Cuesta College

San Luis Obispo, CA

Full-Time Tenure Track Instructor of Ethnic Studies

Deadline: October 8, 2024

Summary:

Cuesta College is seeking a dynamic and experienced Full-Time Tenure Track Ethnic Studies Instructor to co-lead our Ethnic Studies Department, starting in the Spring 2025 semester. The successful candidate will be a leader in the department, teaching both in person (at all Cuesta campuses and the California Men's Colony) and distance education courses, taking on responsibilities such as mentoring part-time faculty, organizing programs and events, developing and revising curriculum, collaborating to complete reports and program evaluations, and contributing to department, division, and College initiatives. They will represent the department in College committees and to the public, engage in marketing and recruiting efforts for students and faculty, and participate in cross-campus programs. This role offers an opportunity to be at the forefront of shaping the future of Ethnic Studies at Cuesta College while fostering an inclusive and equity-focused learning environment for all students. Cuesta College provides students with a rich and dynamic learning experience that engages students in and out of the classroom and encourages students to realize their goals and to become global citizens and socially responsible leaders. When you join our Cuesta College team, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative, and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a practice of social justice, requiring broad collaboration among faculty, classified staff, administration, students, and community partners. Cuesta College serves and values students from diverse backgrounds and populations. Therefore, it is imperative that our faculty, staff, and administrators demonstrate an understanding of, sensitivity to, and respect for the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds and beliefs, as well as gender and sexual identities and abilities of all constituents within the Cuesta College community. The successful candidate will be an equity-minded individual committed to collaborating with faculty, classified staff, administration, students, and community partners who share a commitment to closing equity gaps.

An equity-minded individual already does or has demonstrated the desire to:

• Hold oneself accountable as an educator who proactively closes equity gaps and engages in equitable and socially-just practices;

• Reframe inequities as a problem of practice, requiring both individual and collective responsibility;

• Demonstrate and encourage positive and critical race-consciousness;

• Embrace human differences;

• Assess and engage in institutional and teaching practices that reflect cultural responsiveness;

• Apply a critical lens to curriculum and pedagogy in order to create more culturally sustaining learning experiences; and

• Strategically promote buy-in and participation among colleagues for equity-related initiatives.

  The Cuesta College Ethnic Studies Department aligns with these goals by utilizing a Liberatory, Intersectional, and Transformative approach to education, ensuring that our courses and programs promote justice, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We are proud to utilize Open Educational Resources (OER) to offer zero-textbook cost (ZTC) classes, making education more accessible and inclusive for all students. Cuesta College seeks employees who value mentorship and working in a collegial, collaborative environment, guided by a commitment to help all students achieve their educational goals. All departments strongly encourage collaboration across disciplines to create inclusive, integrated, and interdisciplinary learning experiences. College faculty are expected to be knowledgeable about, and willing to utilize, different learning and teaching methods appropriate to the students they serve.

  Position Duties

  In addition to the responsibilities of the faculty classification description, the specific position is also responsible for:

• Developing and teaching of the major and degree program in Ethnic Studies.

• Prioritizing student success and efforts to engage in student mentoring.

• Teaching a broad range of courses within the discipline, such as an Introduction to Ethnic Studies and courses in specialized fields of Ethnic Studies; African American Studies, Chicanx Studies, Native American Studies, and Asian American Studies.

• Developing curricula in Ethnic Studies to meet the new California State University Area F requirement and the CCC Ethnic Studies Graduation requirement.

• Working collaboratively with faculty colleagues in other disciplines.

  Representative Duties: The full-time college instructor is responsible for effective performance in the following areas:

• A. Teaching and Instruction - The following duties are representative of the kinds of expectations that are normally required of a full-time Cuesta College instructor. Certain duties are common to the everyday operational needs of the College while other activities may be required on an as needed basis. All of the duties, however, are common requirements at various times for full-time instructional positions.

  • Plans for and initiates curriculum improvements.

  • Plans for and is continually well prepared to teach.

  • Provides organized delivery of instruction.

  • Is courteous to and approachable by students.

  • Remains consistent with the stated and approved goals and content of the course.

  • Adheres to the subject matter of the course as outlined in the Course Outline of Record

  • Shows enthusiasm for the subject matter.

  • Uses effective motivation to create a personal desire to learn the subject/skill(s).

  • Uses standards of student evaluation that are clear, equitable, and followed consistently throughout the course.

  • Requires levels of instructor and student effort sufficient to the mastery of the subject or skills in the course.

  • Grades and returns student assignments and tests in a reasonable period of time.

  • Selects appropriate course materials, including resources at low cost or no cost to students.

  • Makes effective use of teaching aids and materials required of students (e.g., texts, manuals, low-cost, Open Access, etc.).

  • Prepares complete course outlines and equity-minded syllabi.

  • Continually revises and updates course content and materials of instruction.

  • Coordinates course contents and methods with other teachers in the program/discipline.

  • Meets and assists students during office hours or by appointment or at other reasonable times.

