Occupational Therapy Assistant Academic Fieldwork Coordinator

Occupational Therapy Assistant Academic Fieldwork Coordinator

The Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Academic Fieldwork Coordinator (AFWC) serves as the full-time instructor appointed to the OTA Program who is responsible for coordinating academic fieldwork education. The AFWC ensures the OTA Program's compliance with the fieldwork education requirements of the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) Standards Section C.1.0. The AFWC develops and maintains fieldwork sites and partnerships, coordinates legally executed fieldwork agreements, prepares and places students in Level I and Level II fieldwork experiences, and evaluates fieldwork experiences to support student achievement of program and professional competencies. The AFWC collaborates with the OTA Program Director, faculty, fieldwork educators, students, and community partners to ensure that fieldwork education reflects the sequence and scope of the curriculum and strengthens the relationship between didactic and fieldwork education. As a course instructor, the AFWC facilitates meaningful, learning-centered instruction and supports student achievement of course and program competencies. The AFWC promotes a culture of mutual responsibility and respect, lifelong learning, ethical practice, professional development, and continuous improvement, and contributes to advancing the College's mission through institutional service, professional development, and community engagement.

Essential Duties or Responsibilities

The essential duties and primary responsibilities below describe the general requirements of the position and are not intended to constitute an exhaustive statement of duties. Other related duties consistent with the position's occupational series and level of responsibility may be assigned by the OTA Program Director.

• Maintain primary responsibility for coordinating academic fieldwork education and ensuring the OTA Program's compliance with the fieldwork education requirements of ACOTE Standards Section C.1.0.
• Maintain current knowledge of applicable ACOTE Standards, interpretive guidance, accreditation requirements, and fieldwork education requirements.
• Collaborate with the OTA Program Director and faculty to maintain compliance with applicable ACOTE Standards and institutional accreditation and approval requirements.
• Contribute to accreditation and approval activities, including reports, self-studies, interim reports, annual reports, site visits, and other documentation as assigned.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with fieldwork sites and community organizations sufficient to support required student fieldwork experiences.
• Maintain fieldwork policies, procedures, records, and supporting documentation necessary to demonstrate compliance with applicable accreditation, institutional, legal, and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure compliance within assigned areas of responsibility with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, institutional requirements, ACOTE Standards, ICCB requirements, HLC requirements, and applicable grant requirements.
• Collaborate in curriculum development, review, and revision to support compliance with applicable accreditation requirements and current occupational therapy practice.
• Participate in College shared governance and program processes related to the review and revision of policies and procedures to support compliance and best practices.
• Collaborate with the OTA Program Director, faculty, employers, professional organizations, and other stakeholders to support curriculum relevance and responsiveness to professional practice and workforce needs.

Program Administration and Management

• Serve as the full-time instructor appointed to the OTA Program who is responsible for coordinating academic fieldwork education.
• Maintain documented release time and institutional support sufficient to ensure that the needs of the fieldwork program are met.
• Maintain communication and collaboration with the OTA Program Director, Dean, faculty, students, fieldwork educators, fieldwork sites, community partners, and ACOTE, as appropriate.
• Coordinate with the OTA Program Director to develop, review, redesign, and evaluate the OTA curriculum to maintain a current, relevant, and effective educational program.
• Assist with coordination of OTA advisory board meetings and collection of stakeholder feedback to support curriculum, fieldwork education, and program improvement.
• Collaborate with business, industry, community partners, and professional organizations to identify changes in occupational therapy practice, workforce needs, and emerging practice trends.
• Develop and maintain a sufficient number and variety of qualified Level I and Level II fieldwork sites to support program objectives and timely student completion of graduation requirements.
• Establish, obtain, monitor, and maintain written, legally executed fieldwork agreements as required by applicable ACOTE Standards, institutional requirements, and fieldwork arrangements.
• Coordinate student assignment and scheduling for Level I and Level II fieldwork experiences in accordance with program policies and applicable requirements.
• Verify and maintain documentation that fieldwork sites and fieldwork educators meet applicable requirements for the assigned level and type of fieldwork experience.
• Maintain documentation of fieldwork educator qualifications, relevant practice experience, and fieldwork educator-to-student supervision ratios, as applicable.
• Provide or coordinate information, orientation, resources, and support necessary for fieldwork educators to understand program expectations, fieldwork objectives, student learning needs, evaluation requirements, and applicable ACOTE requirements.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of fieldwork experiences and the adequacy and effectiveness of student supervision.
• Collaborate with faculty to ensure fieldwork experiences reflect the sequence and scope of the curriculum and strengthen the relationship between didactic and fieldwork education.
• Monitor student progress and performance during fieldwork and provide consultation, support, remediation, or other intervention in accordance with program and College policies when concerns arise.
• Maintain accurate and confidential fieldwork records, including placement information, agreements, fieldwork educator qualifications, evaluations, student performance documentation, and other required records.
• Maintain applicable course documentation, including syllabi, evaluations, grades, assessment data, and other records required by the College or OTA Program.
• Coordinate with the OTA Program Director regarding selection of appropriate textbooks, educational resources, supplies, and equipment for assigned OTA courses and fieldwork education.
• Assist with maintenance of program equipment and inventory as assigned.
• Promote the OTA Program and SCC Allied Health programs through recruitment, outreach, community engagement, and educational activities.
• Collaborate with the OTA Program Director and faculty in course, program, and student learning outcome assessment and comprehensive program review.
• Collect, maintain, analyze, and use applicable fieldwork and program data, including student outcomes, fieldwork performance, enrollment, retention, completion, and stakeholder feedback, to support continuous quality improvement.

Instruction and Student Engagement

• Teach courses within the OTA Program as assigned and consistent with required qualifications and program needs.
• Provide learning-centered instruction that supports achievement of course competencies, program student learning outcomes, professional behaviors, and entry-level OTA competencies.
• Participate in student advising and academic support in accordance with College and OTA Program policies.
• Meet with assigned advisees and students as needed to support academic progress, professional development, fieldwork readiness, retention, and successful program completion.
• Direct students to appropriate College and community resources when additional support is indicated.
• Monitor and assist students in evaluating progress toward program and graduation requirements.
• Support student preparation for Level I and Level II fieldwork, including professional behavior, safety, ethical practice, confidentiality, documentation, communication, and site-specific compliance requirements.

Fiscal Management

• Collaborate with the OTA Program Director in developing and maintaining a program budget sufficient to support fieldwork education, instruction, accreditation requirements, and optimal student outcomes.
• Monitor expenditures related to assigned OTA courses and academic fieldwork.
• Assist the OTA Program Director with budget planning, modifications, requisitions, purchasing, and bid specifications as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications Education and Experience

• Must be an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant.
• Must hold and maintain a current, valid license or other applicable regulatory credential to practice as an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant in Illinois.
• Must hold a minimum of a baccalaureate degree awarded by an institution accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized institutional accrediting agency.
• Must have a minimum of two years of documented experience in the field of occupational therapy, including clinical practice experience as an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant.
• Must have professional experience as a fieldwork educator or documentation of training in the roles and responsibilities of a fieldwork educator.
• Must meet applicable SCC course instructor qualification requirements.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of current ACOTE Standards and fieldwork education requirements applicable to occupational therapy assistant education.
• Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws, regulations, professional requirements, institutional policies, and accreditation requirements.
• Knowledge of Level I and Level II fieldwork development, coordination, supervision, evaluation, and student performance requirements.
• Ability to develop