Program Director, Associate of Science Degree Respiratory Care Program

Lasell University – Newton, Massachusetts

Position Summary

Lasell University seeks a qualified and experienced Program Director to lead an accredited Associate of Science Degree Respiratory Care Program. The Program Director is responsible for the organization, administration, continuous review, planning, development, and general effectiveness of the program in accordance with the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) Standards.

The Program Director ensures the program prepares competent, entry-level respiratory therapists eligible for the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credentialing examinations and aligns with current professional practice standards.

CoARC-Required Qualifications

The Program Director must:

• Hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (Masters degree preferred)
• Hold a valid Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)
• Hold an active, current state license to practice as a Respiratory Therapist, where required
• Have a minimum of 4 years of experience as a Registered Respiratory Therapist, including:
  • At least 2 years in clinical respiratory care practice
• Have a minimum of 2 years of teaching or instructional experience in respiratory care or a related allied health field
• Demonstrate knowledge of CoARC Standards and accreditation processes, including:
  • Program administration
  • Curriculum design and competency-based education
  • Student learning outcomes and assessment
  • Clinical education requirements
• Demonstrate effective leadership and administrative skills necessary to manage program operations, personnel, and resources

Responsibilities

Program Administration

The Program Director is responsible for:

• Overall organization, administration, continuous review, and effectiveness of the Respiratory Care Program
• Ensuring compliance with all CoARC Standards
• Maintaining required accreditation documentation, including:
  • Annual Reports of Current Status (RCS)
  • Self-study reports and progress reports
  • Outcomes data and program effectiveness metrics
• Coordinating and leading accreditation site visits and ongoing compliance activities

Curriculum Oversight

• Ensure the curriculum:
  • Is competency-based and aligned with CoARC Standards
  • Prepares students for NBRC credentialing examinations (CRT and RRT)
• Oversee course design, sequencing, and integration of:
  • Didactic instruction
  • Laboratory/simulation
  • Clinical education
• Lead systematic curriculum review and revision based on:
  • Outcomes data
  • Advisory committee input
  • Advances in respiratory care practice and technology

Faculty Supervision

• Recruit, orient, supervise, and evaluate faculty, instructors, adjuncts, and clinical instructors
• Ensure all faculty, adjuncts, and instructors meet CoARC qualification requirements
• Promote faculty development in:
  • Teaching effectiveness
  • Assessment and evaluation
  • Clinical instruction best practices

Clinical Education Oversight

• Coordinate with the Director of Clinical Education to manage and maintain all clinical education requirements
• Ensure clinical education meets CoARC Standards for clinical practice experiences
• In Coordination with the Director of Clinical Education Develop and maintain clinical affiliation agreements
• Ensure clinical sites provide:
  • Adequate patient and procedure diversity
  • Qualified preceptors and clinical instructors
• Assist, as needed, the coordination of:
  • Student clinical placements
  • Competency evaluations
  • Site monitoring and assessment

Student Learning & Outcomes Assessment

• Ensure fair, valid, and consistent student evaluation processes
• Monitor and analyze program outcomes, including:
  • Program retention and graduation rates
  • NBRC credentialing success (CRT/RRT)
  • Graduate job placement rates
• Maintain a systematic plan for ongoing program evaluation and continuous quality improvement

Advisory Committee

• Establish and maintain an active advisory committee consisting of:
  • Employers
  • Clinical affiliates
  • Credentialed respiratory therapists
• Conduct regular meetings and use feedback to inform program improvement and workforce alignment

Resource Management

• Ensure the program maintains and manages adequate resources, including:
  • Qualified faculty and staff
  • Laboratory equipment and simulation resources
  • Instructional technologies

Teaching Responsibilities

• Teach 1 course per semester within the Respiratory Care Program (didactic, lab, and/or clinical) in various delivery methods (on-campus, online, hybrid)
• Integrate:
  • Evidence-based practice
  • Simulation and technology-enhanced learning
  • Interprofessional education opportunities