Director of Academic Support

July 2, 2023
Apply Now

Job Description

Job Summary

The Director of Academic Support (DAS) reports to the Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs and
is responsible for leading and ensuring the delivery of academic skills and support programs to the College’s 1,100+ medical students. The
DAS is responsible for planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating various academic success initiatives and programs in the MD
program. The DAS will provide academic counseling and ongoing support services to medical students, with a goal to improve performance of
students experiencing academic difficulty and to assist all students to best navigate the complex high volume medical curriculum along with
the high stakes national board exams. The DAS will also participate in strategic planning, research, and scholarship on best practices in
student success.

Essential Functions

The Director of Academic Support will lead the ongoing implementation
and continuous improvement for academic support services within DUCOM. Major duties and responsibilities to include:

Academic Support
Services

  • Meet with students individually and in small groups to consult on learning strategies and study schedules.
  • Assess students having academic difficulty and develop plans for intervention.
  • Implement a comprehensive evidence-based program
    to provide effective academic support services to ensure medical students’ learning and academic development on both the Philadelphia and
    Reading campuses.
  • Align programs with the curriculum and actively respond to academic concerns, in the context of continuous
    quality improvement.
  • Deliver and develop evidence-based group presentations and workshops for students on relevant academic support
    issues.
  • Provide referrals to student affairs deans, mental health counseling, career advising, disability services, and/or advanced
    assessment services as appropriate.
  • Develop resources and support for remediation and reassessment of exams, including USMLE board
    exams, and coursework in collaboration with course, block, and thread directors.
  • Serve as a key consultant, in close collaboration
    with the student affairs and curriculum personnel, in the development of interventions and support strategies, to monitor student progress
    and provide strategic academic case management services.

Program Management, Consultation & Coordination of Services

  • Design, implement and sustain academic support programs to promote medical student retention and success.
  • Advance and expand
    programs/services to accommodate expanding needs of existing medical students.
  • Develop and maintain a library (online and/or
    otherwise) of self-directed learning and testing resource material for medical students; aid in accessing resources.
  • Possess
    knowledge of and ability to recognize students with potential learning differences and to make appropriate referrals for evaluation when
    necessary.
  • Participate in national organizations that contribute to the larger academic support community within US medical
    schools, such as Medical Education Learning Specialists
  • Financial Management and Supervision of Academic Support Services
  • Develop, manage, and adhere to the academic support services budget, including accurate forecasting of needs.
  • Provide oversight
    of the medical student peer tutoring program. Evaluate the efficacy of the tutoring program and implement changes to maximize learner
    success. Develop and administer methods by which peer tutors and the tutoring experience can be evaluated.
  • Train and provide
    ongoing supervision of Associate Director of Academic Support and Learning Specialist at the Philadelphia and Reading campuses.

Required Qualifications

  • Minimum of a Masters Degree  
  • Minimum of two years of experience in
    academic tutoring and/or advising, preferably in a higher education or medical school setting.

Preferred
Qualifications

  • Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal skills
  • The ability to work collaboratively,
    effectively, and professionally with a broad range of constituents including College of Medicine students, tutors, course directors, other
    departmental faculty, and staff.
  • Ability to maintain discretion and maintain confidentiality of student information.
  • Demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, inclusion, and equity.
  • Familiarity with high-stakes objective testing and/or
    the medical school environment.
  • Develop expertise in providing students with diverse strategies to approach medical board- style
    exams.
  • Demonstrated flexibility in organization of workflow and adaptability to changing tasks.
  • Detail-oriented with
    excellent time management skills and the ability to multi-task and problem solve in a fast-paced environment.
  • Ability to work
    independently and with autonomy.
  • A self-starter who takes the initiative and is interested and willing to learn new skills,
    programs and technology as needed.
  • Ability to identify students who need a referral to a psychiatrist or other health care
    professional.

Physical Demands

  • Typically sitting at a desk/table
  • Typically standing,
    walking
  • Lifting demands<25lbs

Location

University City, Philadelphia PA

Additional Information

This position is classified as Exempt with a salary grade of
M. For more information regarding Drexel’s Professional Staff salary structure, https://drexel.edu/hr/career/ducomp/salstructure/

Please review the Benefits Brochure for some
information on our benefits offerings.

Special Instructions to the Applicant

Please make sure you upload your
CV/resume and cover letter when submitting your application.

Review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is
identified.

Source