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Job description
Founding Program Director for Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
Beloit College invites applications for a founding Program Director for its new Master of Science in Physician Assistant/Associate (PA) Studies program. This is an opportunity to build a program from the ground up, and to shape its identity, curriculum, and culture at a liberal arts institution that genuinely values faculty expertise and intellectual vision.
The founding director will have significant latitude to develop a program that is both rigorously ARC-PA-compliant and distinctively Beloit. We are seeking a physician assistant leader who understands that PA education at its best prepares clinicians who are not only technically excellent but broadly educated, ethically grounded, and committed to serving communities in need.
The program's animating commitments include: attention to the primary care and health-workforce needs of south-central Wisconsin and the broader region; interprofessional and interdisciplinary education, consistent with Beloit's institution-wide pedagogical identity; community-based clinical partnerships and experiential learning as core program features; and a commitment to serving diverse communities.
Beloit College is a selective liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin. Nationally recognized for intellectual rigor and innovation, Beloit was ranked #18 among the nation's most innovative schools by U.S. News & World Report in 2026. Its graduates are known for their capacity to think across disciplines, engage with complexity, and connect knowledge to real-world impact.
The School of Health Sciences, established in 2023, reflects Beloit's commitment to preparing health professionals who are not only clinically excellent but broadly educated and community-minded. Interdisciplinary collaboration, experiential learning, and community-based practice are foundational to everything we do. The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies will pursue accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), joining the School's growing portfolio of graduate programs.
Role and Responsibilities
The Program Director is the physician assistant faculty leader responsible for the organization, administration, and continuous review and improvement of the PA program, as required under the ARC-PA Accreditation Standards for PA Education, Sixth Edition. This is a full-time, 12-month position, hired at 1.0 FTE, with at least 50% of that time devoted to administrative responsibilities for the program. The Program Director reports to the Director of the School of Health Sciences.
Duties include but are not limited to:
Lead all aspects of the ARC-PA provisional and ongoing accreditation process, including the self-study, application, and site visit, and ongoing compliance with the Sixth Edition Standards
Maintain compliance with ARC-PA standards and establish continuous improvement initiatives.
Develop and implement the program mission and learning outcomes, curriculum, program policies, student assessment and evaluation systems, and a comprehensive self-assessment and program evaluation plan
Establish and cultivate clinical site partnerships across the region to ensure sufficient, high quality supervised clinical practice experiences
Pursue state authorization and institutional approvals in coordination with institutional leadership and campus governance structures
Support student recruitment and admissions, especially for the first cohorts
Assist Communications and Marketing with the development and maintenance of high-quality, accurate internet content for the program's web site
Recommend instructional resources, including equipment, software, periodicals and textbooks to support instruction and learning
Recruit, hire, onboard, mentor, and evaluate principal faculty and staff, and coordinate with the Medical Director
Provide program leadership through effective program organization, administration, communication, fiscal management, and continuous review and analysis
Develop the student handbook, clinical handbook, and other program policies and infrastructure from the ground up
Oversee student advising, assessment, progression, and remediation consistent with professional and ethical standards
Develop admissions policies and procedures consistent with Beloit's mission and core values as well current PA educational practices.
Evaluate faculty performance and provide adequate support for faculty development.
Establish an active, sustained program of scholarship in PA education, clinical practice, health workforce development or other area, including dissemination of scholarly work through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, or funded research.
Serve on School of Health Sciences and college-wide committees and participate actively in shared governance.
Mentor junior faculty and support their professional and scholarly development
Provide service to the profession through leadership, peer review, or volunteer roles with state or national PA organizations
Build and sustain relationships with clinical partners, preceptors, and community organizations
Collaborate with faculty across the School of Health Sciences and the broader College to advance interprofessional programming
Represent the program in professional state and national PA organizations and within the institution
Teach in areas of professional expertise as needed by the program
Assist College leadership with securing external funding for program support
Required Qualifications
Candidates must meet the ARC-PA program director requirements under the Accreditation Standards for PA Education, Sixth Edition. Specifically, the successful candidate must:
Be a physician assistant who holds at least a Master's degree and current or emeritus NCCPA certification status
Hold current licensure, or be eligible for licensure, as a physician assistant in Wisconsin
Have at least three years of full-time higher education experience at the time of appointment
Be able to hold an academic appointment and privileges comparable to other faculty with similar responsibilities within the institution
Be available to serve at 1.0 FTE on a 12-month, full-time basis, with at least 50% of that time devoted to administrative responsibilities
Beyond ARC-PA requirements, Beloit College requires:
Demonstrated leadership, administrative, and organizational skills, including budgeting and personnel management
Demonstrated commitment to serving diverse communities
Capacity to function effectively in a startup environment: the program does not yet exist, and the Director will build its infrastructure from the ground up
Preferred Qualifications
Doctoral degree
Experience founding, directing, or leading accreditation for a PA program, including direct involvement in ARC-PA processes
Prior PA program administrative experience (program director, associate/assistant director, or academic/clinical coordinator)
Experience with primary care, rural health, or health disparities
Background in interprofessional education or community-based training models
Scholarly activity aligned with the program's mission
Appointment and Compensation
This is a full-time, 12-month administrative faculty position hired at 1.0 FTE, with at least 50% of that time devoted to program administration. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. Per ARC-PA Standard D1.01(a), the Program Director must be hired on a permanent basis at least 15 months prior to the first day of the scheduled accreditation site visit; the anticipated start date is June 1, 2027.
Application Materials
Applicants should submit the following materials through Beloit College's online application system:
Cover letter addressing qualifications and vision for the program
Current curriculum vitae, including administrative, teaching, and clinical experience
Leadership statement (2–3 pages) describing experience with program development, accreditation, and faculty leadership
Teaching philosophy statement
Names and contact information for three professional references (references will not be contacted without candidate permission)
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. We strongly encourage applications from candidates whose backgrounds, identities, and experiences reflect the communities our program aspires to serve.
Worksite address
beloit, WI, 53511, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.