  • Initiates and carries through with improvements to course contents and methods.

  • Initiates and/or participates in overall department-wide program development, maintenance, evaluation, revision and/or expansion.

  • Identifies and connects students with college services and resources.

    B. College and Departmental Responsibilities

  • College and/or Departmental responsibilities may include the following activities:

  • Organizing and leading the Ethnic Studies program.

  • Working collaboratively with faculty and staff.

  • Maintaining collegial, professional, racially aware, and ethical conduct.

  • Regularly submitting assessment results into the college outcomes and assessments database.

  • Developing and updating student learning outcomes, courses, and course/program curriculum.

  • Serving on college committees and taskforces (Participatory Governance).

  • Researching and writing program review.

  • Serving on peer evaluation and hiring committees.

  • Collaborating with Division Chairs on course scheduling.

  • Working collaboratively with full-time and part-time instructors in the department.

  • Collaborating with community about curriculum changes, job opportunities, or scholarship opportunities for students.

  • Achieving and maintaining Cuesta College Distance Education certification.

  • Leading Ethnic Studies Dual Enrollment efforts and collaborating with local high schools.

    C. Evidence of Outstanding Ability as a Teacher - Appropriate evidence includes, but is not limited to, experience, training, or achievement that the candidate has demonstrated:

  • Leading Ethnic Studies Dual Enrollment efforts and collaborating with local high schools.

  • Commitment to staying current with the latest developments in Ethnic Studies.

  • The ability to continuously reflect on, evaluate, and improve teaching methods.

  • The ability to organize and explain content in ways appropriate to students' abilities and learning styles.

  • Implementation of critical pedagogy (i.e., support students to actively engage in their own learning processes, promote development of critical thinking skills, and encourage students to become lifelong learners).

  • The ability to use instructional methods that emphasize cooperation and collaboration, and reflect cultural sensitivity.

  • The ability to actively engage students from a broad spectrum of cultural, academic, socioeconomic, and language backgrounds.

  • The ability to develop student learning outcomes and methods for assessing students' achievement of those outcomes.

  • The enthusiasm for, understanding of, and commitment to the role and purpose of the community college.

  • Familiarity with and willingness to expand the use of technology, including effective and meaningful online instruction.

  • A commitment to the teaching profession, its goals and ideals, and enthusiasm for the mission of the community college.

    About Cuesta College:

    Serving all of San Luis Obispo County, Cuesta College has provided comprehensive associate degree offerings, certificates, and community programs to the region since 1964. The main campus is located along scenic Highway 1, west of San Luis Obispo and east of the beaches of the Pacific Ocean. Cuesta College has a North County Campus in Paso Robles, South County Center, in Arroyo Grande, and the California Men's Colony State Prison. Who We Are Equity, diversity, and inclusion are essential to our culture and the work we do. Cuesta College is proud to be a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) committed to racial and socio-economic diversity as it reflects our communities and student populations. We actively seek to attract candidates who share this commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. As part of the Cuesta College team, you can expect to be part of a collaborative community of faculty, classified professionals, administrators, students, and community partners advancing educational excellence with intentional support services leading to student success and completion. Additional information about the college can be found at https://www.cuesta.edu/about/index.html The college planning documents can be found at https://www.cuesta.edu/about/collegeplans/index.html Our Student Equity Action Plan can be found at https://www.cuesta.edu/about/info/student-equity-initiatives/equity/index.html We offer comprehensive benefit options. Information about benefits can be found at https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/benefits-insurance/index.html

    Essential Functions & Qualifications

    To be considered for the Ethnic Studies discipline:

    Required:

  • Master's degree in ethnic studies from an accredited institution; OR

  • Master's degree in African-American/Black/Africana Studies or Latino Studies, La Raza Studies, Chicana/o Studies, or Asian-American Studies, or Native American/ American Indian Studies from an accredited institution;

  • OR the equivalent. (Candidates applying on the basis of equivalency must submit all materials requested for an equivalency judgment. For directions on what is an acceptable equivalency argument please review the requirements listed on the https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/humanresources/Job_Opportunities.html or see further information on Equivalency Petition Process Information below.)

  • OR a valid Community College credential in the discipline (If received prior to 1990, as the credential is no longer being issued).

    Additional Requirements:

  • Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.

    Preferred Qualifications:

  • Teaching experience in the discipline, community college level preferred;

  • Awareness of the philosophy and objectives of California Community Colleges;

  • Knowledge of and experience with culturally appropriate teaching strategies, and curriculum, including planning, implementation, and evaluation;

  • Recent experience working with racially minoritized and other disproportionately­ impacted students in the classroom, and how historical patterns of exclusion within 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 and other disproportionately impacted students;

  • Experience and skill with addressing inequity in the classroom and on campus;

  • Demonstrated knowledge of the implications of the Hispanic-Serving Institution designation for institutional, departmental and instructional practices;

  • Demonstrated capacity to support student engagement for racial/ethnic equity and social justice;

  • Experience and expertise in culturally-responsive teaching with diverse adult learners;

  • Demonstrated ability to address equity gaps within classrooms and higher education;

  • Demonstrated capacity to support student activism for racial/ethnic equity and social justice organizing;

  • Willingness to support and mentor teachers-in-training, especially future Ethnic Studies educators;

  • Experience and expertise in community-academic collaborations with diverse student learners.

