UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF NURSING POSITION DESCRIPTION 1
THE OPPORTUNITY Dean of the School of Nursing UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco, California The University of San Francisco invites applications for the position of Dean of Nursing, preferably beginning August 1, 2006. The successful candidate will be eligible for appointment at a faculty rank appropriate to his/her prior experience and must meet the relevant California Board of Registered Nursing criteria (CCR 145 -b) for appointment as a dean. The University of San Francisco is recognized nationally and internationally as a premier Jesuit, Catholic, urban university with a global perspective. Its mission is to educate leaders who will fashion a more humane and just world. The University offers undergraduate, graduate and professional students the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as persons and professionals, and the values and sensitivity necessary to be men and women for others. Established as San Francisco s first institution of higher education in 1855, the University of San Francisco presently serves over 8,000 students in Arts and Sciences, Business and Management, Education, Law, Nursing and Professional Studies. The University is a diverse, private, Catholic and Jesuit Institution, and seeks candidates who will contribute positively to such an organization. The University s location within the city of San Francisco provides it with immediate access to some of the nation s richest cultural, intellectual, commercial, and corporate resources. The natural beauty and topographical diversity of northern California offers outstanding recreational opportunities. The University is enjoying a period of exceptional growth and development. Applications to its undergraduate programs have increased by 70% in the last four years and its selectivity rate has increased by approximately 20%. The University is currently in the public phase of a 175 million dollar capital campaign, which is seeking both capital funding and endowment support for student scholarships and faculty appointments. 2
The new Dean of the School of Nursing will be joining a dynamic group of college deans, each of whom has been appointed within the last eight years. This group has been working together energetically to promote the mission and vision of USF. They have achieved notable success and are extremely skilled academic administrators. THE UNIVERSITY: AN OVERVIEW Vision, Mission and Values Statement: The core mission of the University of San Francisco is to promote learning in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition. The University offers undergraduate, graduate and professional students the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as persons and professionals, and the values and sensitivity necessary to be men and women for others. The University will distinguish itself as a diverse, socially responsible learning community of high quality scholarship and academic rigor sustained by a faith that does justice. The University will draw from the cultural, intellectual and economic resources of the San Francisco Bay Area and its location on the Pacific Rim to enrich and strengthen its educational programs. The University s core values include a belief in and a commitment to advancing: The Jesuit Catholic tradition that views faith and reason as complementary resources in the search for truth and authentic human development, and that welcomes persons of all faiths or no religious beliefs as fully contributing partners to the University; The freedom and the responsibility to pursue truth and follow evidence to its conclusion; Learning as a humanizing, social activity rather than a competitive exercise; A common good that transcends the interests of particular individuals or groups; and reasoned discourse rather than coercion as the norm for decision making; Diversity of perspectives, experiences and traditions as essential components of a quality education in our global context; Excellence as the standard for teaching, scholarship, creative expression and service to the University community; 3
Social responsibility in fulfilling the University s mission to create, communicate and apply knowledge to a world shared by all people and held in trust for future generations; The moral dimension of every significant human choice: taking seriously how and who we choose to be in the world; The full, integral development of each person and all persons, with the belief that no individual or group may rightfully prosper at the expense of others; A culture of service that respects and promotes the dignity of every person. The following Strategic Initiatives are key to the University s achieving recognition as a premier Jesuit, Catholic urban University: Recruit and retain a diverse faculty of outstanding teacher-scholars and a diverse, highly qualified, service-oriented staff, all committed to advancing the University s Vision, Mission and Values; Enroll, support and graduate a diverse student body, which demonstrates high academic achievement, strong leadership capability, concern for others and a sense of responsibility for the weak and the vulnerable. Provide an attractive campus environment and the resources to promote learning throughout the University: o Learning resources that enhance curriculum and support scholarship o Technology solutions to enhance learning and improve service o Facilities to support outstanding educational programs Continue to strengthen the University's financial resources to support its educational mission. Institutional History USF has had a long and distinguished history. The University today has an increasingly clear identity, avoiding any easy confusion with UCSF (University of California at San Francisco a health sciences school and hospital), or with SFSU (San Francisco State University - one of the major campuses in the California state system). Faculty and staff morale is very positive and there is noticeable enthusiasm for the recent initiatives and overall direction of the University. Full-time and parttime faculty in the College of Arts & Sciences, the School of Business & 4
