Academic Program Spec I - University of Florida

This position provides oversight to the MPH Program APEs for both campus and online students. APEs include internships, practicums, and public health experience hours. Tasks include:
-serving as a primary point of contact for current and potential internship sites;
-maintaining contact with preceptors during APE/internship placements;
-communicating (through multiple modalities) with students about the process of identifying and securing an APE.
-reviewing students’ internship work plans for appropriateness and alignment with programs policies and competencies, serving as the final approving authority for internship placement;
-maintaining or revising, as appropriate, and implementing established APE related processes, including tracking students’ progress prior to and during APE, preceptors’ evaluation of students throughout their APE, and students’ and program’s evaluation of internship sites and preceptors;
-discussing evaluations with students and preceptors as necessary;
-bringing to the attention of the Director when an internship site is not meeting student or programmatic needs;
-when appropriate and possible, visiting current or potential internship sites;
-identifying new internship opportunities for MPH students within the local community, state, and on the national level, seeking opportunities to grow our network for both campus and online students.
The incumbent will also work, in collaboration with the MPH Director, to identify and establish new processes and systems for APE coordination and student development with consideration to workforce needs and accreditation requirements.

Instruction
Serves as primary instructor for the Applied Practice Experience and Professionalism courses. In addition to typical instruction responsibilities (e.g., acquisition and maintenance of eLearning sites, updating syllabi, ensuring enforcement of university course-related policies, grading assignments, submitting final grades), the incumbent will also:
-maintain a thorough understanding of the MPH program competencies and accreditation requirements specific to APE and ILE;
-be familiar with and enforce APE, accreditation, and university-policies to ensure student APEs and resulting products meet all requirements;
-identify students who need additional support and provide them with that support (if academic or APE-related), or connect the student to the appropriate resource (e.g., academic advisor, DRC, Writing Center), and bring to the Director’s attention when a student may be at-risk academically;
-review students’ portfolio work product proposals for feasibility and competency alignment, and work closely with students whose proposals require revision;
-review and give final approval for final portfolio work products ensuring competency alignment, and work closely with students whose products require revision.
Also, provide staff oversight to practicum students in the absence of an appropriate faculty.

Administrative & Academic Support
Plays an important role in helping students progress through the program by ensuring their timely completion of APE. Track students’ progress in preparing for APE (i.e., as in the semester before). Provide timely notification to the MPH team when a student is off-track or uncommunicative. Provide clearance for students to register for APE and practicum.  Serve as the liaison between internship sites and the university’s General Counsel when affiliation agreements are required or other legal concerns arise specific to internships.  Maintain, organize, and distribute APE-related information for students and preceptors (e.g., related handbooks, webpages, informational sessions, and other resources). Manage the collection and storage of APE (both public health service hours and internships) materials for the purposes of accreditation. Prepare APE, student involvement, and related reports for the Director, oversight committees, and UF, and/or for accreditation purposes. Compile other data and produce reports (e.g., experiential learning, exit surveys, alumni surveys, workforce surveys) as requested by the Director or College Administration.  Additional tasks include:
-participating in the planning and running college and program events, as requested.
-coordinating annual revision and provision of the MPH student handbook;
-monitoring the alumni contact information form submissions and update submitted information into the program’s database.

Public Relations & Community Engagement
Coordinates multiple aspects of outreach for public health programs, including serving as a college representative to the community through participation in public health community events, meetings, boards, coalitions, or other partnerships/efforts as approved by the MPH Director. Identify opportunities to participate in the aforementioned. Connect with alumni to identify opportunities for programmatic involvement in the community and bring additional community engagement and/or applied practice experience opportunities to current students. As part of outreach efforts, the incumbent will provide connection between current students, alumni, and the community. May engage in limited attendance at local, regional, and national events/conferences to promote and represent public health programs.

Student Professional Development & Engagement
Organizes professional development opportunities for students, including the annual Preceptor Fair and virtual preceptor fairs. Provide oversight to the coordination of MPH program led social events (e.g., Spring Social, Orientation Social). Liaison with the PHHP Career Connections Center to identify and provide meaningful career-related resources to public health students and help promote these events. Coordinate MPH ProSeries (i.e., the Professionalism course) including identifying professionally relevant topics; inviting guests to present; communicating with guests; and coordinating other scheduling logistics. Provide support in the planning of Public Health Day(s). Maintain methods to inform public health students of opportunities specific to experiential learning, internship, and career/job opportunities. Serve as faculty/staff advisor to public health student organizations.

Website Administration
Serves as website administrator for the student-facing and student-promoting content on the MPH program and Public Health Certificate websites. Student-facing/promoting content includes (but may not be limited to): Student Involvement, Current Student Information, and Student News. Regularly monitor the website to ensure content and links are accurate. Be proactive in making necessary updates to the website. As needed create forms and revise improve the functionality of the site. Work with MPH staff to ensure handbooks are updated annually and shared appropriately on the website. Serve as back-up person to post course syllabi.

•  Master’s degree in Public Health or related field strongly preferred.
•  At least two years practical work experience in public health (or related field) or academics.
•  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with community and governmental organizations.
•  Excellent oral and written communication skills.
•  Excellent interpersonal skills. Enjoys working with people in a fast-paced work environment.
•  Highly organized with strong attention to detail. 
•  Excellent time management and prioritization skills’ including proficiency in goal setting, tracking, and follow through.
•  Highly motivated self-starter and effective at working autonomously.
•  Proficient in MS Suite (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access) and general computer skills.
•  Knowledge of maintaining websites (WordPress).
•  Demonstrated team player.