FAQ for Associate Faculty

Associate faculty, known as part-time temporary lecturers at Baylor, are essential for curricular delivery in the Baylor Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. This is primarily achieved during onsite lab immersions but may also be conducted via synchronous or asynchronous teaching and learning activities. Each associate faculty brings essential knowledge, skills, and contemporary expertise to their course(s.) Associate faculty demonstrate competence in teaching and implementing strategies for student success by delivering assigned courses/objectives in a manner that facilitates student learning and mastery of course material.

 

FAQs

Q: When does Baylor DPT recruit their associate faculty?

A: The Baylor DPT Program recruiting window is typically from July through September each year. This year will be a bit shorter due to the new system rollout that Baylor is using.  Recruiting, selecting and hiring of our associate faculy this early allows those selected to request time off or deconflict their personal schedules, if needed.

 

Q: How do I indicate my interest if the recruitment window is not open?

A: If our recruiting window is not active, you can contact us at this link (Coming Soon) and your information will be provided to the program.  After you provide your information we will send you an email notifying you that the current recruiting window has opened and that you are able to apply at that time.

 

Q: Why are there so many positions available?

A: The DPT program posts the associate positions for the entire upcoming calendar year, January – December. The goal is to empower our associate faculty to select the courses they have a true passion for and with this level of transparency all interested associate faculty can see all of the opportunities that the program has to offer.    

In our hybrid program, students and faculty travel to Waco, TX twice per semester for onsite, face-to-face laboratory instruction. With up to 100 students per cohort, we have a need for high-quality associate faculty who bring their clinical and contemporary experience, a passion for teaching, and a desire to mentor and coach future physical therapists and leaders in our profession.  We are committed to a student to faculty ratio of approximately 1:12, which means we must recruit at least 6-7 associate faculty to assist core faculty in lab instruction.

 

Q: What experience do I need?

A: We seek clinician educators with at least 2 years of experience within their area of practice. Advanced certifications and/or residency training is preferred, but not required. See below for additional qualification information.

 

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Licensed Physical Therapist in good standing in Texas or their state of residence with a corresponding Physical Therapy Degree from an accredited institution.
2. Bachelor’s in Physical Therapy and Master’s in Physical Therapy will be considered for this position.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Earned Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (or tDPT) or terminal doctoral degree (PhD, EdD, DSc, etc) from an accredited university or a Specialist Certification.

Additional Skills:

1. Exhibited evidence of continued professional growth and development.
2. Demonstrated commitment to the use of innovative instructional techniques and technologies and use of course management systems.

 

 

Q: What are the functions of an associate faculty?

A: Primary Functions - Teaching is the primary responsibility of associate faculty. The functions of associate faculty may include some or all of the following depending on the terms and conditions of their appointment:

1. Teach assigned courses and complete associated tasks in accordance with the Program’s approved course description(s) and competency-based student learning outcomes.
2. Meet deadlines and follow directions of the lead course instructor(s), Program and Department leadership, and the Dean/Associate Dean of the College.
3. Demonstrate a command of the discipline and skill in effective instructional delivery.
4. Maintain accurate and complete records of student participation and performance, use appropriate measures to evaluate student performance based on established student learning outcomes, provide timely feedback to students and assign grades that are an accurate and fair evaluation of student work.
5. Submit grades and other required documentation in a timely manner.
6. Collaborate with appropriate Core Faculty, the Director of Student Affairs, and the Program Director to identify and address student issues as appropriate.
7. Adhere to professional and ethical standards of conduct.
8. Maintain current professional certification and licensure within the specific discipline.
9. Maintain professional practice knowledge base and clinical expertise needed to help learners prepare for contemporary physical therapy practice.
10. Promote professionalism by modeling and encouraging professional behaviors inside and outside the educational setting.
11. Assist in all course related activities and complete other duties as assigned by the lead course instructor(s)

Secondary Functions - These expectations do not apply to all associate faculty positions:

1. Plan and deliver individual classes via distance education or face to face lab instruction that conform to the syllabus and other requirements of the University.
2. Develop a syllabus of course activities that meet the requirements of the course description or program chair, establishes appropriate student learning outcomes, and provides for appropriate class activities throughout the semester.
3. Participate in course, curriculum, and program assessment activities.
4. Meet all scheduled classes and adhere to the academic schedule, which includes final exam times and other program-related testing.

