Auburn University and Auburn University Montgomery Schools of Nursing

DIRECTOR OF THE JOINT MSN PROGRAM

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Auburn and Montgomery, Alabama

 THE OPPORTUNITY

Auburn University and Auburn University Montgomery (AU/AUM) invite applications and nominations for the position of Director of the joint Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program.  The joint MSN Program at Auburn and Montgomery is new and will begin admitting students in the summer of 2006.  The successful candidate must possess credentials commensurate with a tenure track faculty appointment at the Associate or Full Professor rank and must meet the relevant Alabama Board of Registered Nursing criteria for licensure.  The Director will have graduate faculty responsibilities, as well as administrative responsibilities for the coordination of the joint graduate Program.

AUBURN UNIVERSITY and AUBURN UNIVERSITY MONTGOMERY OVERVIEW

History and Overview: Auburn University

Chartered in 1856, Auburn University (AU) opened as a land grant university in 1859 and became affiliated with the Methodist Church.  AU is the oldest four-year, coeducational school in the State, and second oldest in the Southeast.  Women were first admitted in 1892.

 

Auburn University is one of the largest universities in the South and the largest in Alabama, remaining in the educational forefront with a blend of arts and applied science.  The University offers degrees in 13 schools and colleges at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels.  The main campus had an enrollment during fall of 2005 of 23,333. 

 

History and Overview: Auburn University Montgomery

 

Auburn University Montgomery (AUM) was established in 1967 by an act of the Alabama legislature.  Located on a 500-acre campus seven miles east of downtown Montgomery, AUM has a student population of approximately 5,000 and 200 faculty members in five academic schools: Business, Education, Liberal Arts, Nursing, and Sciences.  AUM serves a diverse student body, including traditional and non-traditional students. 

 

Mission

Auburn University Mission

Auburn University's mission is defined by its land-grant traditions of service and access.  The University serves the citizens of the State through its instructional, research and outreach programs and prepares Alabamians to respond successfully to the challenges of a global economy.  The University provides traditional and non-traditional students broad access to the institution's educational resources.  As a comprehensive university, Auburn University is committed to offering high-quality undergraduate, graduate, and professional education to its students.  AU emphasizes a broad and superior undergraduate education that imparts the knowledge, skills, and values so essential to educated and responsible citizens.  The University provides high-quality graduate and professional programs in areas of need and importance to the state and beyond.  

 

Auburn University Montgomery Mission

 

As the metropolitan campus of a land-grant institution Auburn University Montgomery (AUM) blends the traditional view of the university as a community of scholars with the contemporary view of the university as an integral part of the surrounding community, state, and region.  Its mission is to foster and exemplify excellence in education through instruction, research, and service – to provide academic programs that are not only characteristic of the finest traditions of the liberal arts, business, the sciences, nursing, and education, but also consistent with the responsibility of the university to provide support for the functions of government, cultural enrichment through the arts, and regional economic growth.

 

Accreditation

AU and AUM are accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the bachelor’s, master’s and specialist degrees.  Additionally, AU is accredited to award the doctoral degree in numerous disciplines.  Together AU and AUM award a joint doctoral degree.

 

Students

Demographics of AU and AUM student enrollment for academic year 2005-2006 include:

 

Group	AU	AUM
Total Enrollment:	23,333	5,128
Undergraduate Students:	20,164	4,300
Graduate Students:	3,169	828
Female Students:	11.455	3.356
Male Students:	11,878	1,172

Cities of Auburn, Alabama, and Montgomery, Alabama
Auburn (pop. just over 40,000) is about 50 miles east of Montgomery, the State capital, and 115 miles southwest of Atlanta, Georgia.   The Gulf Coast of Florida is about four hours away by car.  Auburn enjoys a warm and sunny climate with mild winters. It has excellent health and recreational facilities, a low crime rate, and excellent public schools.  Auburn is a bike-friendly town with bike lanes around the University.

Montgomery (pop. just over 200,000, with an additional 150,000 in the greater metropolitan area) is the State capital and lies some 165 miles southwest of Atlanta, Georgia, 92 miles south of Birmingham, and 155 miles north of Mobile and the Gulf of Mexico, Approximately one-third of the population of Alabama lies within a 600-mile radius.  Montgomery enjoys a warm, temperate climate year-round.  Montgomery offers diverse cultural and recreational opportunities including the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, world-class museums, Civil Rights Memorial, a ballet company, a natural habitat zoo, a chamber music society, an independent film theater, and the Montgomery Biscuits baseball team.

The Schools are 50 miles apart, an easy 45 minute drive, connected by an accessible interstate highway. 

THE AU/AUM SCHOOLS OF NURSING

In 1979 baccalaureate nursing programs were established at Auburn University and Auburn University Montgomery.  Both Schools of nursing prepare graduates to deliver care to diverse populations in a variety of settings.  AUSON/AUMSON graduates are prepared to provide leadership in healthcare and to pursue graduate study.  Both programs offer the traditional Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing, for those with no prior degree.  Additionally, AUSON offers an Accelerated Nursing Degree (AND) program for those who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in another field of study.  AUMSON offers an Educational Advancement for Registered Nurses (EARN) program for associate degree prepared registered nurses desiring to obtain a BSN.

