Program Director, Paralegal Studies/Assistant Professor of Practice

Posting Details

Come and join the Bearkat community!

Named after Texas' legendary hero, General Sam Houston, the
university boasts a rich historical legacy that resonates with the
spirit of Texas, which provides a balance between a peaceful,
natural setting and proximity to urban amenities. With a student
population of over 21,000, SHSU offers a vibrant and dynamic
community. SHSU has a small town feel with large scale
opportunities. Located in the Piney Woods region of East Texas and
just an hour drive north of Houston, Huntsville provides area
residents with a sense of community and belonging.

SHSU offers compelling options for individuals seeking a fulfilling
and impactful career including a superior
benefit package , competitive salaries and a flexible work
environment fostering work/life balance. SHSU offers programs that
support a healthy work-life balance, contributing to employee
well-being and job satisfaction, as well as, professional
development opportunities with our
educational assistance and
dependent assistance programs.

Position Information

This position is security-sensitive and thereby subject to the
provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215, which authorizes
the employer to obtain criminal history record information.

Position Title

Program Director, Paralegal Studies/Assistant Professor of
Practice

Requisition

202600140F

Rank

Assistant Professor of Practice

FLSA status

Exempt

Hiring Salary

Commensurate with education and experience.

Position Category

Position Type

Full-Time Non-Tenure Track

College

Polytechnic College

Department

Polytechnic College

Open Date

10/27/2026

Quicklink

https://shsu.peopleadmin.com/postings/49000

Refer Applicants To

Contact Name

Clayton Cottle

Title

Assistant Vice President for Operations & Administration

Contact Phone

9362943119

Contact Email

cottle@shsu.edu

Position Details

Duties Performed in the Usual Course of the Job

The Program Director of Paralegal Studies, in collaboration with
Polytechnic College leadership, provides the academic, operational,
and instructional leadership necessary to advance the mission and
continued growth of the Paralegal Studies Program.

The program is delivered fully online through an accelerated format
and offers a stackable Level I Certificate and Associate of Applied
Science degree. The Program Director is responsible for maintaining
a high-quality, workforce-aligned curriculum that prepares students
for employment and career advancement in law firms, government
agencies, corporate legal departments, and other legal
environments.

The Program Director leads the program’s day-to-day academic
operations, including curriculum development and review, course
scheduling, instructional assignments, faculty recruitment and
onboarding, program assessment, budget management, and coordination
with college and university offices. The Director works closely
with employers, legal professionals, advisory committee members,
and community partners to ensure that curriculum and student
experiences remain aligned with workforce needs.

The Program Director, in collaboration with Polytechnic College
leadership, supports enrollment, retention, completion, and
graduate employment by collaborating with admissions, advising,
financial aid, the Registrar, career services, and other
student-support offices. The Director also develops and maintains
internships, cooperative education opportunities, employer
partnerships, and pathways that allow certificate and AAS
completers to continue their education, including applicable BAAS
and transfer opportunities.

This is a faculty position with administrative responsibilities.
The Program Director maintains an instructional assignment, with
appropriate administrative workload recognition, and must be able
to teach effectively in an online, accelerated learning
environment.

Educational Requirements for the Position

Candidates must meet at least one of the following qualification
standards:

• Master’s degree or higher in the teaching discipline;
• Master’s degree in another discipline with at least 18 graduate

semester credit hours in the teaching discipline;

• Bachelor’s degree in the teaching discipline;
• Bachelor’s degree in another discipline with at least 12

undergraduate semester credit hours in the teaching discipline or a
related field; or

• Associate degree in the teaching discipline and at least three

years of relevant full-time professional experience.

A Juris Doctor or a master’s degree in paralegal studies, legal
studies, or a closely related field is preferred.

Experience Required for the Position

Relevant professional experience in a legal or paralegal setting is
required. Candidates must possess the professional knowledge
necessary to develop, deliver, and assess curriculum that prepares
students for employment in the legal profession.

Demonstrated teaching or training experience in paralegal studies,
legal studies, law, or a related field in a postsecondary or
professional setting is required.

The following experience is preferred: teaching and developing
courses for online or accelerated delivery. Developing and
assessing student learning outcomes. Leading or administering an
academic, workforce, training, or professional program. Recruiting,
onboarding, supporting, and evaluating full-time or adjunct
instructors. Developing employer partnerships, internships,
cooperative education placements, or other work-based learning
opportunities. Supporting student recruitment, persistence,
completion, and employment. Using enrollment, student-success, and
workforce-outcome data to guide program decisions. Working with
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board requirements and
workforce-education curriculum processes; and working with
learning-management systems, preferably Blackboard.

Other Requirements for the Position

Program Leadership and Administration
Provide
strategic and operational leadership for the Paralegal Studies
Program. Develop and maintain program goals, annual priorities,
enrollment targets, and student-success objectives in collaboration
with college leadership. Develop course schedules and instructional
assignments that support student progression through accelerated
parts of term. Recruit, onboard, mentor, coordinate, and evaluate
instructors. Promote communication and consistency across courses
and instructors. Identify instructional, technology, staffing, and
professional-development needs. Address student, faculty, and
program concerns in a timely, constructive, and student-centered
manner. Maintain accurate program records and complete required
institutional reports and documentation.

Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Teach courses
in the Paralegal Studies Program. Develop and maintain rigorous,
practical, and workforce-aligned course content. Ensure consistency
in course expectations, learning outcomes, instructional materials,
and assessment practices across instructors and course sections.
Coordinate the development and maintenance of syllabi, master
course materials, assignments, assessments, and instructional
media. Review and revise curriculum in response to changes in the
legal profession, technology, employer expectations, and applicable
state and institutional requirements. Lead program review, annual
assessment, and evaluation of student learning outcomes. Apply
effective practices for teaching and supporting adult learners,
working professionals, first-generation students, and students in
an accelerated online environment. Support accessible, engaging,
and effective use of educational technology.

Student Success and Enrollment
Serve as a primary
source of program-specific academic advising and mentoring for
Paralegal Studies students. Work with appropriate university
offices to support prospective and current students from inquiry
through application, enrollment, completion, and employment.
Contribute subject-matter expertise to recruitment, outreach, and
program-marketing efforts. Monitor enrollment, course success,
persistence, certificate and degree completion, and other program
indicators. Provide or coordinate timely academic guidance and
high-touch student support. Identify barriers affecting student
progress and work collaboratively to develop practical
interventions. Support clear pathways from the Level I Certificate
into the AAS and from the AAS into applicable BAAS or other
continuing-education opportunities.

Employer Partnerships and Graduate Outcomes
Maintain
an active employer advisory committee and engage legal
professionals in ongoing program improvement. Develop relationships
with law firms, courts, government agencies, corporate legal
departments, nonprofit organizations, and other prospective
employers. Expand internships, cooperative education placements,
mentorships, guest instruction, and other work-based learning
opportunities. Collaborate with career services and college
personnel to support placement of graduates into appropriate
legal-support positions. Assist in tracking and evaluating
internship participation, graduate employment, employer feedback,
and other workforce outcomes. Represent the program at
professional, community, recruitment, and employer-engagement
events.

Compliance and Collaboration
Maintain compliance with
applicable university, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board,
institutional accreditation, and professional requirements. Support
preparation for and maintenance of any specialized program
recognition or approval pursued by the college. Collaborate
effectively with Polytechnic College leadership, faculty, staff,
and university offices. Demonstrate sound judgment, integrity,
adaptability, clear communication, and a commitment to
collaborative problem-solving. Perform other related duties as
assigned.

Special Instructions Summary

Sam Houston State University is a university located in East Texas,
approximately 65 miles north of Houston, with an enrolment of about
22,000 students. The Polytechnic College is the newest college at
Sam Houston State University, with a mission to meet the needs of
industry for high-skill employees. The SHSU Polytechnic College
offers industry-aligned workforce/technical educational programs
that result in lower-level credentials (certificates and associate
degrees), providing students with industry-aligned skills required
for successful employment in high-demand occupations throughout the
SHSU service area (Greater Houston and Southeast Texas). The
college engages a large network of industry partners to ensure a
contemporary and practical curriculum that generates high-quality
employment opportunities for graduates.

The successful candidate will inherit an operating program with
enrolled students, graduates, adjunct instructors, employer
relationships, and an established curriculum. The Program Director
will be expected to strengthen the program’s academic quality,
enrollment, student support, employer engagement, work-based
learning opportunities, graduate placement, and pathways to
continued education.

Interested applicants should apply online. Review of applications
will begin on 25 NOV 2026 and continue until the position is
filled.

Open Until Filled

Yes

EEO Statement

EEO Statement

Sam Houston State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity
Employer and Smoke/Drug-Free Workplace. All qualified applicants
will receive consideration for employment without regard to race,
creed, ancestry, marital status, citizenship, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or protected veteran
status. The University takes seriously the initiative to ensure
equal opportunity in the workforce and to comply with Title VII as
interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court. Sam Houston State University
is an “at will” employer. Employees with a contract will have
additional terms and conditions. Security-sensitive positions at
SHSU require background checks in accordance with Education Code
§51.215.

Annual
Security and Fire Safety Report

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * How did you learn about this position?
• The Chronicle of Higher Education
• TWC - Work in Texas
• Inside Higher Ed
• Higher Ed Jobs
• HERC - Higher Education Recruitment Consortium
• SHSU Website
• SHSU Employee
• Other
• If your response to the question above was "SHSU Employee"

please indicate employee's name and department.

(Open Ended Question)

• If your response to the question above was "Other" please

indicate from what source.

(Open Ended Question)

Candidate Documents

Required Documents

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae (Faculty)
• Letter of Recommendation 1
• Letter of Recommendation 2
• Letter of Recommendation 3
• Transcripts

Optional Documents