Associate Dean for Academic Quality, Accreditation, and Compliance, Jefferson College of Nursing, Thomas Jefferson University, Center City Campus

About the role

The Associate Dean for Academic Quality, Accreditation, and Compliance provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for academic quality assurance, accreditation, regulatory compliance, and continuous program improvement across all programs within the College of Nursing. This role holds primary accountability for the design, implementation, and performance of the College’s academic quality infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Accreditation Strategy and Oversight
  Lead all initial and continuing accreditation processes across undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs
  Serve as primary liaison to accrediting and regulatory bodies (e.g., CCNE, BON, COA, MSCHE)
  Oversee preparation of self-studies, substantive change reports, annual reports, and site visit coordination
  Ensure compliance with all applicable accreditation standards and regulatory requirements across programs and sites
  Establish and maintain a proactive accreditation calendar and readiness infrastructure

• Academic Quality, SEP Authority, and Continuous Improvement
  Own and operationalize the College’s Systematic Evaluation Plan (SEP), including authority over design, implementation, and enforcement
  Establish, approve, and monitor program outcomes thresholds (e.g., licensure, certification, completion, employment, and progression metrics)
  Require and oversee action plans for any outcomes that fall below established benchmarks
  Ensure systematic, ongoing evaluation of mission, curriculum, resources, and outcomes consistent with national expectations for program quality and improvement
  Lead root cause analysis and continuous quality improvement initiatives across programs

• Curriculum Alignment and Academic Integrity
  Lead institutional alignment of curricula with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials (2021) competency-based framework
  Oversee curriculum mapping, gap analysis, and progression validation across all programs
  Partner with program directors to ensure curricular rigor, coherence, and compliance
  Support faculty in developing measurable student learning outcomes and evaluation strategies
  Promote a culture of shared accountability for academic quality and outcomes

• Regulatory Compliance and State Authorization (Including Online Programs)
  Ensure compliance with all state board of nursing requirements, including curriculum approvals, reporting, and program changes
  Oversee compliance for distance education and online programs across all states in which students are enrolled
  Establish processes to verify that students enrolled from other states (e.g., California) are eligible to complete clinical experiences in their home state and meet that state’s Board of Nursing requirements
  Maintain up-to-date regulatory intelligence across jurisdictions and ensure program alignment with evolving requirements
  Oversee submission of regulatory documents, including curriculum changes and site approvals

• Assessment, Data, and Reporting Infrastructure
  Oversee the collection, validation, analysis, and reporting of academic and programmatic data
  Ensure integrity, consistency, and accessibility of data used for accreditation and decision-making
  Develop dashboards and reporting systems to support program leaders and faculty
  Align assessment systems with institutional effectiveness and regional accreditation expectations

• Faculty Development and Capacity Building
  Provide leadership in faculty development related to assessment, accreditation, and competency-based education
  Support faculty in developing measurable student learning outcomes and evaluation strategies

• Strategic Leadership and Institutional Alignment
  Serve as a key member of the senior academic leadership team
  Align academic quality initiatives with institutional strategic priorities, including program growth, innovation, and expansion
  Provide consultation on new program development, modality changes, and expansion to new sites
  Ensure that academic quality infrastructure scales effectively with institutional growth

Qualifications

• PhD in Nursing or related field, or EdD

• At least one graduate degree in nursing

• Unencumbered registered nurse (RN) license, with eligibility for licensure in Pennsylvania

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive leadership experience in nursing education

• Demonstrated expertise in accreditation processes (e.g., Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing, Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs, Middle States Commission on Higher Education)

• Strong knowledge of academic assessment, program evaluation, and outcomes measurement

• Experience with curriculum design and alignment to competency-based frameworks

• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational leadership skills