In 1999, Dean Barbara Witt was charged by the President of Auburn University to administratively consolidate the AU and AUM Schools of Nursing.  Consequently, the two schools have developed a common undergraduate traditional curriculum and are sharing expertise and resources to further the goals and missions of both schools.  It has become evident that by working collaboratively both schools can be more successful in teaching, scholarship and service.  The joint MSN program is a result of the collaboration between AUSON and AUMSON.

AU/AUM JOINT MSN PROGRAM

Joint MSN Program Concept and Positioning
Beginning in 2006, the Auburn University (AU) School of Nursing will offer an MSN program jointly with Auburn University Montgomery (AUM).  This joint, multi-campus, collaborative nature of the Program is central to its essence.  There will be a single set of course offerings and a single set of classes for each course.  The AU/AUM faculties will apply experiences gained from previous collaborations to build this joint MSN Program.  The curriculum for the Program was developed in response to three well--documented needs:

·        A nationwide shortage of nurses and nursing faculty.

·        The societal demand for culturally competent health care providers.

·        The needs of nurses and employers of nurses in east-central Alabama

The joint MSN Program will admit part-time and full-time students in the fall of 2006.

The joint MSN Program consists of 43 to 51 semester hours, including major, support, and elective courses.  The curriculum is offered via traditional didactic classroom and real-time, web-based delivery modes.  Classes will be offered on the AU or AUM campuses, in accordance with student and faculty locations[3].  Options for both a thesis and a research project are available.

Joint MSN Program Intended Outcomes
The graduate of the joint MSN Program will be well positioned to:

·          Provide educational services to diverse populations.

·    Engage in culturally sensitive, ethical, and competent teaching-learning processes.

·        Use evidence-based practices in assessing teaching-learning needs of patient populations, health care providers, and nursing students.

·        Advocate for health care policy at the local, state, and national levels to promote access to cost effective, quality health care.

·        Use appropriate technology to access current knowledge in the application of advanced clinical nursing concepts.

·     Synthesize theories and research to develop processes that promote and maintain health in a wide range of cultural, racial, ethnic, age, and gender groups.

·        Articulate the role of the CNS in influencing health care services.

·        Analyze data to support decisions to improve nursing practice.

·        Value the importance of doctoral education.

 The graduate of the joint MSN Program curriculum is a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in education of diverse populations that may encompass various combinations of patient constituencies, care providers, and/or nursing students.  Upon graduation, the CNS will be a person trained in the teaching/learning process as it relates to all knowledge and skill development.  The MSN graduate will be a nurse with advanced knowledge in each of the primary areas of their practice, with resulting enhancement of educational outcomes of their selected population group, be it patients, care providers, or future nursing students.  The three primary areas of knowledge development that will be put into practice by the CNS are:

·        Clinical Knowledge of pediatrics, geriatrics or adult health

·        Education Knowledge

·        Diversity Knowledge

SCHOOLS OF NURSING PROFILE
Dean Profile
Dean Barbara Witt is responsible for overall administration of both Schools of Nursing.  Dean Witt graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Nursing twice – once in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree and again in 1977 with a master’s degree.  After completing her MSN, she was on the faculty at St. Joseph College and also served as Executive Director of the Connecticut League for Nursing.  She then completed her doctorate at Columbia University where she focused on nursing education administration.  From 1986-1998 she was at the University of Hartford serving as chair of the Division of Nursing for eleven years.  During her tenure, she initiated the graduate nursing program building four different tracks including one in nursing education.  In 1998 Dr. Witt moved to Montgomery, Alabama to become the Dean of Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) School of Nursing.  Shortly after she arrived in Alabama, she was given the responsibility of consolidating the administration of the Schools of Nursing at Auburn University and AUM.  Since assuming the dual deanship Dr. Witt has instituted an active development program, aligned the two curricula and fostered a cross-campus collaboration.  This new joint MSN Program represents the next step in collaboration between the two Schools.  Dean Witt cites as one of the key strengths of the Schools their supportive, collegial environments that are deeply committed to professional and personal growth.

Faculty Profile
The School of Nursing faculty profile for AU and AUM is:

 

Position/Rank	AU	AUM
Dean and Professor (joint with AUM)	1	1
Assistant Dean and Associate Professor	1	1
Associate Professor	4	1
Assistant Professor	4	2
Instructor	5	5

 

Student Profile
The School of Nursing student profile for AU and AUM is:

Group/Program	AU	AUM
Pre-Undergraduate	361	327
Undergraduate Professional Program (excluding AND Program at AU)	154	130
Undergraduate AND Program (AU only)	17	NA
RN to BSN Program	NA	23
Joint MSN Program (target)	50 (25/year)

 

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION

The Director serves as the head of the joint MSN Program and is responsible for all day-to-day activities within the Program.  The Director reports to the Dean of the AU and AUM Schools of Nursing.  On both campuses the Director is a part of the Graduate Council and serves as a member of the Dean’s advisory committee

