Dental Hygiene Program Director

Colorado Mesa University; Grand Junction (CO); On-site; USD 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, CO seeks a Director of the Dental Hygiene Program to lead academic and operational aspects of the program. The role ensures CODA accreditation compliance, maintains curriculum standards, oversees clinical faculty, and partners with administration to advance student success and program outcomes.

The ideal candidate will hold a CODA-accredited credential path, possess a current Dental Hygiene license or DDS/DMD, and demonstrate a commitment to student

Qualifications

• Dental hygienist or dentist licensed by CODA-accredited program.
• Current Dental Hygiene license.
• National Board Dental Hygiene Examination passed.
• Colorado regional or state clinical board examination completed.
• Master’s degree from an accredited university.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the program meets accreditation standards and CODA requirements.
• Teach course load as needed and assigned.
• Lead faculty in developing and maintaining the curriculum to ensure it is current and relevant.
• Monitor student success rates, evaluate student performance, and address student needs.
• Serve as a liaison with institution administration and perform administrative functions.
• Maintain a minimum of 5 office hours per week for student support and advising.
• Approve and evaluate student admissions criteria and procedures.
• Develop rapport with students that is professional and encourages instructor and student communication.
• Facilitate Program Reviews on scheduled cadence.
• Define and manage budget.

Skills

Dental hygiene license

Education

Master’s degree from an accredited university

Dental Hygiene degree or CODA-accredited DDS/DMD program

Job description

ANNOUNCMENT OF POSITION VACANCY FLSA Status: United States of America (Exempt).

Compensation: $75,000-$80,000 Commensurate with education and experience.

Excellent health and retirement benefits package:

SECTION I - OUR VALUES

CULTIVATE OUR VISION AND CULTURE At CMU, we believe in acting from a foundation of goodwill. This belief gives us the courage to form meaningful relationships, embark on joint endeavors and take risks in the pursuit of new possibilities. It’s this courage that enables the Mavily to explore new ways of thinking and doing, knowing that there is no perfect solution, no perfect idea. From this place of humility and courage, we’ve built a culture of resilience. We invest in the future by continuously adapting to change, overcoming challenges, and seizing new opportunities. We recognize that change is constant, and our resilience allows us to embrace it with confidence. Endless curiosity drives us to approach the unexpected as if it were expected, seeing opportunities for discovery and renewal in every challenge. In this community rooted in love and dignity, curiosity thrives, leading to endless opportunities for growth and advancement. Inspired by the soul of the West—the spirit that our region embodies—we emerge as a force for positive change, harnessing our collective power to build a Human Scale University that reflects our values and brings to life our shared vision of the world we aspire to create.

Colorado Mesa University Core Values

• Love - Extending oneself for nurturing the growth of self and others
• Dignity - Respecting the intrinsic value of each person and believing that others act from a foundation of goodwill
• Courage - Taking risks in the pursuit of new possibilities
• Humility - Suspending one’s ego and pride to recognize that no idea is perfect and being open to the input of others
• Resiliency - Investing in the future by adapting to changes, overcoming challenges and pursuing Opportunity
• Curiosity - Cultivating awe and exploring the unknown
• Power - The strength to act collaboratively with individual agency to achieve our goals

SECTION II – THE SEAT

At CMU, we look at every position as a seat. Every seat is vital and the individual in the seat contributes significantly to our mission of providing an affordable and accessible education and forming meaningful and mutually enriching partnerships that support the well‑being and vibrancy of our community. As a human centric organization, a priority is to ensure we have the “right seats” in our organization, and that the expectations, ownership and accountabilities are defined and communicated clearly for the success of the individuals holding the seats.

The Director of the Dental Hygiene Program is responsible for the academic and operational aspects of the dental hygiene program. Responsibilities include ensuring that the instruction is in accordance with approved curriculum guidelines, maintaining required program standards for the dental hygiene program and applicable state regulations as applied to the dental hygiene education industry in Colorado. In addition, this individual provides technical medical input regarding curriculum, content, and procedures. This seat supervises and trains faculty, including clinical adjunct faculty.

OVERVIEW AND ROLE SCOPE OF TEAM AND/OR TASKS

• Ensure the program meets accreditation standards and is compliant with the Committee on Dental Accreditation (CODA) requirements.
• Teach course load as needed and assigned.
• Lead faculty in developing and maintaining the curriculum to ensure it is current and relevant.
• Monitor student success rates, evaluate student performance, and address student needs.
• Serve as a liaison with institution administration and perform administrative functions.
• Maintain a minimum of 5 office hours per week for student support and advising.
• Approve and evaluate student admissions criteria and procedures.
• Develop rapport with students that is professional and encourages instructor and student communication.
• Facilitate Program Reviews on scheduled cadence.
• Define and manage budget.

ROLES

Lead, Manage, Accountability (LMA) Program oversight and compliance Student Success Faculty development Curriculum maintenance undefined

ACCOUNTABILITY TO RESULTS

• Quarterly Rocks – 80% Completion Rate
• Student Assessments – 80% Rating
• Student Competency Verification – 100%
• Program Outcomes Achievement – 80%

CORE PROCESSES

• Owned: Program Review Student Advising Student Clinicals
• Contributor: Program Budget Staff and Faculty Evaluations Student Success Reporting

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

DISCLAIMER - This position description is only a summary of the typical functions of this seat, and not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and areas of accountability.

SECTION III – OUR DESIRES FOR RIGHT FIT

For the success of our mission and our teams, we desire to have individuals who are a “Right Fit” in our seats. We define “Right Fit” as those who embrace our culture, demonstrate our values, understand the seat and what is required. We seek individuals who want this seat, desire to be a part of a bigger vision and have the capacity to be a successful member of our CMU team.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE FOR RIGHT FIT

• Dental hygienist or a dentist who is a graduate of a program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation
• Dental Hygienist: Current Dental Hygiene license
• Successful completion of the written National Board Dental Hygiene Examination
• Successful completion of a Colorado regional or state clinical board examination
• Master’s degree from an accredited university
• Dentist: Current Dental License