 

Q: I don’t live near Waco, or even in Texas. Can I apply?

A: Yes! As long as you are located and licensed within the United States, you can apply for an associate faculty position.  We are able to search far and wide for expert clinicians, and we cover travel costs for all of our faculty.

 

Q: I am interested in an associate (Lecturer) position. What does this position entail?

A: Most of the associate (“Lecturer”) positions are for our immersive laboratory sessions. Immersive labs are blocks of time where students focus on the lab content of one course at a time. While the entire duration of the onsite lab is typically 1-2 weeks, each lab course is 3 to 6 days in length.  Typical duties include providing small group instruction for a group of 10-14 students, maintaining consistency in instruction from the lead faculty, and administering practical and skill check examinations. Duties in some courses may include leading blocks of instruction with material provided/guided by the course lead faculty, and grading student projects.  Please see this document (link coming soon) for a more complete list of roles and responsibilities for both the associate faculty and the course faculty.

 

Q: What if I have never taught before?

A: That’s fine with us, as all the BU DPT faculty were in that position at one point as well.  The core faculty will guide you to success.

 

Q: I have been an associate faculty member for Baylor previously. Do I have to reapply for each course / each year?

A: Yes. Baylor University requires all associate (“Lecturer”) applicants to apply for each course, and to do so each year. The DPT program has worked with Baylor University Human Resources to make this process as smooth as possible, and each application takes 3-4 minutes to complete using Interfolio. The University and the DPT Program are committed to the Diversity and Inclusion mission, and Baylor seeks to “educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community.” In line with this mission, we seek to embody Christ’s teachings of love and inclusivity across boundaries of racial, ethnic, gender, socio-economic, religious, and other expressions of human difference. At Baylor, “Love thy neighbor” is not just a phrase, it is a way of life.

 

Q: I want to apply!  What do I need to have ready when I log into Interfolio?

A:

1. The first time you log into Interfolio, you will need to register and create your Dossier.  The Dossier will contain your CV and Transcripts.  When you apply for each job, these forms automatically get added to each application.

2. Your current CV. 

• Due to CAPTE Accreditation requirements, all CVs must be in a specific format. Please download the template from this link to create your CV.

3. Please delete any sections that do not apply to you, but otherwise do not alter the format or the ordering of information. Only include “current courses taught” if you are a current associate faculty member within the Baylor DPT program.

4. Transcripts.

• Please upload transcripts for your highest degree earned to your Dossier within Interfolio. Most transcript services will email you an official copy and Baylor will accept these from you.
• If you upload unofficial transcripts and are selected for employment you will be required to provide an official transcript before you can be fully hired, so please take the time to obtain your official transcripts.
• If you have previously been hired as an associate faculty at Baylor, we ask that you upload the following memo into your Dossier instead of your transcript.

 

Q: I see the lab dates in the Course descriptions. What does virtual vs onsite immersion mean?

A: Virtual means those days of the lab are done via synchronous learning, utilizing meeting software such as Zoom. Both faculty and students attend from their own homes.

Onsite Immersion means those days of lab that are onsite at the Baylor DPT facilities in Waco, Texas. Associate faculty will be required to travel to Waco to provide onsite instruction on those days.

 

Q: Do the published lab dates include travel?

A: The dates you see with the course descriptions and the links within the Interfolio applications DO NOT include travel.  However, there are specific details within each job posting that outline travel expectations and you must acknowledge this during the application process. Associate faculty will receive guidance from the program and the course lead regarding arrival and departure expectations for each lab immersion. (The next FAQ goes into more detail regarding these expectations).

 

Q: What are position requirements as an associate faculty member?

A: Requirements for serving as associate faculty include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Arrival expectations: Associate faculty must arrive at the Baylor lab facility, in Waco, Texas, by 5:00 PM CST the day before the immersion is set to begin.
2. Daily lab schedule: Typical associate faculty workday is 7:30 AM CST until 6:00 PM CST (lunch is normally 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM).
3. Complete lab immersion preparation duties as assigned by lead faculty team before arriving in Waco.
4. Complete lab immersion wrap-up duties as assigned by lead faculty team.
5. Departure expectations are directed by the lead faculty team for the course.
6. Associate faculty will omplete and submit the "Assisting Faculty" survey on the final day of the lab immersion.

