Chicago State University (CSU) is a predominately black and minority serving institution on the south side of Chicago. CSU's College of Health Science and Pharmacy invites qualified candidates to apply for the position of Chairperson of the Occupational Therapy Department. The Chairperson provides leadership for both the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) and combined BS/MOT programs.

The mission of the Chicago State University Occupational Therapy program is to educate future occupational therapists to address the occupational needs of underserved communities with occupation-based, contextually relevant services. The program is designed to provide a transformative educational experience that develops entry-level therapists who exhibit the ability to integrate knowledge into practice while using evidence, critical thinking, and reflective abilities.

We are looking for a leader to support a dynamic, diverse faculty as well as an inclusive community of students while furthering the mission and vision of the University.

Duties include but are not limited to: 

• Daily management and administration of the programs, including planning, evaluation, and budgeting;
• Maintain up-to-date departmental records; prepare annual reports; and, maintenance of accreditation in accordance with ACOTE standards;
• Collaborate with members of our internal and external communities to implement strategic plans of the Department, College, and University;
• Coordinate ongoing curriculum development in collaboration with faculty; 
• Collaborate with faculty to utilize program assessment data for ongoing program improvement;
• Assure that the Department meets union contractual guidelines and regulations;
• Support an inclusive community of learning for students; evaluate student concerns and address student needs;
• Implement strategies to support professional development and scholarly activities of faculty;
• Collaborate with the faculty and staff on the selection of new faculty and staff;
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Dean

Minimum Requirements

The Chairperson must:

• Be an initially certified occupational therapist who is licensed in the State of Illinois
• Hold a doctoral degree 
• Have a minimum of 8 years of documented experience practicing as an occupational therapist including:
  • Clinical practice experience as an occupational therapist
  • Administrative experience including, but not limited to, program planning and implementation, personnel management, evaluation, and budgeting
  • Scholarship (e.g., scholarship of application, scholarship of teaching and learning)
  • Understanding the role of the occupational therapy assistant
  • 4 years of experience as a faculty member with teaching responsibilities at the postsecondary level

Preferred Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 10 years of experience in the field of occupational therapy, including practice as an occupational therapist and administrative experience as well as at least 5 years-experience in a full-time academic appointment with teaching responsibilities, with a good track record of scholarship and grantsmanship.

About Chicago State University

Chicago State University (CSU) is a public, comprehensive university that provides access to higher education for students of diverse backgrounds and educational needs. The University fosters the intellectual development and success of its students. The Department of Occupational Therapy at CSU was founded in 1982, making it the second oldest OT program in the State of Illinois. It currently offers an Entry-Level Masters (MOT) and a Combined Baccalaureate/Masters (BS/MOT) degree in OT. Since its first graduating class in 1984, the OT Department has graduated approximately 900 students, with over 70% of its graduates coming from underrepresented groups.

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