    Required Documents to Apply:

    Candidates will be required to submit ALL of the required documents below when applying for this position. When uploading documents, PDF uploads are preferred: Cover letter; Resume/CV; Teaching Philosophy Statement; Professional Reference List; and Unofficial transcripts.

    Cover Letter Instructions:

    Limit number of words to 500 maximum; Include scholarly and professional experience related to the Ethnic Studies position; Consider past experiences that have prepared you for the position; Consider unique contributions to be made to the college

    Resume/CV Instructions:

    Include all relevant education, training, and teaching experience (including courses taught), and other work experience.

    Teaching Philosophy Instructions:

    Limit the number of words to 500 maximum; Include your teaching philosophy as it pertains to Ethnic Studies, including your approach to teaching a diverse student body, and your values, beliefs and/or goals; Consider how the Cuesta College Mission Statement connects to your philosophy; Consider your experience teaching face-to-face and distance education; Consider answering one or more of the following questions: What do you feel are the best strategies for supporting students who have been historically marginalized, with a special focus on four historically defined racialized core groups: Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Chicano/a/x and Latino/a/x Americans? Think of the most successful class you have taught (or imagine teaching). What are the key factors in creating that success for racially and ethnically diverse and underrepresented students? How is your teaching approach culturally responsive, trauma informed, and inclusive to the students you serve?

    Professional Reference List Instructions:

    Include names, job titles, phone numbers, email addresses; Minimum of three.

    Equivalency Petition Process Information:

    Faculty shall meet the minimum qualifications established by the Board of Governors, or shall possess qualifications that are at least equivalent to the minimum qualifications set out in the regulations of the Board of Governors. If a candidate does not directly meet minimum qualifications, they can submit a Petition for Equivalency form in order to apply for equivalency. For more information on the process, please review the links below for more information. https://www.cuesta.edu/about/documents/hr_docs/AP_7211_Equivalency_Process.pdf https://get.adobe.com/reader/ https://www.cuesta.edu/about/documents/hr_docs/Petition_for_Equivalency_Form_vFall2023.docx Completed online applications and all supporting documents must be submitted by the closing date for this position.

    LATE, INCOMPLETE, FAXED, MAILED OR EMAILED APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Please contact HR to ensure all documents have been uploaded and your file is complete up until 72 hours before the closing date. SALARY SCHEDULE Salary is determined by education and experience. More information regarding our current salary schedules can be found on the following link: https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/humanresources/salary_schedules.html

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    Cuesta College will not sponsor any visa applications. San Luis Obispo County Community College District ("Cuesta College") is an equal opportunity employer committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), age, disability (physical and mental), genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal and state law in admission and access to, or treatment in employment, educational programs or activities at any of its campuses. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. Cuesta College also prohibits harassment on any of these bases, including sexual harassment, as well as sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. In compliance with California law, all prospective staff and students are entitled to read the Annual Security Report, published each October by the Cuesta College Department of Public Safety. This report contains information about our emergency and crime reporting procedures, as well as crime statistics for the past 3 years. You may request a copy of this report at one of our two Public Safety Offices: on SLO campus at Building 6600A or on North County Campus at building N1021, during campus business hours. You may also access the complete text of this report at the following website address: https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/publicsafety/clery_act Cuesta College uses E-Verify as part of the I-9 process to verify the work eligibility of all new hires. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee's Form I-9 to data from U.S Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records. For further information, visit: https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/humanresources/Job_Opportunities.html

    Interview Process Information

    Selected applicants will be invited to give a teaching demonstration and interview on Tuesday, November 12th or Wednesday, November 13th or Thursday, November 14th. First Interviews will be held via Zoom. Virtual teaching demonstrations are expected to demonstrate engagement, knowledge, preparation, inclusion, and effectiveness Second interviews will be held via Zoom on Friday, November 15, 2024. The selected applicant will begin their full-time teaching assignment in spring 2025, which begins on January 15, 2024. Assignments will be day, evening, and potentially online classes at the San Luis Obispo Campus, North County Campus in Paso Robles, South County Center in Arroyo Grande, California Men's Colony, or other sites in San Luis Obispo County.

    To be considered for this position please visit our web site and apply on line at the following link: https://apptrkr.com/5577777 The San Luis Obispo County Community College District promotes inclusiveness, prohibits discrimination, and encourages all qualified persons to apply. As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, Cuesta College actively seeks candidates with diverse backgrounds to assist students, staff, and faculty. For ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) assistance with the application and/or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Office: (805) 546-3129.

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Position Start Date: Spring 2025

Salary: $66,519.00 - $102,922.00

Job Application Link: https://apptrkr.com/5577777