Position Summary

Join our Student-Centered College!

Are you motivated to serve a diverse population of students and advance values of civic engagement inherent in the community college mission? Are you passionate about helping learners situate themselves within the political system and empowering them to engage with it? Are you committed to creating curriculum that is reflective of the histories and lived experiences of our diverse student body? If these questions resonate with you, then we enthusiastically invite you to consider joining the team at Pierce College, an innovative and equity-focused community college dedicated to helping all students achieve their academic and professional goals.


About the Program:

The Political Science program at Pierce College trains students for a theoretical and practical understanding of political systems. Through a variety of courses faculty will support students to use social science research methods and theories to analyze and interpret social phenomena. These are the skills that will allow students to recognize their rights and responsibilities within the political system. It is expected that the successful candidate will demonstrate a sound understanding of current political science theories as well as an ability to successfully engage students. The Political Science department is a part of the larger Social Sciences division that also includes Anthropology, Economics, History, Psychology, and Sociology. The successful candidate will be responsible for teaching courses in Introduction to Politics, American Government, and Introduction to International Relations; and will be expected to collaborate with department colleagues across the district.


About Pierce College:

Pierce College is an innovative community college committed to student engagement and learning. We value student learning experiences that foster equity and diversity in the classroom and expand into our local and global communities. From closing achievement gaps for all students to building directed career pathways, faculty, staff, and administrators work collaboratively to lead initiatives that advance student success. The college serves over 15,000 students in basic skills, transfer, and professional technical programs. Through continuous efforts, we have improved retention rates by 17% and graduation rates by 89%. This year, Pierce was named a top community college in several national polls.


Pierce College employees and students live and work in various communities that offer the diverse cultural and environmental benefits of rural, suburban, and urban lifestyles in the Pacific Northwest. As part of the community and technical college system in Washington State, the District includes Pierce College Fort Steilacoom, Pierce College Puyallup, Pierce College at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, as well as other extended learning sites.

Essential Functions

Responsibilities of the successful candidate include:

• Facilitating learning and student engagement through teaching an intentionally selected range of courses that support students' political science career pathway;
• Demonstrating knowledge and application of Political Science theories;
• Engaging in curriculum and program development incorporating current educational theories and research;
• Analyzing course assessments, evaluations, and data and engaging in continuous improvement of courses based on that analysis in order to advance student achievement of outcomes, success in subsequent courses, and impact on retention and graduation;
• Demonstrating multicultural competence, including an awareness and understanding of historically disadvantaged populations, and creating an educational environment that affirms commitment to practices and policies that support equity, diversity and inclusion;
• Working within a collaborative and innovative department;
• Engaging in district wide efforts to improve student retention and success;
• Incorporating active student learning and appropriate use of technology in the classroom;
• Continuously innovating learning experiences (campus, online, hybrid) in response to assessment and evidence/data analysis;
• Creating and utilizing curriculum that reflects our diverse student body and enables underrepresented populations to see themselves reflected in their learning;
• Utilizing active and inclusive pedagogy;
• Creatively designing learning experiences that extend beyond delivering content and assist students in achieving course, program, and degree outcomes, including the college's five core abilities of Multiculturalism, Critical, Creative and Reflective Thinking Information Competency, Responsibility, and Effective Communication;
• Teaching, advising, and mentoring students holistically from recruitment to completion;
• Engaging in shared governance;
• Participating in the First Year Faculty Cohort in the first year of the tenure process.

Qualifications

Required:

Master's degree in Political Science, Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, Urban Studies, Public Administration, or a closely related field.

Application Process

Application Requirements:

To be considered for this position, applicants must include the following items in their application package:

1. Letter of formal application that addresses how your experience and education qualifies you to perform the assigned responsibilities (Cover Letter).
2. Responses to the following: What personal and professional work have you done in order to broaden your understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion? AND How have you infused equity, diversity and inclusion into your classroom to equip/motivate/inspire to effectively engage in a multicultural society? AND Pierce College has set a goal of closing gaps in degree/certificate completion for all student populations by 2020. How will you contribute to this effort? (Supplemental Question).
3. Detailed curriculum vitae of all educational and professional experience, which includes a list of courses taught (Curriculum Vitae).
4. Unofficial copies of all college and university transcripts that include degree received and confer date. International transcripts must include a foreign transcript evaluation. For a list of approved credential evaluation services visit: http://naces.org/members.htm. (Unofficial transcripts acceptable for application process; official transcripts required prior to hire) (Transcripts).
5. A list of four current professional references with name, relationship to candidate, address, email address, and telephone number. Letters of recommendation will not be accepted in lieu of a list of professional references (References).
   
   

Terms of Employment:

This position, which is contingent upon funding, is a full-time, tenure-track assignment of 173 contracted days per year with the tenure process starting in September 2019, and with the opportunity to start working an earlier quarter. Assignment may include district discipline/program coordination, as well as evening, hybrid, and/or online teaching. This is a District position with a "home" campus assignment. Initial placement of this position will be at the Fort Steilacoom campus. Candidates will be working for a District Dean and will be required to attend district meetings as well as collaborate with colleagues across the district and across departments.


Initial salary placement is based on the current full-time faculty salary schedule and is dependent upon education and experience. Salary placement for newly hired full-time faculty will be at one of five levels based upon qualifications including teaching experience and credentials. The five levels range from $53,377 to $57,825 per 173-day academic year. Opportunities for summer employment and other assignments are in addition to the base salary.


Reasonable Accommodation:

Applicants with disabilities who require assistance with the application and employment process will be accommodated to the extent reasonably possible. Requests should be made to the District Human Resources Office by calling 253-964-7342. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may dial 711 to place a call through Washington Relay, the state's free telecommunication access service


Screening & Interview Process:

Only those candidates who have complied with the application process and have met the required qualifications will be considered. The most desirable candidates will be contacted for an interview. Application materials submitted to Pierce College are the property of the College and will not be returned.

Conditions of Employment:

• An offer of employment will not carry with it any responsibility or obligation on the part of the District to sponsor an H-1B visa. In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, proof of authorization to work in the United States will be required at the time of hire.
• Pierce College has adopted a Drug Free Workplace policy. As a condition of employment, employees must agree to abide by the requirements established in this policy.
  

Bargaining Unit:

• This position has been designated as a bargaining unit position represented by the Pierce College Federation of Teachers.
  

The Pierce College District is an equal opportunity employer. The Board of Trustees and Pierce College District are committed to providing equal opportunity and will not discriminate in terms and conditions of employment and personnel practices for all persons without regard to race, color, national origin, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal.


For more information or assistance regarding your application, contact Human Resources at: jobs@pierce.ctc.edu.


Questions regarding equal employment opportunities or discrimination may be directed to the following:

Holly Gorski, Vice President of Human Resources/Title IX Coordinator

9401 Farwest Drive SW

Lakewood, Washington 98498

(253) 964-6519



Paula Henson-Williams, District Affirmative Action Officer

(253) 864-3229