 

 

Q: How do we travel to the lab immersion?

A: All travel arrangements will be coordinated by the DPT Program’s Director of Operations

• We request that you fly into and out of Waco. Every effort should be made to meet this request. Flights to Waco are only available from Dallas/Ft Worth International Airport via American Airlines, and there are only 4-6 trips between the 2 cities each day.
• We do recognize however, that flying into Waco may be a challenge for some individuals. If you are unable to coordinate your travel directly into Waco, we will allow you to fly into Dallas or Austin and rent a vehicle. Please recognize this is the exception, not the rule.
• In the event you must fly to Dallas or Austin, cost must be considered before making the decision. If the cost to fly and rent a vehicle is more than it would cost to fly into Waco, then you will need to choose the less expensive option. There is no exception to this rule.
• Flying into alternative locations may require some of you to rent a car. (This does entail a step to become authorized by Baylor to rent a car). Once all travelers enter their info into the travel tracker, we conduct analysis to identify the appropriate number of rental cars needed. The Director of Operations will send a separate email that identifies who will be renting a car and what that process entails. Please do not rent a vehicle unless you have been directed as Baylor University may not reimburse this expense if it was not authorized. Those selected to rent vehicles you may be required to wait at the airport for a fellow faculty member that is arriving at the same airport, however we will not have you sitting at the airport for an extended period. If you are renting a vehicle, you will be responsible for transporting your fellow associate to and from the lab facility each morning/evening.

Flights:

• For those flying in, you are allowed to book your flights on your own or you may choose to use Baylor’s travel agency.  Booking through this agency allows for cancellations that you can use for later associate travel with Baylor. If you have purchased your own flight and you are required to cancel, Baylor will not reimburse you for unused flights.

Driving: You may elect to drive when mileage reimbursement is less than the cost of air travel. Typically, the Program allows travel via a personal vehicle from within the state of Texas and some of the surrounding states.

 

Q: How much will I get paid?

A: We offer competitive pay based on the duration of the course, course prep and close-out time, and additional requirements such as project grading. The pay specific to each course is listed within the application.  Baylor does not offer any full-time or part-time benefits for associate faculty.

 

Q: Do I need my own professional malpractice insurance?

A: No. Associate faculty are covered under Baylor University's insurance for malpractice.

 

Q: I am not a current Clinical Education Instructor / Site for Baylor DPT. Is that a problem?

A: We do not require our associate faculty to be Clinical Education faculty with the program. However, we strongly encourage you to consider becoming a clinical education faculty to fully share in the educational journey of the Baylor DPT student. Both students and the program value the partnership we can achieve with you along the entire DPT educational journey. To request to be a Clinical Educational Site / Faculty, please visit this link.(Page coming soon)

 

Q: Where will I stay?

A: As an associate faculty member, the Program will book and pay for your hotel room directly via a master bill.  You will need to provide a credit card at check-in for any incidental charges to your room (i.e., room service, dining/bar, etc.).

 

Q: Are meals provided?

A: You will be provided a daily per-diem rate to cover meals that are not provided by either the hotel or the program.

 

Q: Are any other costs reimbursable?

A: A travel reimbursement guide will be available for associate faculty that are hired.

 

Q: What are the lab spaces like?

A: Our primary lab space is over 7,000 square feet and is designed to accommodate the wide variety of educational exposures needed for DPT education. We can easily fit 50 treatment plinths in the space for large group learning. We have additional space within our “Student Center” to utilize for smaller group “breakout” sessions and practical examinations as needed.

 

Q: Will I need to bring my computer to the lab immersion?

A: Yes, as many immersive labs have a practical or skills check examination. You will be entering comments and grades within Canvas, the Learning Management System used by Baylor University. Your course faculty will provide access to the Canvas course and instructions on use.

 

Q: I did not get selected this year. Should I reapply for other positions or for next year?

A: Yes! Please do not be discouraged if not selected. There may be more applicants than the number of positions available for a course. We encourage you to continue building and communicating your experiences via your CV in future applications.   

 

Q: How do I apply?

A: Please click the link below