Astronomy/Physics Instructor (Full-Time) Fresno City College

State Center Community College District

Closing Date: 2/16/2022 at 11:55 PM

Campus Location: Fresno City College

Start Date: 12/23/2021

Essential Functions:

At Fresno City College we value the ability to serve students from a broad range of cultural heritages, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, abilities and orientations. We prioritize applicants who demonstrate they understand the benefits a diverse student population brings to a community college. The successful faculty member will be an equity-minded individual committed to student success by collaborating with faculty, classified staff, administration, students and community partners who are also dedicated to closing equity gaps. An equity-minded individual is a person who:

1. Understands the importance of holding ourselves accountable as educators for closing equity gaps and engaging in equitable practices;
2. Reframes inequities as a problem of practice and views the elimination of inequities as an individual and collective responsibility;
3. Encourages positive race-consciousness and embraces human difference;
4. Reflects on institutional and teaching practices and aims to create a culturally responsive teaching environment; and
5. Strategically builds buy-in and participation among colleagues for equity-related initiatives.

Fresno City College seeks faculty members who value mentorship and working in a collegial, collaborative environment, guided by a commitment to helping all students achieve their educational goals. Divisions strongly encourage collaboration across disciplines to create inclusive, integrated, and interdisciplinary learning experiences. Fresno City College faculty are expected to be knowledgeable about, and willing to use, different learning and teaching methods appropriate to the students they serve. Faculty members should be open and willing to participate in culturally relevant professional development that will help them prepare for the population of students who attend Fresno City College.

The ideal candidate will share Fresno City College's commitment to educating its racially and socioeconomically diverse student population. As of Spring 2021, we currently enroll over 21,500 students in which 60% identify as Latinx, 12% as Asian/Pacific Islander, 5% as Black/African American, 18% as White, 1% as American Indian/Alaska Native, and 4% as multiracial. Fresno City College is a Hispanic-Serving Institution, reflecting the great responsibility that the College has to the educational attainment and economic well-being of the surrounding community. The successful candidate will join a department dedicated to the use of curriculum responsive to the students it serves.

Providing instruction in Astronomy/Physics on the Fresno City College campus and/or at off-site community campus locations, the instructor will be responsible for:

• Teaching a full schedule of developmental and transfer level Astronomy/Physics courses as assigned;
• Serving on and attending department, college, and district committees as needed;
• Participating in program review, student learning outcome development and assessment to improve student learning;
• Teaching assignments in a variety of instructional settings and times, including evening and/or weekends, on-line or off-campus and large group instruction classes as needed; and
• Otherwise fulfilling all of the duties and responsibilities of instructors as required by Administrative Regulation 7122.

Minimum Qualifications:

All candidates must have evidence of responsiveness to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, as these factors relate to the need for equity-minded practice within the classroom; AND

• Master’s in physics, astronomy or astrophysics; OR
• Bachelor’s in physics or astronomy AND master’s in engineering, mathematics, meteorology or geophysics;
• A valid California Community College Credential; OR
• The equivalent education and/or experience (requires an equivalency).

NOTE: If the degrees posted on your transcript(s) do not match EXACTLY as stated above, you MUST petition for equivalency.)

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience and skill incorporating elements of diversity, equity, and inclusion into all areas of responsibility;
• Recent experience working with African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latinx, Native American, and other racially minoritized students in the classroom and an understanding of how historical patterns of exclusion of these groups in higher education shape patterns of participation and outcomes;
• Willingness to examine and remediate one’s instructional, relational, and classroom practices to more effectively engage and support racially minoritized students;
• Experience working with a diverse student population;
• Experience in teaching calculus-based and algebra/trig-based general physics;
• Knowledge and awareness of current theories and methodology for teaching physics;
• Knowledge and experience in computer assisted instruction in physics;
• Knowledge of current assessment methods and materials;
• Related work and professional experience;
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with students and staff;
• Related work and professional experience;
• Potential for contribution to institutional vitality and growth; and
• Knowledge of the community college and its mission and goals.

Conditions of Employment:

177 duty days per year.

Salary and Benefits:

Annual salary is $60,678 – $91,350 based on education and experience. An annual doctoral stipend of $2,270 is available. In addition, the District offers an attractive fringe benefit package including medical, dental, and vision coverage for the employee and dependents, and life insurance. Employees are also members of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS).