Doctoral Capstone Coordinator (Assistant/Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy)

Job ID

UF9950-0910-1886

Position Classification  

FT Faculty UDMPU (12 month)   

Position Summary

The University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) is seeking a dedicated faculty member for the Doctoral Capstone Coordinator for its new entry-level OTD Program. As the Capstone Coordinator, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future trajectory of our students in traditional and non-traditional areas of practice. This position involves coordination and oversight of all aspects of the capstone experience and capstone project, teaching, advising, scholarship and service. You will ensure that our doctoral capstone program not only meets all regulatory and accreditation standards but also fosters a supportive and innovative learning environment where students can thrive and excel.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Doctoral Capstone Coordinator will:

• Collaborate with the Department Chair and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator to design the capstone experience and project components of the curriculum.
• Lead the development of capstone materials and policies to assure effective and impactful capstone experiences that meet the needs of OTD students, accreditation standards and program goals.
• Development of memorandums of understanding and contracts with community partners for capstone experiences.
• Develop and maintain relationships community partnerships for capstone experiences.
• Ensure capstone experiences are designed through collaboration with the student, OT faculty and community members.
• Ensure compliance with accrediting body standards and regulations.
• Manage the planning, implementation, and assessment of doctoral capstone experiences and community partner satisfaction.
• Orient students to doctoral capstone process and provide resources as needed.
• Review all capstone proposals for capstone experiences and projects, maintain knowledge of student progress and performance in capstone courses and while in the capstone experiences.
• Assist Department Chair in maintaining ACOTE accreditation and program evaluation.
• Participate in strategic planning and curriculum review for the occupational therapy program

 Key Responsibilities as a Faculty. As a faculty member, The Doctoral Capstone Coordinator will:

• Teach within areas of clinical expertise.
• Educate and advise students within the Occupational Therapy and other undergraduate programs.
• Contribute to the field through scholarly work.
• Participate in services to the departmental, school, college and university.

 Additional Responsibilities:

• The Doctoral Capstone Coordinator will perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Be an occupational therapist who is licensed or otherwise regulated to regulations in the state or jurisdiction in which the program is located.
• Current unrestricted license to practice occupational therapy or eligibility for licensure in Michigan.
• Hold a doctoral degree awarded by an institution that is accredited by a USDE recognized institutional accrediting agency.
• At least three years of documented experience in occupational therapy, which must include:

         o Clinical practice experience as an occupational therapist.

         o Teaching responsibilities at the post-secondary level

         o Scholarship

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as in community partner development and organization
• Professional experience as a fieldwork educator and/or doctoral capstone mentor
• Strong leadership and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal abilities.

Physical Requirements

The job may require lifting lightweight objects (1 to 15 pounds) with no repetitive bending or stooping.

Work Environment

Regular exposure to a standard office and classroom conditions. Environment subject to change pending semester workload and inclusion/exclusion of clinical site to consideration of environment.

Licenses/Certifications

• Be an occupational therapist who is licensed or otherwise regulated to regulations in the state or jurisdiction in which the program is located
• Current unrestricted license to practice occupational therapy or eligibility for licensure in Michigan.

Salary/Pay Information

Rank and salary will be commensurate with experience. The university has excellent benefits including medical and dental insurance, retirement plan with match and tuition benefits for employees and their dependents.

Anticipated Schedule

Schedule subject to change pending semester workload and inclusion/exclusion of clinical sites.

Additional Information

The Doctoral Capstone Coordinator reports to the Associate Dean of the SHRS and the Dean of CHP.
 

This position necessitates travel. Site visits to capstone locations are frequently required to evaluate the site’s suitability and monitor student performance. These visits may be requested by the site, the student, or the capstone coordinator.

 The College of Health Professions (CHP) provides a transformative education grounded in the Mercy and Jesuit traditions. We are committed to preparing compassionate and competent health professionals, who are dedicated to serving and leading while respecting diversity and human differences, valuing social justice, and advocating for equitable healthcare within a global society. UDM is ranked 36th in the country and 2nd in the state of Michigan by the Wall Street Journal America’s Best Colleges 2025.
 

The values that guide this work are:
 

Learning: We commit to academic excellence that fosters integrity, intellectual rigor, personal development, and student-centered learning in an environment that values reflection and inclusivity.
 

Mercy: We commit to heartfelt solidarity with those suffering and in need, and to engage in transformative acts of mercy and justice; love, compassion, forgiveness, caring, and kindness.
 

Justice: We commit to confronting oppressive systems as we recognize all persons’ innate dignity and uniqueness reflected in the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and the Mercy and Jesuit traditions.
 

Service: We commit to selfless service and advocacy in recognizing and responding to the needs of all with a focus on the disadvantaged, underserved, and vulnerable populations.
 

Community: We commit to collaborating with others at a local, national, and global level, whose mission is to improve health equity, eliminate health disparities, and enhance health outcomes.

 

Employee Benefits

At the University of Detroit Mercy, we continually strive to provide a high-quality, comprehensive benefits package to our valued employees. We offer our employees the following benefits: 

 

• Medical -

o Three health plans to choose from with a large national provider network

•Dental -

o UDM’s School of Dentistry FREE to you and your dependents

o Option to purchase additional dental plan through UNUM

•Vision – 

o Under United Healthcare, you are able to get one exam every 24 months

o Under Heritage Vision, an eye exam and lenses (not Frame) are provided every 12 months

        (Plans are available to employees to purchase as an option)

• Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Accounts offered

• Employee Assistance Program -

o Provided to everyone in your household

• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability

• Life and AD&D 

o 1x base pay equivalent, up to one hundred thousand 

• Option to purchase additional life insurance, accident insurance, and/or critical illness insurance

• Tuition Remission Benefit for you, your spouse, and children. 

• Retirement Plan -

o UDM provides matches up to 8%

 

Michigan’s largest, most comprehensive private University, University of Detroit Mercy is an independent Catholic institution of higher education sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy and Society of Jesus. Detroit Mercy seeks qualified candidates who will contribute to the University’s mission, diversity, and excellence of its academic community. University of Detroit Mercy is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer with a diverse student body and welcomes persons of all backgrounds.