Associate Dean of Experiential Learning

Description

Full-Time | Draper, Utah or Remote (Highly Qualified)

Transform Learning. Elevate Practice. Shape the Future of Nursing Education. 

At Joyce University, we believe learning comes to life when students have meaningful opportunities to practice, apply, reflect, and grow. As the Associate Dean of Experiential Learning, you will provide strategic, academic, and operational leadership for experiential education across the School of Nursing—including simulation, laboratory, and clinical learning experiences. 

This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for creating a consistent, innovative, and evidence-based experiential learning experience across programs, regions, campuses, and delivery modalities. You'll lead academic leaders and experiential education teams, champion innovation in simulation and experiential pedagogy, and ensure students have learning experiences that prepare them to meet course and program outcomes. 

You'll also play a critical role in ensuring experiential education meets accreditation, regulatory, and professional standards. From simulation accreditation and INACSL standards to state board requirements and experiential learning outcomes, you'll bring together strategy, people, resources, and data to continuously strengthen the student experience. 

If you're a nursing education leader who is energized by innovation, academic excellence, and building systems that make a meaningful difference for students and faculty, this is an opportunity to help shape the future of nursing education at Joyce University. 

What You'll Do 

Lead the Vision for Experiential Education 

• Develop and execute the strategic vision for experiential education across simulation, laboratory, and clinical learning. 
• Establish consistent standards for experiential education across all regions, campuses, programs, and modalities. 
• Lead innovation in experiential pedagogy, simulation, and learning methodologies. 
• Collaborate with academic leadership to integrate experiential learning throughout the nursing curriculum. 
• Ensure experiential learning is mapped to program competencies and the AACN Essentials. 

Lead & Develop Academic Teams 

• Provide leadership and oversight for experiential education leaders across four regions. 
• Supervise and evaluate Regional Assistant Deans, the Assistant Dean of Experiential Learning for Simulation and Lab, and the Assistant Director of Experiential Labs and Simulation. 
• Support faculty development in simulation, laboratory, and clinical teaching practices. 
• Foster a culture of collaboration, inquiry, continuous improvement, and professional growth. 
• Forecast staffing and resource needs based on enrollment growth and program expansion. 

Champion Simulation & Experiential Innovation 

• Ensure the effective operation of the Simulation Center and experiential learning environments across the University. 
• Lead the continued development of innovative simulation and experiential learning methodologies. 
• Oversee the master schedule for simulation and learning laboratory utilization across courses, programs, and campuses. 
• Maintain oversight of simulation and laboratory equipment inventory, preventive maintenance, calibration, replacement planning, and capital needs. 
• Explore and support emerging technologies and innovative approaches that enhance experiential learning. 

Ensure Quality, Compliance & Accreditation 

• Provide strategic oversight of accreditation and compliance for experiential education, including CCNE and ACEN standards and applicable state board of nursing requirements. 
• Obtain and maintain Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) accreditation and INACSL endorsement for the Simulation Center. 
• Ensure simulation practices align with the INACSL Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice. 
• Monitor state requirements governing the use of simulation in place of clinical hours and ensure compliance across applicable programs and states. 
• Maintain policies and processes supporting scenario design, faculty qualification, debriefing, evaluation, and confidentiality. 
• Own the experiential learning evidence base used for accreditation and state approval. 
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using experiential learning and student outcome data. 

Drive Operational Excellence 

• Own the experiential education operating budget, including resource allocation, space planning, and capital investment. 
• Evaluate experiential learning environments to ensure they support course and program objectives. 
• Ensure experiential faculty are appropriately qualified and that qualifications are documented. 
• Establish and maintain systems that promote quality and consistency across regions and delivery modalities. 
• Provide experiential education data and reporting to the Dean of Nursing and Associate Dean of Nursing and Compliance. 
• Identify operational challenges and develop sustainable, data-informed solutions. 

Build Partnerships & Represent Joyce 

• Establish and maintain relationships with healthcare organizations, clinical agencies, and community partners. 
• Promote interdisciplinary collaboration to strengthen experiential learning opportunities. 
• Represent Joyce University in national forums and professional organizations related to simulation and experiential learning. 
• Visit clinical, simulation, and laboratory learning environments on a defined cycle to evaluate their effectiveness and alignment with learning objectives. 
• Participate in accreditation processes, reporting, and other University initiatives. 

What We Offer 

At Joyce University, we invest in our people by providing a comprehensive benefits package and a supportive, purpose-driven workplace where you can grow your career while making a meaningful impact. 

• Generous self-directed paid time off (PTO) 
• Paid holidays 
• 401(k) with employer match 
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance 
• Employer-paid short-term disability insurance 
• Long-term disability coverage 
• Continuing education assistance 
• Professional development and career growth opportunities 
• A collaborative, mission-driven culture where your work makes a lasting impact on students and the future of healthcare 

Requirements

What We're Looking For 

We're looking for an experienced nursing education leader who combines academic expertise, strategic vision, operational discipline, and a passion for creating exceptional learning experiences. 

Required Qualifications 

• Active, unencumbered RN license (state or compact license). 
• Doctoral degree required. 
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in nursing education with progressive leadership experience. 
• Demonstrated experience leading academic teams and developing faculty. 
• Strong understanding of experiential learning, nursing education, and academic program quality. 
• Experience with accreditation, regulatory requirements, and continuous improvement. 
• Strong analytical, communication, relationship-building, and decision-making skills. 
• Ability to lead strategically while translating vision into effective operational practices. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Certification in simulation education, such as CHSE or CHSOS. 
• Experience with emerging technologies, including VR/AR in simulation. 
• Proven success in faculty mentorship, program evaluation, and grant writing. 
• Experience with SSH simulation program accreditation and INACSL endorsement. 
• Experience leading experiential education across multiple states, regions, campuses, or delivery modalities. 
• Experience supervising academic leaders, not only individual contributors. 
• Experience with simulation scheduling, inventory, and evaluation systems. 

What Success Looks Like 

In this role, success means creating an experiential learning environment where quality, consistency, innovation, and student outcomes come together. You'll help ensure: 

• Students receive high-quality experiential learning regardless of where or how they learn. 
• Simulation, laboratory, and clinical experiences are intentionally aligned with course and program outcomes. 
• Faculty and academic leaders have the support, development, and resources they need to succeed. 
• Experiential education consistently meets accreditation, regulatory, and professional standards. 
• Simulation and laboratory resources are strategically planned, maintained, and aligned with University growth. 
• Experiential learning decisions are informed by meaningful data and continuous evaluation. 
• Joyce remains at the forefront of innovative experiential and simulation-based nursing education. 

Why Joyce University? 

At Joyce University, our mission is to prepare people to serve as competent professionals, advance their careers, and pursue lifelong learning. Our vision is to create learning environments which transform lives. As the Associate Dean of Experiential Learning, you'll have the opportunity to bring that vision to life every day—through the experiences that help nursing students build confidence, develop clinical judgment, connect theory to practice, and become exceptional healthcare professionals. 

Our values guide how we work: 

Service | Learning | Integrity | Caring | Excellence 

If you're ready to lead innovative experiential education and help shape the future of nursing education, we'd love to hear from you.