Director of Clinical Education (DCE), Clinical Instructor I

UCA; Conway (AR); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition waivers (80%)

Health insurance

Retirement contributions 10%

Gym membership

Job summary

University of Central Arkansas is seeking a Director of Clinical Education (DCE), Clinical Instructor I, to oversee the clinical education program for DPT students in the Physical Therapy department. The DCE collaborates with faculty, sites, and clinical faculty to ensure high-quality clinical education experiences.

The role requires a DPT or higher with 3–5 years of PT practice including CI/SCCE experience, HIPAA and FERPA knowledge, and proficiency with CORE Higher Ed for tracking placements

Qualifications

• Earned academic (PhD, EdD, DSc) or professional (DPT) doctoral degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of clinical PT experience, including CI or SCCE experience.

Responsibilities

• The Director of Clinical Education (DCE) coordinates and administers the clinical education process, aligning student education with the curriculum.
• Maintains communication with Clinical Faculty and oversees multi-site placements, site evaluations, and student performance metrics.

Skills

CAPTE standards

DPT curriculum

APTA CPI

HIPAA compliance

FERPA compliance

Clinical tracking software

Negotiation

Interpersonal skills

Project management

Mentoring

Academic integration

Education

DPT doctorate

Tools

CORE Higher Ed

Job description

Director of Clinical Education (DCE), Clinical Instructor I

Working Title Director of Clinical Education (DCE), Clinical Instructor I

Department Org

Department Org 346000 - Physical Therapy

Why should you work at UCA?

We are excited that you are considering joining the UCA Family—the faculty, staff, students and alumni—who make the University of Central Arkansas a great place to work!
At the University of Central Arkansas, we value our employees striving to maintain a work-life balance. We realize that this affects the overall well-being of employees while learning to prioritize challenging work and the ability to make a difference. Participation in university-wide flexible work schedules may be available for certain positions. Training is provided on systems or job-specific software, and tools are available supporting professional and personal development. The benefits package allows you to customize your benefits to meet your current needs, with the ability to adjust them as your priorities change. This includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, 80% tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a retirement program with university contributions of 10% of employee salary. Also available are health and wellness incentives, as well as access to sports and cultural activities on campus for the family, free gym membership and equipment rentals.

Position Summary

The University of Central Arkansas Instructor is responsible for teaching, research and service. This position is governed by state and federal laws and agency/institution policy. The position is non-tenure track and a twelve-month appointment.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The Director of Clinical Education ( DCE ) is a physical therapist whose primary concern is relating the student’s clinical education to the curriculum. The DCE also is responsible for communicating with and educating all Clinical Faculty in matters related to clinical education. The DCE , in association with the academic and clinical faculty coordinates and administers the clinical education process.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge

• Thorough understanding of CAPTE accreditation standards and DPT curriculum design.
• Expertise in clinical assessment methodologies, adult learning principles, and tools (e.g., APTA CPI ).
• Solid grasp of regulatory requirements, clinical education contracts (MOUs), HIPAA , and FERPA compliance.

Skills

• Advanced organizational and administrative management, including experience with clinical tracking software (e.g. CORE Higher Ed).
• Strong negotiation, conflict resolution, and interpersonal communication skills across diverse stakeholders (students, faculty, site directors).
• Effective project management for tracking multi-site placements, student performance metrics, and site evaluations.

Abilities

• Ability to build, evaluate, and sustain partnerships with diverse clinical sites and clinical faculty.
• Ability to mentor, advise, and remediate DPT students in academic and clinical environments.
• Ability to collaborate with academic faculty to seamlessly integrate didactic coursework with clinical experiences.

Skills Considered Essential for Success

• -Knowledge of the organization and administration of higher education.
• -Knowledge of state, federal, and university rules, regulations and procedures.
• -Ability to work in a diverse and dynamic environment.
• -Ability to work collaboratively and independently with common goals as a part of a team.
• -Ability to make sound judgments.
• -Effective interpersonal communication, writing, and organizational abilities.
• -Civility in all interactions.
• -Demonstrate effective follow-up.

Required Education and/or Experience

Earned academic (PhD, EdD, DSc) or professional ( DPT ) doctoral degree from an accredited institution. Minimum of 3–5 years of clinical PT experience, including documented experience as a Clinical Instructor (CI) or Site Coordinator of Clinical Education ( SCCE ).

Preferred Education and/or Experience

License(s)/Certifications (Required or Preferred)

Active, unencumbered Physical Therapist (PT) license in the state of Arkansas.

University, Campus, and Community Description

Thank you for your interest in employment at the University of Central Arkansas.
Founded in 1907, UCA has an enrollment of more than 10,000 students and employs over 1,300 full-time employees. The university offers more than 85 undergraduate and 59 graduate certificate and degree programs, including doctoral programs in five disciplines. UCA is proud of its tradition of teaching excellence and its contributions in research, scholarship, and creative activities.

Desired start date 05/16/2027

Will this position be Onsite, Remote, or Hybrid?

Will this position be Onsite, Remote, or Hybrid? Onsite

This position may be subject to a pre-employment criminal, sex-offender registry, financial history background check and drug screening. A criminal conviction or arrest pending adjudication and/or adverse financial history alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absence of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background checks and drug screening information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

UCA EEO Statement

The University of Central Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution. In keeping with its nondiscrimination policy in employment, admissions and other functions and programs, the university considers employees and students on the basis of individual merit and will not discriminate against a person on the basis of gender, race or color, ethnicity, religion, spiritual beliefs, national origin, age, familial status, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation, disability, political beliefs, intellectual perspective, genetic information, military status, or other factors irrelevant to participation in its programs.

Open Date

Open Date 11/06/2026

Special Instructions to Applicants

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Posting Supplemental Questions

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