DPT Department Chair
Position Description
The Department of Physical Therapy at High Point University invites applications for the full-time 12-month Department Chair, Program Director, and faculty position at the Associate or Full Professor rank.
The Department of Physical Therapy is one of five key departments in the Congdon School of Health Sciences (CSHS), housed in the state-of-the-art, $120 million Congdon Hall on High Point University’s main campus. Established in 2017, the HPU Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program has achieved rapid national distinction, currently ranked in the top 33% by U.S. News & World Report. Demonstrating exceptional administrative and academic rigor, the program recently received a "clean report" with CAPTE reaccreditation reaffirmed for a full 10-year cycle. This represents the best possible outcome for any DPT program and ensures a stable foundation for the incoming Chair. The Chair oversees two elite research facilities that bridge the gap between scholarship and clinical application: the Human Biomechanics and Physiology Laboratory and the Virtual Reality Clinical Gait Analysis Lab, which serve as collaborative hubs for innovation and impact. The Department of Physical Therapy offers a unique dual-practice environment. Faculty and students have the opportunity to engage with patients through both a cash-based outpatient clinic and our full-time Pro Bono Physical Therapy Clinic.
The Chair is the administrative head of the Department and is responsible for the effective operation of all aspects of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. This includes oversight of academic activities in teaching, scholarship, and clinical education; management of departmental business, personnel, and financial operations; and leadership of strategic planning aligned with the mission and priorities of the Department, School, and University. The Chair serves as Program Director and has primary responsibility for accreditation compliance and continuous program improvement. To ensure effective operations and strategic growth, the Chair is supported by a robust leadership team, including the Director of Clinical Education, Director of Students, Director of Curriculum, Director of Outcomes, and Director of Research.
The Chair regularly interfaces across the institution, with professional organizations, clinical education partners, advisory boards, and relevant regulatory and accreditation bodies. The Chair directly supervises all core faculty and provides leadership for department staff and affiliated faculty. The Chair reports directly to the Dean of the Congdon School of Health Sciences.
In addition to administrative responsibilities, the Chair serves as a core faculty member in the Department of Physical Therapy. Core faculty are responsible for delivery of the Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum, student advising and mentorship, scholarly activity appropriate to rank, and service to the Department, School, University, and profession. Faculty operate under a differential workload model, with responsibilities allocated across teaching, scholarship, administration, service, and clinical engagement, as appropriate.
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong academic and administrative leadership, a commitment to excellence in physical therapy education, a collaborative and collegial leadership style, and the ability to advance the strategic vision, accreditation standing, and national profile of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
Applications should include the following items, submitted as a single document: (i) a cover letter addressing the applicant’s qualifications and vision for the department (1-2 pages), (ii) curriculum vitae, (iii) a statement of teaching philosophy (1 page), and (iv) a statement of research interests (1 page). For more information regarding this position, please contact Dr. Kevin Ford, Dean of the Congdon School of Health Sciences, at kford@highpoint.edu
At High Point University, the faculty and staff are devoted to ensuring every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people. High Point University is a God, family, and country school.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education:
- Ph.D. or other equivalent academic doctorate.
Experience and Training:
- Current physical therapy license and/or eligibility for licensure in the state of North Carolina (required)
- Minimum of six years of full-time higher education experience, with a minimum of three years of full-time experience as a core faculty member in a
- History of leadership position(s) in DPT education program (preferred)
- History of scholarship and active research agenda (required)
- Service or leadership with national level
Knowledge, Skills, Ability:
Required:
- Strong leadership skills (required)
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills (required)
- Values teamwork, collaboration, self-awareness, and humility (required)
Preferred:
- Record of excellence in departmental leadership positions
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Contributes to the mission, vision, goals, and objectives of the Department, School, and University
- Models the core values highlighted in the Congdon School of Health Science and Department of Physical Therapy “Values Statements”
- Actively contributes across all three academic pillars
Service / Administration
- Develops short- and long-term objectives for the Department in the form of a strategic plan
- Develops and oversees specific Department plans, procedures, and programs to achieve approved objectives.
- Schedules and presides over Department meetings
- Serves as the official channel of communication on Departmental matters between the Department and the Office of Academic Affairs
- Counsels with members of the Department with respect to implementation of University policy and actions.
- Responsible for timely and accurate accreditation documentation
- Works with Department faculty to generate information that appears in the University catalog or other printed or public relations material
- Maintains all necessary records and controls to ensure maximum operating efficiency of the Department and makes these available to authorized University officers
- Makes recommendations to the Dean and the Office of Academic Affairs regarding teaching assignments, promotions, dismissals, reprimands, and other personnel matters
- Oversees and prepares the operating budget and capital equipment needs of the Department
- Assists the President and Office of Academic Affairs in evaluating the annual performance of each Department faculty member.
- Assists the Admissions Office to attract students to campus and supports efforts to inform students of opportunities at High Point University
- Oversees the Department student retention plan
- Contributes to the School and/or University through committee work
Teaching
- Teaches DPT students in area(s) of expertise
Scholarship
- Conducts research resulting in peer-reviewed publications and/or presentations
- Considers seeking funding for research or other Department endeavors
- Mentors DPT students in research opportunities
- Undertake other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Dean.