Management, the School of Education and the School of Nursing are organized as the University of San Francisco Faculty Association, an AFT affiliated unit. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement with the full-time faculty expires in June 2007 (see http://www.usfca.edu/usffa/usffa.pdf). The University s President, Fr. Stephen Privett, S.J., was appointed in 2000; the Trustees renewed his five-year term in late 2004. The Provost and Academic Vice President, James Wiser, has served at USF since 1998. The University of San Francisco is one of the most diverse universities in the U.S. It is significantly enriched by this diversity and is committed to maintaining this strength. Forty-two percent of its student body, which comes from 48 states, is white and 69% is female. Almost 8% of its student body comes from over 70 other countries. USF intends to increase the diversity of its faculty, administration and Board of Trustees. THE SCHOOL OF NURSING The University of San Francisco s School of Nursing began in the 1940s as a cooperative effort with the Sisters of Mercy, so that registered nurses from nearby St. Mary s Hospital could earn their baccalaureate degrees. The four-year baccalaureate program was formed in 1954 and accredited by the National League for Nursing when the first class graduated in 1958. The School began offering a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program in the fall of 1984, which was accredited by the National League of Nursing in 1994. Both the BSN and MSN programs were accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education in 2003. The School of Nursing maintains a commitment to (a) fostering scholarship and life-long learning (b) respecting the dignity and uniqueness of each human being in a diverse society; (c) supporting excellence in teaching and research, and (d) preparing excellent and ethical nurses. The faculty and administration of the School: Are committed to preparing women and men for compassionate practice as competent professionals through their teaching and scholarship, their service to the University and the professional community, and their own professional growth. 5
Encourage close student-teacher relationships in preparing nurses who exemplify the highest ethical standards, integrity, and a passion for justice in health care. Are dedicated to developing their students critical reasoning skills, which are vital to sound judgment and to ethical decision making. Provide a foundation for nursing knowledge and a spirit of inquiry that draws upon the tradition of Jesuit Catholic education. Foster the search for humane and ethical alternatives to address contemporary nursing and health care problems through applied clinical research. Welcome and respect students as full partners in learning, who seek to create an environment that celebrates a multicultural society characterized by understanding, compassion, and creativity. Motivate students to advocate for patient needs and to provide high quality care that balances technology with a humanistic approach. Emphasize a holistic integration of the intellectual, psychological, spiritual, and social aspects of personhood in the promotion and maintenance of health and in the provision of nursing and health care. Consider the ecological influences on nursing and health care in the 21 st century. The current programs in the School are: Undergraduate Degree Programs Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Graduate Degree Programs MS in Nursing (MSN) programs in: o Healthcare Systems Leadership o Master s Entry Option (entry option for non-nurses) o Clinical Nurse Leader o MSN/MPA in Health Services Administration o MSN/MSIS in Information Systems (Nursing Informatics) Collaborative EdD with School of Education in Learning and Instruction -- Learning Leaders in Health Care In the fall 2005 semester there were 600 undergraduate majors and 150 graduate students. Eight-five percent of nursing students are women; 36% are Asian- American; 11% are Hispanic; and 34% are Caucasian. 6
SCHOOL OF NURSING ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND FACULTY PROFILE The Dean of the School is responsible for overall administration of the School. There are four departments in the School: Adult Health Nursing, Family Health and Leadership, Community and Mental Health and the Graduate Department. The chairs of each department are elected for a three-year term by the full-time faculty of the School of Nursing. Each department meets monthly with its faculty members and student representatives to discuss relevant issues. The Dean, Associate Dean, the four chairpersons, and the chair of the Faculty Association of the School of Nursing (FASON) comprise the Administrative Council of the School which meets bi-weekly throughout the academic year. FASON has five standing committees: Curriculum, Academic Standards, Evaluation, Faculty Development and Peer Review. The faculty committees work in strong collaboration with the administration of the School. Of the school s 27 budgeted full-time faculty lines, 13 are currently tenured, four are on probationary tracks, nine have term appointments, and one line is vacant (retirement hold). Four full-time faculty members are at the rank of full professor, nine are associate professors, five are assistant professors, and eight are instructors. Twenty-five of the faculty members are female, and one is male. Only 10% are persons of color. Faculty members have received their education from some of the most prestigious universities throughout the United States. In any given year, the School appoints approximately 50 part-time faculty members to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in both nursing and health science. THE ROLE OF THE DEAN The Dean serves as the Chief Academic Officer of the School, is responsible for all day-to-day activities within the School of Nursing, and serves as an Executive Officer of the University. The Dean reports to the Provost/Academic Vice President and is a member of the Provost s Council and the USF President s Leadership Team. The Dean s duties include: Promoting the Vision, Mission and Values of the University through the activities and programs of the School, and working with other University 7
