Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) - Physician Associate Studies - Fall 2026
Position Information Position Title Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) - Physician Associate Studies - Fall 2026 Posting Number F248 College/Area College of Health Sciences Department Physician Associate Studies Bargaining Unit APSCUF Position Type Faculty Type of Appointment Full Time Complement Type Tenure Track Home Campus Lock Haven City Lock Haven State Pennsylvania Zip Code 17745 FTE% 100% Work Location Home Campus Salary Commensurate with experience and qualifications If Other, please list Appointment Start Date Fall 2026 Benefits Medical and prescription drug benefits. Generous retirement plans, two options: Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP) State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) Tuition benefits for employees and dependents. Paid time off. Employer-paid dental and vision benefits. Employer-paid life insurance. Voluntary insurances and additional retirement programs. *Specific benefits may vary based upon university, employee group and/or collective bargaining unit. Visit: http://www.passhe.edu/inside/HR/syshr/healthcare/Pages/Summary-of-Benefits.aspx for additional information regarding benefits. To be eligible for most benefits, you must be a permanent, full-time employee (including temporary, full-time faculty with at least an academic year contract) or a permanent, part-time employee (including temporary, part-time faculty with at least an academic year contract) who is scheduled to work every pay period for at least 50% of full-time hours. Position Description Summary About the Department: The Department of Physician Associate (PA) Studies at Commonwealth University houses the nationally recognized Physician Assistant (PA) Program. Founded in 1996 as the Lock Haven University PA Program, and graduating its first class in 1998, this program is recognized as the first PA Program within Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. Following five years of success at the Lock Haven campus, the PA Program was expanded to the Clearfield campus location in 2001 with classroom instruction delivered using state-of-the-art distance education technology. In 2010, the PA Program was again expanded to offer instruction at a campus location in Harrisburg. The Department of PA Studies consists of on-site faculty at each campus location where the program is offered. On-site faculty serve as instructors for both classroom and lab-based instruction as well as advisors for both first-year (didactic phase) and second-year (clinical phase) students. The curriculum for the PA Program utilizes a team-teaching approach to a modular-based design with didactic instruction following an organ-based and medical specialty-focused approach. Faculty in the department have clinical expertise in a variety of settings, including family practice, pediatrics, women’s health, inpatient medicine, emergency medicine/urgent care, and surgery. About the College:The Department of Physician Associate Studies is one of five departments in the College of Health Sciences at the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. The College offers nationally accredited and regionally distinct programs. Faculty and staff in the College are committed to providing every student a meaningful education with impact and value. The College seeks student-centered educators and scholars to educate students with innovative and pedagogically sound methods and to engage students in and out of the classroom in high-impact educational practices. The College houses the Breiner School of Nursing and offers several undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including two doctoral programs: the Doctor of Audiology and the Doctor of Nursing Practice. The College aims to graduate well-trained students to serve the science and technology industry and prepare students as competent and caring health care professionals to serve their communities and the health care industry in the region and beyond. Duties · Provide on-site instruction for small group, physical diagnosis, and clinical skills lab activities. · Travel to other campus locations for on-site instruction as assigned. · Supervise and complete site visits on second year PA students as needed. · Develop learning outcomes for PA students. · Develop, implement, and administer competency assessments of PA students. · Assure clinical education sites used by the program are in compliance with University and Program policies including the ability of clinical sites to provide patient experiences that support students in achieving program-defined student learning outcomes and competencies. · Actively recruit and maintain existing clinical partnerships and training sites. · Acquire data on the efficacy of didactic and clinical instruction provided to PA students. · In concert with other designated program personnel and appropriate departmental committees, analyze, draw conclusions, and implement educational strategies to foster an environment of continuous quality improvement. · Develop, coordinate, and provide instructional support for clinical year PA students. · Attend and participate in committee, program, and departmental meetings. · Assist with day-to-day activities at the Lock Haven campus location including assistance with classroom technology, lab preparation/clean-up, inventory of supplies, etc. · Assist the Program Director and Department Chair in reviewing, planning, and analyzing compliance with ARC-PA standards of accreditation. · Actively participate in the University community and professional service. · Engage in academic and professional scholarship activities. The successful candidate will need to complete distance education training programs as made available by the University within two years of hire for the purpose of teaching in a multi-campus environment with remote teaching needs. Qualifying Experience and Education (Minimum/Preferred) · Must have a current NCCPA certification (or board eligibility in a related field) as well as eligibility to practice within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. · Must have a valid PA driver’s license and reliable transportation. Preferred Qualifications · 5 or more years of experience in clinical practice as a PA · Experience with developing learning outcomes, defining competencies, and supervising PA student clinical experiences Special Instructions to Applicants Supplemental Information Recommendation for hiring is needed from a majority of the regular, full-time