Instructional Faculty - Biology
Pima Community College

Biology- Instructional Faculty (Academic)

Position Type: Faculty - General Funding

Salary: $47,235-$73,779 (based on education and experience) for a 9-month contract

Close Date: Friday, January 31st at 5:00 p.m. (Arizona Time)

Please note, this position requires in-person teaching and associated duties in the Pima County/Tucson area.

About Pima Community College

At the core of Pima Community College's mission is serving our community and providing educational opportunities to all learners. We value inclusion and inquiry because diversity in people, experiences, and perspectives unlocks critical thinking, creativity, and innovation. With a focus on a culture of belonging and care, we are committed to nurturing a climate where all students and employees feel welcome, successful, and have opportunities to reach their potential. We are proud to be designated a Hispanic-serving Institution and are intentional with equitable actions that promote social and economic prosperity.

At Pima Community College we seek a workforce with a wide range of perspectives and experiences. We provide equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. For more information on Pima Communities commitments and its institutional population, please visit our web pages About Pima, Diversity, and Reports & Data.

About the Division

The Science Division at Pima Community College has a passion for instilling scientific knowledge and curiosity through innovative and inclusive learning environments. Our division recognizes that the Life Sciences discipline lacks representation that mirrors the global community. We believe that science is integral to everyday life beyond the academic study or preparation for careers within and adjacent to the disciplines within the Life Sciences. To that end, the Life Sciences department has made a commitment to:

• Grow underrepresented populations within the field,
• Improve the understanding and retention of students taking life science courses,
• Increase the relevance of our General Education life science courses by integrating scientific literacy and critical thinking skills, and
• Implement the use of research-proven pedagogy and andragogy to better support our diverse population of students and enhance our life science curriculum.

About the Position

There are multiple positions available beginning the 2025-2026 academic year as an ongoing nine-month contract. These teaching positions are in the focus areas of General Biology, Major's Biology, Microbiology, and/or Anatomy and Physiology. Positions may involve teaching biology courses outside the individual's primary focus area. Faculty teach and work a set schedule over a nine-month academic year, August-May, that could include day, evening, and weekend duties as determined in collaboration with the department on a semester basis.

Faculty may be asked to teach on various campuses, in-person, online, hybrid, and virtual learning environments. Divisions may employ emerging approaches such as fast-track, IBEST, and dual enrollment, as appropriate. Faculty schedules are developed in collaboration with the department, and faculty preferences are an important consideration in this process.

Faculty in our department contribute to lab development, assessment, and curriculum design and reform initiatives in a collaborative, collegial environment centered around student success. Faculty are supported by the division in their professional development and encouraged to adopt research-informed teaching strategies to improve outcomes in their classrooms.

Our classrooms host a range of students, from current secondary students to adult learners, with a wide range of college experiences, ethnic and religious backgrounds, and career trajectories. We are looking for new faculty members who are enthusiastic about teaching biology and committed to creating a learning environment that is inclusive and values the diversity of our student body.

Benefits

We offer a highly competitive benefits package that goes beyond affordable medical plans. Because we value work-life balance, we offer an award winning Wellness and Employee Assistance Programs. For more information visit our Benefits webpage.

Duties and Responsibilities

General Duties:

• Full-time faculty are expected to teach a minimum of 15 load hours, or equivalent, per semester
• Supplemental teaching assignments may be additionally available to full time faculty at adjunct pay rates
• Instruct students and work with them on learning strategies to help them achieve academic success
• Use current, effective classroom management techniques
• Monitor and continuously improve instruction to ensure Student Learning Outcomes are met on a classroom, discipline/program, and College level
• Evaluate and assess student performance
• Facilitate learning and help students achieve academic success and retention
• Continually improve instruction utilizing appropriate delivery methods
• Evaluate and revise course outlines and course materials
• Provide academic advising
• Provide leadership in the department
• Maintain competency and currency in the teaching fields as well as in teaching strategies, subject delivery modalities, and assessment methods
• Engage in professional development in current and emerging instructional approaches to engage new majority learners
• Serve actively as a member of the department and discipline groups
• Participate in fostering partnerships that strengthen educational opportunities in response to community needs
• Represent the department and/or campus on college-wide committees
• Work collaboratively with faculty of other disciplines, campus resources, and departments to support active student learning
• Work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students and utilize a collegial style in all forms of communication
• Possibly work at more than one Pima Community College Campus, depending on need
• Teach in multiple modalities, including in-person, online, and hybrid

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

The College places a premium on candidates with an openness to new approaches and professional growth. We recognize that our faculty body is strengthened by a cross-sectional breadth of experience.

• Ability to teach a broad range of courses in Biology; currently we are looking for individuals in several areas and welcome candidates with specializations in General Biology, Majors Biology, Microbiology, and/or Anatomy & Physiology
• Broad knowledge of education research-based practices
• Ability to adapt and modify instruction based on the students' instructional needs and learning styles, including working with ADA accommodations and accessibility
• Knowledge of appropriate and effective use of assessment information to improve instruction
• Evaluation of students' educational progress: ability to maintain high instruction and learning standards and assess students' academic progress in meeting course objectives and student learning outcomes
• Teaching in multiple modalities such as synchronous and asynchronous online, web-enhanced/hybrid, hy-flex, and traditional in person: knowledge of curriculum development, course design, and delivery for lecture and laboratory content
• Knowledge of the resources available to students to assist them with academic and personal challenges, and ability to help students access those resources, skilled in providing academic advising
• Interest in curriculum development and course design, including best practices in assessment
• Integration of the Community College mission within the course content and teaching practice
• Competencies in multiculturalism, diversity, and inclusivity: knowledge of diverse community college student populations, and the ability to address diversity in effective instructional practice and student learning
• Knowledge and appreciation for the Community College mission

Job Requirements

Minimum qualifications requirements for faculty positions are governed by our faculty qualification standards. This position is in an Academic discipline and requires the following to obtain Pima Community College teaching certification:

• Master's degree in Biology or a closely related field OR
• Master's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline and 18 graduate semester hours in Biology or a closely related field

The selected candidate will:

• Work a flexible schedule including afternoons, evenings, and weekends as needed to meet student demand
• Possibly work at more than one Pima Community College Campus, depending on need
• Possibly work at other PCC sites in Southern Arizona, e.g. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base or Santa Cruz County Campus
• Teach in multiple modalities, including in-person, online, and hybrid (note that all positions require a significant in-person teaching each semester and on-campus presence)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience teaching developmental and academic courses
• Experience with innovative teaching methodologies
• Experience teaching online courses and/or alternative instructional formats
• Experience using a Learning Management System, preferably D2L Brightspace
• Experience teaching a diverse student population
• Spanish language proficiency

Directions for Applying and Other Important Information

Degrees and courses qualifying for Pima Community College teaching certification must be from a regionally accredited college or university. Applicants currently in progress for a degree or additional coursework to meet the minimum qualifications must have the degree conferred and/or coursework completed by May 2025.

A degree from any college outside of the United States (even if the transcript is in English) may need to be evaluated by a foreign transcript evaluation service. Pima Community College requires that applicants use an evaluation agency that is a member of NACES or AACRAO's corporate partners

Before ordering an evaluation, check with Faculty Qualifications & Hiring to confirm whether you will need to complete this step.

To submit an application you must include the documents that are listed within the application form as required. Documents listed as optional do not have to be attached in order to submit the application. Follow the directions in the application form to upload your documents. At minimum, these documents are required:

Resume. This should be up to date and account for and describe all gaps in employment.

Letter of interest or cover letter. This is a description of your knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience related to the duties and responsibilities of the position, as well as the strengths you would bring to the assignment. The letter should not exceed two (2) pages.

Teaching Philosophy Statement: In one page or less, please share your experience working with diverse student populations typically served by community colleges and indicate how that informs your teaching practice and/or philosophy.

Unofficial copies of transcripts. These must be:

for all post-secondary degrees you have listed in your application

legible (front and back) and show the name of the regionally accredited institution, the degree conferred, and the page(s) explaining the institution's grading system

attached to the application even if they have been submitted in the past

The selected candidate(s) must provide Faculty Qualifications & Hiring with official (unopened) transcripts and/or official (unopened) foreign transcript evaluation.

Selection Process:

The selection process typically consists of one or two advisory group interview(s), a teaching demonstration, and an administrative interview.

Candidates invited to the interview process will be chosen from those who most closely meet the stated requirements. Meeting these qualifications does not guarantee an interview.

If you have any questions regarding the application process or to request a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities, please contact faculty-hiring@pima.edu. Office hours are normally Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.

Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Minorities/Females/Disabled/Protected Veterans are encouraged to apply.

About the College and Tucson Community

Pima Community College is committed to becoming a premier community college, one that is built on a foundation of student success, community engagement, and diversity. We hire people who:

• set and meet high standards
• believe in service and accountability
• have a passion for learning
• be creative
• help fulfill our mission
• understand the first-generation college student experience
• be knowledgeable about the challenges of underprivileged populations
• be knowledgeable about the traditions and culture of the populations of the Southwest, including Latinos and Native Americans
• have cultural sensitivity and understanding of the needs of differently-abled, veterans, and LGBTQ

Pima recently was named one of the top workplaces in Arizona by Forbes magazine, which analyzed such factors as safety of work environment, competitiveness of compensation, opportunities for advancement and openness to telework.

The College meets the needs of the community by offering instruction when and how our students want it: evenings, weekends, year-round, in traditional classroom settings, online and virtual learning, in web-classroom hybrids, and in semester-long or accelerated formats. Employees can expect to participate in innovative, flexible scheduling, in keeping with the College's vision, to provide access to learning without the limits of time, place, or distance.

Pima Community College is in Tucson, an inclusive oasis in the Arizona Sonoran desert. With a population of about 1 million, metro Tucson is a cosmopolitan community. It is a majority-minority city enriched by an active LGBTQIA+ community and by nearly 150 distinct neighborhoods, from Barrio Anita to Poets Square.

Located 65 miles from Mexico, Tucson sits on the border-spanning ancestral lands of the Tohono O'odham and Pascua Yaqui peoples and is proud of centuries of Hispanic and Indigenous heritage.

Environmental stewardship is in Tucson's nature. The city is situated in a valley surrounded by four mountain ranges that create a unique ecosystem encompassing a saguaro-studded desert floor and pine forests on Mount Lemmon. We're bracketed on the East and West sides by Saguaro National Park, and we're committed to planting 1 million trees by 2030.

Additional information about the College may be found at www.pima.edu.

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