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Program Director, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

Universities of Wisconsin · Stevens Point, WI · Full time

Posted Jul 22, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell us about a time you mentored a newer faculty member through teaching or scholarship.

What they are checking: Whether they invest in faculty growth, which the posting lists as part of the job.

What is your own scholarship, and how do you keep it going while directing a program?

What they are checking: Whether they can model scholarship at the associate professor level while carrying administrative work.

How have you managed a program budget, and what did you have to say no to?

What they are checking: Whether they have real fiscal experience and can make tradeoffs.

How do you create a learning environment where every student feels able to succeed?

What they are checking: Whether they have concrete practices for an inclusive environment, which the posting names.

What would you do

How would you recruit and mentor faculty for a DPT program in central Wisconsin?

What they are checking: Whether they have a realistic plan to attract and keep qualified PT faculty, which is a hard market.

A student is struggling badly in a clinical rotation and the clinical instructor wants them removed. What do you do?

What they are checking: How they balance patient safety, student due process and partner relationships.

How would you represent the program to hospitals, clinics and the wider professional community?

What they are checking: Whether they can be the program's public face and build partnerships that support placements and jobs.

About the work

Walk us through how you would keep a DPT program in compliance with CAPTE standards year to year, not just at review time.

What they are checking: Whether they treat accreditation as continuous work with data collection, not a last-minute scramble.

The program is grounded in community engagement and rural health access. How would you put that into clinical education?

What they are checking: Whether they can turn the mission into rural placements, partnerships and coursework.

How do you decide whether a change to the curriculum is worth the disruption?

What they are checking: Whether they use outcomes like licensure pass rates and student feedback to guide curriculum decisions.

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The full job description

As published by Universities of Wisconsin.

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process. Position Title: Program Director, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Job Category: Faculty Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Associate Professor Job Duties: The Program Director for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program provides visionary and strategic leadership for a program grounded in community engagement and rural health access. The Director oversees all aspects of program administration, including curriculum development, faculty recruitment and mentorship, accreditation compliance, and budget management. This role ensures the program’s alignment with the mission of UWSP and the standards of the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), fostering an inclusive learning environment that prepares graduates for evidence-based, person-centered practice. The Program Director represents the program within the university and professional community and promotes innovation in teaching, scholarship, and clinical partnerships. Key Job Responsibilities: Department: College of Professional Studies -Doctor of Physical Therapy Compensation: Minimum $140,000 based on education and experience Required Qualifications: • Physical therapist with an active unencumbered license in Wisconsin or license eligible in the state of Wisconsin (must be licensed in WI within 6 months of hire). • Earned academic doctoral degree with a minimum of 6 years of full-time equivalent experience with at least 3 years of service as a core faculty member in a CAPTE accredited physical therapist education program • Rank of associate or full professor or eligible for rank of associate professor at the point of hire (tenure review contingent with hire). Experience or professional development in educational administration, management and leadership. A demonstrated commitment to competency-based and community-engaged learning, with a vision to prepare physical therapists as primary care providers meeting the needs of rural communities in Wisconsin and across the nation • Familiarity with CAPTE accreditation requirements and/or experience with other accreditation and regulatory agencies. • A record of professional and institutional service. • Effective leadership and management skills, with the ability to foster a collaborative, innovative, and energetic faculty team • Demonstrated effectiveness as an educator in an entry-level CAPTE accredited DPT program. Preferred Qualifications: • Prior leadership experience in an entry-level DPT program; committee leadership within an accredited program may demonstrate this expectation • Direct experience with competency-based education design or implementation • A background in strategic planning, program development and team building • A record of recent scholarly activity consistent with a tenure eligible faculty member • Experience with residency education, ideally in an ABPTRFE-recognized program Terms of Employment: This is an annual tenure-track faculty position. Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. UW-Stevens Point does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. How to Apply: TO ENSURE CONSIDERATION: Applications are due by 9/8/26 to receive full consideration. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. Application materials will be evaluated and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. Incomplete application materials may not receive consideration. Files must be complete to be considered. Submission in PDF format is preferred for all attachments. Please include the following documents: - Cover letter that explains how your qualifications and experience align with the position summary - Resume - Unofficial Transcripts - Statement of Teaching Philosophy (Official Transcripts may be required of finalist) Employment will require a criminal background check. It will also require you to supply three (3) professional references/one (1) of which being a current or former supervisor. (Preference to supply five (5) professional references/two (2) of which being a current or former supervisors.) Your references will be required to answer questions regarding misconduct, sexual violence and sexual harassment. Contact Information: For additional information regarding the position, please call or email: Kathy Zalewski, Position Contact, Search and Screen Committee Email: kzalewsk@uwsp.edu Phone: 715-346-2535 If you have any questions regarding the application process, need special arrangements, or if you submitted your application with missing materials, please call or email: Human Resources Email: human.resources@uwsp.edu Phone: 715-346-2606 Special Notes: Through the discovery and dissemination of knowledge, UW-Stevens Point stimulates intellectual growth, provides a liberal education, and prepares students for a diverse sustainable world. The university is committed to creating a safe, inclusive learning community for all faculty and staff from a variety of backgrounds. Visit https://www.uwsp.edu/join-uw-stevens-point/ for more information about UW-Stevens Point. To learn about the Stevens Point (aka Point) area fun, jobs, housing, education, quality of life, and bragging rights, visit www.stevenspointarea.com . Individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process should contact Human Resources and Affirmative Action at 715-346-2606 or hr@uwsp.edu. The safety and success of students, faculty, and staff at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is paramount. The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act requires the distribution of an annual security report to all current and prospective students, faculty, and staff. You may obtain the complete report at https://www3.uwsp.edu/protsv/Pages/Clery.aspx The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). An offer of employment will require a criminal background check and authorization to work within the United States as required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

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