administrators to assure the well-being and success of the University of San Francisco. Providing leadership and vision for the School; working with faculty and staff to create an academic, cultural and physical environment conducive to scholarship, intellectual vitality, and learning; establishing and nurturing a supportive work environment; and fostering an active faculty mentoring program. Sharing responsibility for the design, development, delivery, and assessment of its undergraduate and graduate academic degree and nondegree programs that currently serve approximately 750 students. Providing leadership and, under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, managing 23 full-time faculty (currently 21 with 2 vacancies), including recommending appointment, tenure, promotion and termination. Supervising seven staff members and, in any given year, approximately 50 part-time faculty. Proposing and efficiently managing an annual budget of almost $9 million in revenues and $3.7 million in direct expenses. Procuring external funding for the School to support its many programs and activities and assisting faculty in obtaining external grants and research support. Working effectively with the health care and nursing community, as well as an external advisory council, to further the School s mission and goals by enhancing its visibility to and relationships with these communities. Developing effective enrollment strategies for an increasingly competitive and rapidly changing environment. The Dean s role in matters of promotion and tenure includes significant responsibility for guiding and mentoring faculty. This role is formalized through the Academic Career Prospectus (ACP) process. All full-time faculty members in those schools under the Collective Bargaining Agreement submit annually an ACP, which provides an opportunity for faculty to discuss with the Dean their contributions in the areas of teaching, research and service, and to collaboratively develop an academic agenda for the upcoming year. Faculty promotion and tenure decisions fall under the purview of several key committees: The School of Nursing Peer Review Committee, which is elected by faculty colleagues, reviews candidates for promotion and tenure and provides a recommendation. 8
The University-wide Peer Review Committee, which is composed of select members of the School and College Peer Review Committees, reviews candidates in the broader institutional context and provides a recommendation. The University Promotion and Tenure Committee, which is composed of all the academic Deans, except the Dean of the School of Law, and chaired by the Provost, receives the Peer Review Committees recommendations, and those of the relevant Dean, and makes recommendations to the President. LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES The new Dean will need to give particular attention to the following issues: Given the rapidly evolving and increasingly competitive environment within which the School of Nursing operates, the dean will need to create and effectively communicate an appropriate strategic vision for the School which may include cooperative programming with other units within the University and other institutions and organizations in the Bay Area and beyond. As the chief academic officer of the School, the Dean will need to be an effective spokesperson for its programs and one who can facilitate a wider understanding of the role and character of professional education at USF. In addition the dean must have an understanding of and appreciation for the strategic interests of the University as a whole and work effectively with others in setting the University s overall academic agenda. Attention must be given to increasing the research and scholarly productivity of the School. Enhanced sabbatical support, increased faculty development funding, and the creation of a new Office of Sponsored Projects have created the conditions for significant improvement in this regard. Recently there has been a growing interest in nursing careers with a concomitant increase in the enrollments of the School for the last three years. The School will need to enforce admission, progression and retention policies and implement a realistic enrollment plan based on faculty resources and clinical placement availability. The dean will need to review and provide ongoing assessment of the efficacy of these efforts. Given the University s salary scale and the expense of living in the Bay Area, it is increasingly difficult to recruit and retain a high quality faculty. The University has attempted to respond to these challenges in a creative 9
manner but more remains to be done. The new dean will play an important role in shaping future strategies. The School needs to develop improved academic advising and support services for its students. The School should explore the possibility of cooperative programming with local health care providers to meet their needs for ongoing professional development and continuing education. The University is committed to creating a culture of evidence that demonstrates the achievement of its goals. Each of its schools must continue to develop appropriate strategies for the assessment and evaluation of its programs. The School of Nursing must meet both the criteria described by the California Board of Registered Nursing and the School s national accrediting agency (CCNE). The School needs to maintain its high NCLEX pass rate for its students. The University s mission, its Jesuit Catholic character and its commitment to academic excellence are strengths that support the School as it faces the above challenges. QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW DEAN The ideal candidate will have the following qualifications and characteristics. An understanding and commitment to the Vision, Mission and Values of the University (www.usfca.edu/mission/index.html). An established record of superior teaching, exemplary scholarship and distinguished service. The ability to develop and articulate a compelling vision for nursing education, and the demonstrated ability to put this vision into practice. The ability to work effectively with health care leaders and professionals, and to represent the School and the University in that environment. An ability and affinity for fund raising and resource development. Administrative leadership, vision and experience in a diverse environment, characterized by collegial management, mentorship, inclusive decision-making and effective communication skills. An ability to create and nurture a supportive environment that utilizes transparent processes. An ability to effectively represent the School of Nursing within the University community, working in collaboration with the other schools and administrative units within the University of San Francisco. 10
TO APPLY Inquiries, nominations, and applications are invited for the Dean position. Interested individuals should provide a letter describing their interest in and qualifications for the position and a 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: 202-270-8772 Fax: 202-337-4046 The University of San Francisco is a Jesuit Catholic University founded in 1855 to educate leaders who will fashion a more humane and just world. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to work in a culturally diverse environment and to contribute to the mission of the University. USF is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to affirmative action and to excellence through diversity. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities upon request. The University of San Francisco http://www.usfca.edu 11