department faculty. Background Clearances Diversity Statement Title IX/Clery The University also complies with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crimes Statistics Act, as amended by the Violence Against Women Act ( VAWA). Title IX prohibits retaliation for asserting or otherwise participating in claims of sex discrimination. VAWA imposes additional duties on universities and colleges to investigate and respond to reports of sexual assault, stalking, and dating or domestic violence, and to publish policies and procedures related to the way these reports are handled. The University has designated the Title IX Coordinator (Jennifer Raup, Elwell Hall, ORL, 570-389-4808, [email protected] or [email protected]), to coordinate the University’s compliance with Title IX and VAWA and to respond to reports of violations. The University has directed the Police Department to coordinate the University’s compliance with the VAWA-related Clery reporting requirements. For information on the University’s crime statistics, which is available in a publication called “Annual Security Report”, please contact Commonwealth University – Bloomsburg Police at 570-389-2211, Commonwealth University – Mansfield Police at 570-662-4900, or Commonwealth University – Lock Haven Police at 570-484-2278 or by accessing the following website: https://www.commonwealthu.edu/offices-directory/university-police/annual-security-report. Additionally, inquiries concerning Title IX and its implementing regulation can be made to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, Region III, The Wanamaker Building, 100 Penn Square East – Suite 505, Philadelphia, PA 19107; Phone: (215) 656-6010; Fax: (215) 656-6020. About Commonwealth University of PA Anticipated Start Date Anticipated End Date The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education provides a comprehensive package of employer benefits to eligible employees and their enrolled dependent(s), which include*: The Department of Physician Associate Studies at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania invites applications for Assistant Professor of Physician Associate Studies. The home campus for this position is Lock Haven, with the expectation of serving a multi-campus University within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. · Deliver classroom instruction across multiple campus locations using distance education technology within a team-based modular format. Minimum Qualifications· Master’s degree or higher as a physician assistant or in a health-related discipline. A complete application includes a cover letter, curriculum vitae, academic transcripts, professional licenses/certifications. Submit application materials online. Applications must be received by June 22, 2026, for full consideration. Position will remain open until filled. Questions may be directed to Search & Screen Committee Chair, Amber O’Brien, at [email protected]. Finalist(s) for this position must communicate well and successfully complete an interview process and teaching demonstration as judged by the department faculty. Offers of employment are conditional, pending successful completion of the background clearances mandated by Act 153 of 2014 and Board of Governors Policy 2014-01-A: Protection of Minors. In order to qualify for a provisional appointment, the Applicant Acknowledgement Consent Form, Provisional Hire Form, Pennsylvania State Police and Justifacts portion of the clearance process must be successfully completed prior to your start date. The remaining PA Child Abuse History Clearance and FBI Clearance must be successfully completed and returned as soon as possible within the first 90 days of employment. At Commonwealth University we recognize our responsibility to continuously support a living, learning, and working environment that values the diverse contributions from all members of our campus community. Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion enriches our campus community and is instrumental to our institutional success. Commonwealth University strives to cultivate a campus climate that allows all members to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion as we achieve success both in and out of the classroom, in our work responsibilities, and in our professional lives beyond Commonwealth University. We uphold our commitment to DEI by: • Actively supporting and promoting the intellectual and personal growth of our students, inside and outside of the classroom. • Providing workshops, trainings, programs designed to broaden the knowledge and understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion within our campus community. • Ensuring that all learning and living environments throughout our campus are welcoming and capable of serving all individuals. The University prohibits any form of discrimination or harassment on the basis of sex, race, color, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, marital or family status, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, or disability in any decision regarding admissions, employment, or participation in a University program or activity in accordance with the letter and spirit of federal, state, and local non-discrimination and equal opportunity laws, such as Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and ADA Amendments Act, the Equal Pay Act, and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. The Power of Three Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield universities have joined forces to boldly transform higher education in our region and beyond. While we are uniting as Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, you can expect a college experience that is anything but common. We’re Honoring our History by preserving the founding principles of each campus and continuing our vibrant on-campus student experience, serving as pillars of our communities, supporting students and our neighbors alike. We’re Investing in Today by answering the greatest challenges facing higher education: accessibility, cost, quality, and relevance through the combined strength of our storied institutions. We’re Building a Powerful Tomorrow by boldly changing the trajectory of public education to position ourselves for growth, increased access, and to meet economic and workforce development needs in our region, across Pennsylvania and beyond. Fall 2026 Posting Detail Information Open Date mm-dd-yyyy 06/05/2026 Close Date mm-dd-yyyy Open Until Filled Yes Quick Link https://commonwealthu.peopleadmin.com/postings/5537 Salary: . Date posted: 08/14/2026
