Assistant Professor of American Sign Language

School: Pierce College
Position Type: Continuing Faculty
Link to hiring site: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/piercedist/jobs/2665230/assistant-professor-of-american-sign-language?pagetype=promotionalJobs

Position Description:

Join our Student-Centered College!

Are you committed to the importance of ASL education as part of world language offerings? Are you passionate about raising intercultural consciousness? Do you think that cultural competency is a pillar of an undergraduate education? Are you excited to apply world language skills to practical employment opportunities for students? If these questions resonate with you, then we invite you to consider joining the team at Pierce College, an innovative and equity-focused community college dedicated to helping all students achieve their academic and professional goals.

About the Program:

The American Sign Language department is part of the larger world languages department that offers Spanish, French, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and ASL. Courses in the department are conducted in the target language and go beyond the teaching of grammar and vocabulary to include culture and society in order to create responsible and well-informed citizens. The department partners with Pierce College academic support services to encourage the active learning of world languages. World Languages collaborate with faculty and staff across divisions in multiple professional technical programs such as education and business. The department is seeking to grow expertise in ASL interpreting and has historically offered an ASL interpreting certificate. The successful candidate will have a pedagogical approach that is focused on providing meaningful communicative interactions and cultural experiences that promotes cultural competency.

About Pierce College:

Pierce College is an award-winning, innovative community college committed to student engagement and learning. We value student learning experiences that foster equity and inclusion in the classroom and expand into our diverse local and global communities. With a focus on closing equity gaps for marginalized student populations and improving overall student success, faculty engage in a broad spectrum of work that includes building an inclusive, culturally responsive curriculum and pedagogy, building directed career pathways, and using transparent data to drive innovation. The college serves over 15,000 students in basic skills, transfer, and professional technical programs. Through continuous efforts, we have significantly improved retention rates and doubled graduation rates. Pierce College was named a top community college in several national polls, including being designated as one of the top five community colleges in the nation by the prestigious Aspen Institute.

Pierce College employees and students live and work in various communities that offer the diverse cultural and environmental benefits of rural, suburban, and urban lifestyles in the Pacific Northwest. As part of the community and technical college system in Washington State, the District includes Pierce College Fort Steilacoom, Pierce College Puyallup, Pierce College at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, as well as other extended learning sites.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Responsibilities of the successful candidate include:
Teaching introductory ASL courses and course content appropriate for the student community in response to world events within and in relation to the deaf community;
Establishing relationships with the deaf community locally and nationally on issues related to education;
Researching, presenting, and developing career paths, including transfer paths, for students studying ASL;
Engaging in curriculum and program development that incorporates current educational theories and research;
Analyzing course assessments, evaluations, and other data to drive continuous improvement of the learning environment in order to advance student achievement of outcomes, success in subsequent courses, and impact on retention and graduation;
Demonstrating multicultural competence, including an awareness and understanding of historically marginalized populations, and creating an educational environment that affirms commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion;
Working within a collaborative and innovative department to advance student success;
Engaging in district-wide efforts to improve student retention and success;
Incorporating active student learning and inclusive pedagogy, as well as appropriate use of technology in the classroom;
Continuously innovating learning experiences (campus, online, hybrid) in response to assessment and evidence/data analysis;
Tailoring curriculum to engage marginalized and oppressed groups and to actively demonstrate cultural humility and vulnerability;
Creatively designing learning experiences that extend beyond delivering content and assist students in achieving course, program, and degree outcomes, including the college’s five core abilities of Multiculturalism, Critical, Creative and Reflective Thinking, Information Competency, Responsibility, and Effective Communication;
Teaching, advising, and mentoring students holistically from recruitment to completion;
Engaging in shared governance;
Participating in the First-Year Faculty Cohort in the first year of the tenure process.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Required:

Graduate degree in American Sign Language (ASL), deaf studies, deaf education, linguistics, or interpreting (or related field with 15 graduate credits within the previously listed disciplines).
ASL fluency
APPLICATION PROCESS:
Application Requirements:

To be considered for this position, applicants must include the following items in their application package:
Letter of formal application that addresses how your experience and education qualifies you to perform the assigned responsibilities (Cover Letter).
Responses to the following: What personal and professional work have you done in order to broaden your understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion? AND How have you infused equity, diversity and inclusion into your classroom to equip/motivate/inspire to effectively engage in a multicultural society? AND Pierce College has set a goal of closing gaps in degree/certificate completion for all student populations. How will you contribute to this effort? (Supplemental Question).
Detailed curriculum vitae of all educational and professional experience, which includes a list of courses taught (Curriculum Vitae).
Unofficial copies of all college and university transcripts that include degree received and confer date. International transcripts must include a foreign transcript evaluation. For a list of approved credential evaluation services visit: http://naces.org/members.htm. (Unofficial transcripts acceptable for application process; official transcripts required prior to hire) (Transcripts).
A list of four current professional references with name, relationship to candidate, address, email address, and telephone number. Letters of recommendation will not be accepted in lieu of a list of professional references (References).

Terms of Employment:

This position, which is contingent upon funding, is a full-time, tenure-track assignment of 174 contracted days per year with the tenure process starting in September 2020, and with the opportunity to start working an earlier quarter. Assignment may include district discipline/program coordination, as well as evening, hybrid, and/or online teaching. This is a District position with a “home” campus assignment. Initial placement of this position will be at the Puyallup campus. Candidates will be working for a District Dean and will be required to attend district meetings as well as collaborate with colleagues across the district and across departments.

Initial salary placement is based on the current full-time faculty salary schedule and is dependent upon education and experience. Salary placement for newly hired full-time faculty will be at one of five levels based upon qualifications including teaching experience and credentials. The five levels range from $56,435 to $61,025 per 174-day academic year. Opportunities for summer employment and other assignments are in addition to the base salary.

Reasonable Accommodation:

Applicants with disabilities who require assistance with the application and employment process will be accommodated to the extent reasonably possible. Requests should be made to the District Human Resources Office by calling 253-964-7342. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may dial 711 to place a call through Washington Relay, the state’s free telecommunication access service

Screening & Interview Process:

Only those candidates who have complied with the application process and have met the required qualifications will be considered. The most desirable candidates will be contacted for an interview. Application materials submitted to Pierce College are the property of the College and will not be returned.

Conditions of Employment:

In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, proof of authorization to work in the United States will be required at the time of hire. An offer of employment will not carry with it any responsibility or obligation on the part of the District to sponsor an H-1B visa.
Pierce College has adopted a Drug Free Workplace policy. As a condition of employment, employees must agree to abide by the requirements established in this policy.

Bargaining Unit:

This position has been designated as a bargaining unit position represented by the Pierce College Federation of Teachers (PCFT).

The Pierce College District is an equal opportunity employer. The Board of Trustees and Pierce College District are committed to providing equal opportunity and will not discriminate in terms and conditions of employment and personnel practices for all persons without regard to race, color, national origin, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal.

For more information or assistance regarding your application, contact Human Resources at: jobs@pierce.ctc.edu.

Questions regarding equal employment opportunities or discrimination may be directed to the following:

Holly Gorski, Vice President of Human Resources/Title IX Coordinator

9401 Farwest Drive SW

Lakewood, Washington 98498

(253) 964-6519

Paula Henson-Williams, District Affirmative Action Officer

(253) 864-3229

Closing Date: February 2, 2020