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The University of Texas Permian Basin welcomes applications and nominations for the position of Director of the School of Nursing, who will also serve as a tenure-track Associate Professor or Professor. The University of Texas Permian Basin is located in Odessa, Texas. As a regional, comprehensive institution, The University of Texas Permian Basin with over 7500 students serves a diverse community of students from the region, the state, and beyond. Through excellence in student-centered teaching, learning, research, and public service, the University cultivates engaged citizens and impacts lives while advancing the technology and public interests of West Texas.

The Permian Basin is one of the country’s fastest-growing, culturally vibrant, and economically invigorated regions – full of industry, culture, and wide-open spaces. Spanning an area of 75,000 square miles, the low-lying geological formation of the Permian Basin is a stunning stretch of land with unique beauty that’s home to the big, beautiful Texas skies. The population of the immediate area is around 340,000: Odessa (113,000) and Midland (134,000). It’s also home to the world’s largest petroleum field. Accounting for more than 30% of the domestic oil production in the United States and recently named the largest oil reserve on the planet, the Permian Basin region of West Texas is poised to boost local and global economies for decades. The International Energy Agency expects global oil demand to grow until around 2040, which experts predict will support the creation of approximately 45,000 jobs across the Permian Basin through 2030.

However, it’s not only oil fueling the region’s substantial energy boom; wind and solar developments are diversifying the Permian Basin, putting it on the map as a critical energy provider for the future. West Texas is seeing an explosion in economic activity as other industries such as finance, construction, digital technology, transportation, real estate, and public sector jobs grow alongside the energy sector. The Permian Basin is also home to a vibrant healthcare community. With the regional growth comes a high demand and need for additional healthcare, including expanding current healthcare partnerships, plans to build a behavioral health facility, and enormous collaborative and financial support from organizations such as the Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP), and other local foundations. The University is in the strategic planning process now to map out a comprehensive health sciences plan for the next decade, which will include potential new programs and a new Health Sciences complex as part of an exciting community development at UTPB’s Midland campus. UTPB will be one of the primary providers of health care workers for this exciting community health care expansion.

UT Permian Basin is a vibrant learning community with 75+ undergraduate and graduate degrees within five academic colleges. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board recognized UT Permian Basin as the first public university in the state to implement AVID strategies at the post-secondary level. The University offers dual credit courses that serve remote school districts using a blended online and in-person arrangement and with online dual credit courses available to schools throughout the state of Texas. The University of Texas Permian Basin is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate and master’s degrees.

Home to over 7,500 enrolled students, UT Permian Basin benefits from the vast resources and support of the world-renowned University of Texas System yet is lean enough to foster a connected, tight-knit community while remaining financially accessible to any student. With an unwavering commitment to students, a strategic approach to designing higher education, and the resources to ensure academic success, UTPB is set to nurture the leaders who will go on to shape the future of West Texas and the nation. UT Permian Basin offers residential, commuter, and on-line educational opportunities. Designated a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), almost half of UTPB’s student population identifies as Hispanic. UTPB is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI). About half of the students at UTPB are first-generation college students.

The College of Health Sciences and Human Performance offers a variety of degrees in disciplines that contribute to interprofessional health teams. The College is home to the School of Nursing, the Department of Community and Family Health, the Department of Human Performance, the Department of Social Work, and the Center for Interprofessional and Experiential Learning, including the Midland Health Simulation and Learning Resource Center. The School of Nursing at the University of Texas Permian Basin is science-based, patient-centered, and care-driven. Coursework helps students understand human behavior and gain insight into the human spirit. The School offers the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, an online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, and a Health Informatics and Leadership Certificate program. The School is characterized by individual attention, increased participation, and better communication, and UTPB’s nursing graduates surpass the national and Texas NCLEX pass rate averages with a 94% first-attempt success rate.

The Director of the School of Nursing directs the achievement of the mission and goals of the School of Nursing and represents the School of Nursing to the community. The Director is responsible for leadership, planning, coordination, and oversight of six Board of Nursing areas: students, faculty, curriculum, organizational structure, governance, research, and evaluation. The Director is assisted by the Administrative Assistant, the Director of the Nursing Simulation Center, and the faculty. The Director reports to the Dean of the College of Health Sciences.

Individuals who are eligible for appointment must meet the Texas Board of Nursing requirements as provided below:

• Hold an unencumbered current registered nurse license in the state of Texas or have eligibility for licensure in Texas.
• Hold a master’s degree or a doctoral degree in nursing; if the master’s degree is in nursing, the doctoral degree is required but is not limited to nursing.
• Have a minimum of two (2) years teaching experience in a professional nursing education program.
• Have demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities in administration within a professional nursing education program.

In addition, the successful candidate will possess:

• Eligibility for a tenure track faculty position at the Associate or Professor rank.
• A proven track record of building relationships with all constituents (hospitals, healthcare providers, community colleges, higher education institutions, etc.).
• Demonstrated leadership skills related to coordination of teaching activities.
• Effective verbal/written communication skills and proficiency in the English language.
• An awareness of current issues/trends in nursing and higher education.
• Effective interpersonal and organizational skills.

More information, including a full list of responsibilities, can be found in the institutional profile at the link above.

Applications should consist of a substantial letter of interest, a CV, and a list of five professional references with full contact information and a note indicating the nature of your working relationship with each. No references will be contacted without the explicit permission of the candidate. Applications, nominations, and expressions of interest can be submitted electronically, and in confidence, to:

UTPBNursingDirector@academicsearch.org

The position is open until filled but only applications received by Friday, June 7, 2024, can be assured full consideration. The University is being assisted by Academic Search. Confidential discussions about this opportunity may be arranged by contacting consultants Ann Hasselmo at Ann.Hasselmo@academicsearch.org and Chris Butler at Chris.Butler@academicsearch.org. Further information about the University of Texas Permian Basin is available at https://www.utpb.edu/.

UTPB is committed to providing an educational, living, and working environment that is welcoming and respectful. The University fosters an environment that allows members of the University community to excel in their academic and professional careers. UTPB follows all applicable state and federal laws.