning styles by personalizing teaching and using appropriate tools or models of instruction.
- Apply innovative, uniquely competitive, and distinct high-performing techniques, approaches, and content knowledge in program courses.
- Maintain the rigor, high standards and consistency of courses that attract, retain, and prepare a diverse body of students to meet workforce demands.
- Leverage adaptive and advanced technology-based educational approaches to student engagement and learning outcomes.
- Ensure course and program practices are aligned with compliance and accreditation standards, as applicable.
- Utilize effective teaching methods/ clinical teaching methods while encouraging higher order thinking.
- Reinforces alignment of course activities to course and program outcomes as evidenced by announcements, discussion participation, and feedback.
- Incorporate supplemental content in announcements, discussions, and assignment feedback to support student learning and engagement.
- Seek out and encourage higher order thinking through Socratic questioning, open-ended questions, multiple perspectives, and critical thinking and evaluation.
- Consistently model good discussion practices and encourage active participation from students.
- Establishes personal and authentic presence while sharing experience, skills, and knowledge with students.
- Reinforces meaningful connections between course content and broader concepts.
- Provides personalized, substantive, timely, and constructive feedback on assignments that empowers and encourages students to improve.
- Participate in course/clinical discussions actively and substantively.
- Provide timely, substantive communication and feedback utilizing technology tools.
- Provide and regularly reinforce available communication methods, response timelines, and office hours.
- Interact and reply to students within the introductory period, on discussion forums, and on assignment feedback.
- Posts announcements providing guidelines for success and introducing topics and expectations.
- Provide an inclusive learning environment that encourages student success and motivation.
- Encourage student interactions and collaboration while providing direct and indirect support.
- Consistently demonstrates awareness of the importance of inclusive practices and accessibility.
- Consistently provide support to at-risk students.
- Adhere to National University’s academic integrity policy.
- Adhere to all policies of National University and the School of Health Professions.
Scholarship
- Scholarship forms the foundation for maintaining the university’s excellence in instruction, meeting program accreditation qualifications, and contributing to the body of knowledge that defines the university’s civic role in society.
- Refer to the Faculty Polices for examples of approved scholarship activities.
- In collaboration with the Associate Deans, faculty will describe their plans for research and scholarly activities in their Faculty Annual Plan (FAP) and report progress in their Annual Review (AAR).
- Service ensures faculty leadership through shared governance to facilitate academic quality, the student experience, and the processes of the university. All FT Faculty are expected to participate in substantive service within the university (e.g. at the program, department, school, or university level) each year.
- Refer to the Faculty Policies for examples of approved service activities.
- In collaboration with the Associate Deans, faculty will describe their plans for required service in their Faculty Annual Plan (FAP) and report progress in their Annual Activities Review (AAR).
Qualifications
Education & Experience:
- Hold and maintain an unencumbered nursing license in the State of California required.
- Master’s degree in nursing required; specialization in psych mental health preferred.
- At least 1 year of experience as a CABRN approved Assistant Program Director/Director with validated performance of administrative responsibilities consistent with CABRN regulations for administrators of prelicensure registered nursing program required.
- At least 3 years of experience teaching in pre or post licensure nursing programs required.
- At least 5 years of direct patient care experience as a Registered Nurse or at least one academic year teaching in a clinical area in the last 5 years required.
- Leadership in a higher education setting required.
- Experienced in applying the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) standards required.
- Intermediate use of computers and Microsoft Office Suite Applications such as Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook required.
- Doctorate degree in nursing or higher education preferred.
- CNE (Certified Nurse Educator) from National League for Nursing (NLN) preferred.
- Project management in higher education preferred.
- Working knowledge, principles, and practices of office management/systems within a higher education environment preferred.
Location: San Diego preferred; Los Angeles or Fresno will be considered.
Travel: Travel to BSN campuses and NU and School of Health Professions events as required.
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Candidate receiving offers will be offered a salary/pay rate commensurate with experience that vary based on a candidate’s qualifications, skills, and competencies. Absent exceptional circumstances, candidates will be offered a salary within this range for this position. Base pay is one component of National University’s total rewards package, as we are dedicated to supporting the needs of the “whole you” with our holistic approach to employee benefits by offering comprehensive well-being benefits for you and your family. For full details about our benefit plan offerings, please visit benefits.nu.edu. For part-time positions, please click here.
National University is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant per applicable federal, state and local laws. At NU, a mix of highly talented, innovative, and creative people come together to make the impact of a lifetime for each of our student learners. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment, education, and admission at National University.
