Program Manager, Academic Physical Therapy Department
Boston University Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is one of the country's leading schools of health and rehabilitation sciences. Home to more than 1200 undergraduate and 575 graduate students, Sargent College combines outstanding faculty and cutting-edge research to provide superb education and clinical experiences. The college has more than 25 on-campus, research facilities, clinical centers, and labs. It offers top-ranked degree programs in occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech, language and hearing sciences, health science, human physiology, behavior and health, and nutrition.
The Program Manager supports the unique mission of the Academic Physical Therapy department centered around educating students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. Under the supervision of the Chair of the Department, the Program Manager will provide complex administrative and organizational supports to ensure high-quality experiences for prospective and current students.
The Program Manager serves as the Department lead for all students in the physical therapy programs, responding to a variety of questions from current and prospective students regarding the entry-level physical therapy program. This role encompasses managing student course evaluations, drafting and disseminating programmatic information, planning and managing a variety of annual events for students including orientation, open houses and other class events throughout the year. Additionally, the Program Manager will work to manage administrative processes for graduate student admissions and to track data related to degree completion in the Department database. The Program Manager also supervises up to five work-study students.
This position also supports the programs compliance with accreditation and certification standards and independently manages all administrative operations for the post-professional program training programs in the Neurological and Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency Programs and Orthopedic Manual Therapy Fellowship Program in the Department of Physical Therapy and at BUs Center for Physical Therapy. The Program Manager will sustain and support a culture that celebrates the diversity of individuals and ideas, which values accountability, collaboration, and innovation. Sargent College believes the cultural and social diversity of our faculty, staff, and students is vitally important to our academic mission of excellence. We welcome candidates who support our commitment to ensuring BU is an inclusive, equitable, and diverse place where everyone can thrive.
Essential Functions
Admissions Administration (30%)
- Manage all administrative processes for admissions for approximately 800 graduate applicants annually.
- Oversee recruitment and admissions (DPT ) process by meeting with prospective undergraduate and graduate students regarding departmental programs.
- Communicates closely with the colleges Director for Graduate Admissions and Program Directors and the Chair of the Admissions Committee throughout admissions process to admit and retain students.
- Manages WebAdmit PTCAS admissions management system.
- Work effectively with the Physical Therapy Program Director and Department Chair, as well as clinical education office to develop new systems and procedures to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
Student Services (30%)
- Administer database of student records for department of physical therapy, including maintaining accurate student records that contain confidential data, such as transcripts, financial aid records, letters of recommendation, and other academic records.
- Write academic update letters indicating continuation or termination in their program to all enrolled students at completion of each semester. Record these letters and current academic status in student files and in DPT Access Database.
- Send personalized academic status letters individually to all students in the program, regardless of academic status, and ensure faculty advisors receive a copy.
- For undergraduate students, administer on behalf of Program Directors and Academic Services Center transfer student applications, and oversee on-boarding of these students.
- Manage Microsoft Access database for graduate physical therapy (PT) students including careful oversight of each students academic progress and degree progression.
- Create and disseminate course evaluations for spring and fall semesters.
- Serve as department liaison to provide guidance in the efficient use of ExamSoft across DPT courses.
Post-professional Graduate Education Administration (20%)
- Serve as lead department administrator for all post-professional and post-graduate training programs in the department, including the Neuroresidency, the Orthopedic residency, and the Orthopedic Fellowship in Manual Therapy.
- Develops administrative structures and systems to provide guidance to Program Directors in professional development activities for post-graduate residency and fellowship programs.
- Develop administrative structures and systems, on behalf of Program Directors, to ensure all post-professional programs adhere to the accreditation requirements set forth by APTA ABPTRFE, including submission of annual progress reports.
Communications, Marketing, & Events (10%)
- Create and manage Facebook groups for the entering DPT class
- Oversee and plan annual New Student Orientations sessions for May and June
- Plan and deliver various annual recognition and community building events for department
Annual Accreditation (10%)
- Administer annual program accreditation submission process in collaboration with Program Director and Department Manager.
- Manage activities for successful accreditation submission and clinical compliance.
- Engage all levels of staff and providers to sustain high performance and ensure internal and external standards are met.
Student Worker Supervision (5%)
- Supervise up to 5 graduate student workers each semester.
- Oversee their workload, manage student employee schedules, approve timesheets.
Required Skills
- Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience with 3-5 years of progressively responsible experience in higher education or health care administration
- Ability to quickly learn accreditation policies, procedures, and requirements.
- Knowledge of patient record management.
- Able to handle confidential information.
- Excellent interpersonal and written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated decision making, analytical, and project management skills.
- High level of diplomacy, discretion, and problem-solving skills required.
- Prior supervisory experience with the ability to build and lead collaborative teams.
- Demonstrated commitment to advancing a culture and climate of diversity and inclusion.
- Capacity to manage complex operational priorities for several programs, services, and activities across departments.
- Ability to work independently in a fast-paced academic environment with multiple competing deadlines.
- Demonstrated capacity to prioritize multiple projects, tasks, and demands under deadline pressure.
- Demonstrated planning and organizational skills.
Additional preferred competencies include:
- Familiarity with BU admissions systems and applications.
- Exceptional commitment to customer service and willingness to assume increasing responsibilities.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
Required Experience