The Director’s duties include:

• Promoting the Vision, Mission and Values of the School through the joint MSN Program, and working collaboratively with faculty from the Auburn and Montgomery campuses to assure the success of the Program
• Providing leadership and vision for the Program, working with faculty and staff to create an academic environment conducive to scholarship and learning 
• Assuming responsibility for the delivery and assessment of the Program
• Working with the Dean to make certain that the Program is fiscally accountable 
• Procuring external funding for the School to support the Program
• Working effectively with the broader health care and nursing communities in order to further the School’s mission and goals by enhancing its visibility to and relationships with these communities
• Representing the joint MSN Program at appropriate forums
• Overseeing implementation and evaluation of the Program’s curriculum
• Coordinating admission processes
• Coordinating teaching load of faculty and class scheduling in conjunction with Assistant Deans
• Overseeing advisement of graduate students
• Coordinating nominations of nursing faculty to the graduate faculty
• Developing strategies for recruitment of students
• Overseeing the updating of the Program’s website pertaining to the Program
• Assisting the Dean in fundraising for the Program
• Balancing a role that blends 50% administration with 50% graduate teaching
   

LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEW DIRECTOR

The new Director will face exciting challenges and unexploited opportunities including:
 

·         Opening a new joint MSN Program. 

The new Director will be entering the leadership group at AU and AUM at a critical time.  The new joint MSN Program will begin to admit part-time and full-time students in the fall of 2006.  The new curriculum is well conceived and planned, and the new Director will enjoy considerable support in implementing the new Program. 
 

·      The delivery of the new joint MSN Program is conceived and planned as highly innovative, technologically advanced. 
 

The new Director will need to be committed to distance education (DE) and the use of the latest technologies including real-time, web-based delivery.  There is extensive support for information technology on both campuses.

  

·      Working with a joint Program involving the Auburn and Montgomery
campuses, capitalizing on the strengths of each without duplicating courses or content to create superior, unified capabilities and educational offerings.

The new Director will work with the faculty and administration to lead strategy execution and decision-making relative to teaching, clinical and research activities in the new joint MSN Program.  AU/AUM faculty have a strong history of collaborating in teaching courses and in joint research projects, thereby providing a foundation for this Program.  The AU/AUM faculty are very collegial and supportive of personal and professional growth.

·       Serving the needs of the greater community in a manner that reflects favorably on the Schools and the Universities as a land-grant institution.

The new Director will have to be a very visible participant in outreach and community-centered activities.  Both AU and AUM have established outreach programs.

·        Representing the joint MSN Program in a wide variety of venues and situations.

The new Director will need to engage with groups – formal and informal – within the healthcare communities, the Universities and the broader community on behalf of the joint MSN Program.  The existing undergraduate programs enjoy excellent reputations within their respective communities; this will serve as the basis of their relationship with the joint MSN Program.  Excellent communication and group skills will be required.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THE JOINT MSN PROGRAM

The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications and characteristics.

• Required:
  • An understanding and commitment to the Vision, Mission and Values of the Universities
  • An established record of superior teaching, scholarship and service
  • Proven ability to work effectively with health care leaders and professionals, and to represent the School and the University in that environment
  • Administrative leadership, vision and experience in a complex environment
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • A track record of being creative and an innovator
  • Ability to balance a teaching and administrative workload
  • Experience teaching in graduate education
  • Ability to teach in the language of instruction
  • Eligible for licensure as a registered nurse in the State of Alabama
  • Eligibble to work in the United States
• Desirable:
  • Ability and affinity for fund raising and resource development
  • Previous administrative experience in graduate programs
  • Familiarity with and commitment to distance education (DE), and real-time, web-based technologies for courseware purposes

 

TO APPLY

Inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited for the Director of the joint MSN Program at the Auburn University and Auburn University Montgomery (AU/AUM) Schools of Nursing.  Interested individuals should provide a letter describing their interest in and qualifications for the position and a curriculum vita / resume.  Nominations and applications will be reviewed beginning immediately, and will be accepted until the position is filled.  All application materials will be treated in strict confidence and should be submitted, preferably via email, to:

The Hollander Group

Info@thehollandergroup.net

Phone: 202-486-9097

Fax: 202-337-4046

 Auburn University (AU) is a land grant institution with a deep, historic commitment to service of all Alabamians as the state becomes part of a global 21^st century society with all its attendant challenges and opportunities.  Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to work in a culturally diverse environment and to contribute to the Mission of the Universities. Auburn Montgomery Montgomery (AUM) is the metropolitan campus of the land-grant institution Auburn University (AU).

AU/AUM are Equal Opportunity Employers dedicated to affirmative action and to excellence through diversity.  The Universities provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities upon request.

 Auburn University http://www.auburn.edu

Auburn University Montgomery  http://www.aum.edu

[1] For more information on Auburn, AL, see http://www.auburnchamber.com/

[2] For more information on Montgomery, AL, see http://www.montgomeryhcmaber.com/

[3] There are 9 AU/AUM School of Nursing faculty in the MSN Program, reporting to the Director for the purposes of the program.