Communications & Journalism Faculty (Tenure Track)

Founded in 1961, Highline College was the first community college to be established in King County and is one of 34 community and technical colleges. More than 350,000 alumni have graduated from Highline over the years. Nestled between Seattle and Tacoma, we are located on the traditional village sites of the Muckleshoot, Puyallup and many other Coast Salish tribes.

HC welcomes faculty with a commitment to excellence in teaching and the success of all students. HC faculty value self-reflective practice and continued professional growth. We strive to cultivate a welcoming and supportive learning environment for our diverse students, including a significant number of students who transition from our very large non-credit ESL program to credit-bearing certificate and degree programs. Candidates representing all aspects of diversity are encouraged to apply.

Highline prioritizes access for all students, staff, and faculty, which is evident in our Mission, Vision, and Values. We are proud Highline strives to improve access to Education for our student community. Those who come to our college bring unique personal experiences, beliefs, and perspectives and make us better. We strive to provide and highlight resources to support our students, staff, and faculty by fostering an equal opportunity focused workplace that reflects the communities we serve. Highline offers a unique variety of affinity groups for which all faculty are welcome to join.

We honor and value the dignity of all individuals and encourage all qualified individuals of all cultural backgrounds to apply. 

Highline College offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes excellent medical, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance through the Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB), along with retirement benefits through TIAA and the Department of Retirement Systems. Additionally, we offer ample paid time off, as well as hybrid work and we value work-life balance. 

Highline College is a comprehensive community college providing certificates, associate's and bachelor's degrees in high-quality academic transfer pathways, workforce training, and Adult Basic Education 

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Communication & Journalism Department is a collaborative group of faculty, who focus on best practices in teaching and learning. The Communication & Journalism Department is an influential department offering a range of courses for students who are interested in pursuing a bachelor's degree in Communication or Journalism at a transfer institution, as well as students in professional/technical programs. The types of classes offered include introduction to communication, public speaking, interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, news writing, and mass media, as well as 300 level general education courses for Highline's Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degrees including Presentation Skills and Organizational Communication. The department runs the school paper, the Thunderword, the Public Speaking Center, and the school's radio station.

This position is expected to begin in Fall Quarter, September2026.

HC Communication & Journalism faculty teach an equivalent of 15 credits per quarter, advise students, and participate in College service.

Professional Responsibilities

Please address the following responsibilities in your cover letter. If you don't have experience in an academic setting, please address them within the context of your professional experience:

• Teaching: Create a welcoming and supportive learning environment and use evidence-based practices to improve the success of all students; in collaboration with colleagues, identify and implement strategies designed to close educational gaps experienced by all students. Engage in self-reflective practice. Full-time faculty typically teach the equivalent of 15 credits per quarter;
• Advising/ Coaching/ Mentoring: Work with students outside of class to help them choose courses and get connected with campus and community resources. Participate in professional learning opportunities focused on culturally responsive advising and establishing relationships with students;
• Collaborate with colleagues/participate in shared governance:In collaboration with colleagues, engage in continuous improvement through college-wide assessment processes. Participate in department, division, and other College activities, including College governance. Establish and maintain respectful, ethical, and professional relationships with students and colleagues;
• Professional development/ ongoing professional learning:Engage in ongoing professional learning. This includes remaining current in your discipline and evidence-based practices for culturally response, inclusive, and anti-racist pedagogies.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree (or higher) in Communication, Journalism, Mass Media or closely related field from an institution with regional accreditation or its international equivalent (pending degrees must be verified by a letter from the granting institution). This can include a Master's in Fine Arts (MFA), Education; AND
• Experience teaching communication courses at a 2-year college.
• Pending degrees must be verified by a letter from the granting institution validating that the degree will be completed prior to September 2026.

Desired Qualifications:

• Education or Professional experience in Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, Intercultural Communication, Introduction to Communication, Mass Media, Journalism or Journalism related classes (print media, online news, social media, podcasting);
• Academic training or experience in assessment and curriculum design;
• Demonstrated experience working with students from a diversity of backgrounds.