Biology Full-Time Tenure Track Instructor

Salary : $64,582.00 - $99,924.00 Annually
Location : All Campuses or other sites, CA
Job Type: Full Time - 10 Months/ 100% FTE
Job Number: FY2324-00120
Division: Instruction
Department: Biological Sciences
Opening Date: 12/13/2023
Closing Date: 2/12/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
Job Description Summary
The Biological Sciences Division at Cuesta College seeks two Full-Time Tenure Track Instructors. The ideal candidates will exhibit a passion for educating Cuesta College's diverse student population. We are searching for experienced colleagues who will enthusiastically teach students in 1) Human Biology and Human Anatomy, and 2) General Biology for Majors and Life Sciences for Non-Majors. The successful candidates will welcome opportunities for professional development, encourage undergraduate research, and be involved in division activities and college governance. Hired faculty will be expected to collaborate harmoniously with other faculty members in the division who teach the same course or related courses in a sequence. Applicants selected for interview should have demonstrated their past success with teamwork and teaching.
The Biological Sciences Division has 6 full-time faculty, 16 part-time faculty, and 2 lab technicians.
Cuesta College and the Biological Sciences Division value the ability to serve and honor our diverse students from a broad range of cultural heritages, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, abilities, and orientations. Therefore, it is important to us that our faculty, staff, and administrators demonstrate an understanding of, sensitivity to, and respect for the diverse academic, socioeconomic, ethnic, and religious backgrounds as well as sexual orientation and abilities of all constituents in the Cuesta College community.
INSTRUCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Teaching begins with expertise in one's discipline and excellent preparation. Faculty are expected to investigate textbooks, including consideration of low- and no- cost options, and select an option that best supports students' success and diversity of viewpoints. For every course, a syllabus must be prepared that clearly outlines instructor expectations for students as well as the content to be covered (selection of which should adhere to the college-approved Course Outline of Record).
Human Anatomy and Life Sciences instructors are responsible for collaborating with instructors who teach lecture sections of the same course in addition to maintaining and updating lab materials (e.g., an in-house published lab manual and audio-tutorial files). Our Human Anatomy and Life Sciences faculty work as a team overseeing the operation of the audio-tutorial lab (a shared space where Human Anatomy and Life Sciences students engage in self-guided study). They must also communicate with the lab staff and faculty to ensure smooth and consistent operation.
Faculty teaching Human Biology or General Biology for Majors work together to update and improve the in-house published lab manuals for these courses and ensure consistency of material and rigor across multiple sections of each course.
It is essential that communication with students is maintained throughout the semester and that intervention is made, as needed. It is also the responsibility of an instructor to support students outside of the classroom, including guiding students to useful and applicable college support services.
The successful candidate will present evidence of their outstanding ability as a teacher. Appropriate evidence may include, but is not limited to, experience, training, or achievement that the candidate has:

• Commitment to staying current with the latest developments in their subject;
  
• The ability to continuously evaluate and improve teaching methods;
  
• The ability to organize and explain materials in equitable ways appropriate to students' abilities and learning styles;
  
• The ability to use teaching methods that engage students actively in their own learning, promote the development of critical thinking skills, and encourage them to become lifelong learners;
  
• The ability to use instructional methods that emphasize cooperation and collaboration and that reflect cultural sensitivity;
  
• The ability to motivate and mentor students from a broad spectrum of cultural, academic, socioeconomic, and language backgrounds;

• The development of assessment strategies that effectively and equitably assess student learning and course outcomes for formative feedback to students as well as assigning grades that correctly reflect a student's grasp of learning 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 in teaching, including online instruction; and
  
• A commitment to the teaching profession, its goals and ideals, and enthusiasm for the mission of the community college.

COLLEGE AND DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Developing and updating curriculum and lab materials;
  
• Maintenance of the Human Anatomy and/or Life Sciences audio-tutorial files and in-house published lab manual(s);
  
• Revision and improvement of in-house published lab manuals for General Biology and/or Human Biology;
  
• Serving on college committees and taskforces (participatory governance);
  
• Researching and writing program review reports;
  
• Serving on peer evaluation and hiring committees;
  
• Attending and participating in Biology Division meetings and gatherings;
  
• Mentoring and collaborating with part-time instructors in the department;
  
• Communicating laboratory protocols and requests early and clearly with our laboratory technicians;
  
• Engaging with the community regarding curriculum changes, job opportunities, dual enrollment course development or scholarship opportunities for students;
  
• Maintaining collegial, professional and ethical conduct;
  
• Achieving and maintaining Cuesta College Distance Education certification; and
  
• Regularly submitting required assessment results into the college database.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE
Where You Will Work
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, and South County Center, in Arroyo Grande.
Who We AreEquity, 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
The college planning documents can be found at
Our Student Equity Action Plan can be found at
We offer comprehensive benefit options. Information about benefits can be found at
Essential Functions & Qualifications
Required:
-Master's in any biological science from an accredited institution;
OR
-Bachelor's in any biological science from an accredited institution AND Master's in biochemistry, biophysics, or marine science 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 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 Requirement:
-Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.
Desirable:

• Teaching experience in 1) Human Biology and Human Anatomy and/or 2) Life Sciences for Non-Majors and General Biology for Majors at a community college or other undergraduate institution;
  
• Awareness and understanding of the philosophy and objectives of California Community Colleges;

• Recent teaching experience in multiple formats (such as in-class, hybrid, online);

• Commitment to achieving teaching excellence based on student, peer and self-evaluations;

• Knowledge of developmentally and culturally appropriate teaching strategies, and curriculum;

• Familiarity with current/common assessment tools used in community college classrooms, including their strengths and limitations;

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

• Demonstrated ability to address equity gaps in their courses;

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

• Interest in participating in campus governance;

• Training and experience teaching distance education, including maintaining courses on a learning management system;

• Recent experience using relevant instructional lab equipment, instruments and AV technology; and

• Interest in mentoring students and developing undergraduate research opportunities.

Additional Information
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.

1. Cover Letter

1. Teaching Philosophy

1. Resume/CV

1. Two Letters of Recommendation

1. Professional References

1. Unofficial Transcripts

Teaching Philosophy Instructions:

• Please limit this document to 500 words.
  
• Describe your approach to teaching a diverse student body.
  
• Discuss your values, beliefs and/or goals related to teaching.
  
• 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:

1. Cuesta College is committed to closing racial equity gaps in experience and outcomes for our Black and Latinx students. What would be your approach to advancing this goal in your classes?

1. Think of the most successful class you have taught. What were the key factors in creating that success for racially-minoritized and other underserved, disproportionately impacted students?

1. What are some of the techniques you use to teach in a culturally responsive way?

To review our Academic Senate approved Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Rubric, please visit our Equal Employment Opportunity Page: https://www.cuesta.edu/about/depts/humanresources/eeo/index.html
Resume/CV Instructions:

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

Letters of Recommendation:

• Must have been written within the last two years.

Professional Reference List:

• Include names, job titles, phone numbers, and email addresses for each reference;
  
• Indicate how and how long you have known them;
  
• Include a minimum of three (3) professional references.

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.
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 SCHEDULESalary is determined by education and experience. More information regarding our current salary schedules can be found on the following link:
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 provi...