Join our team to help inspire all students to discover their potential and achieve their goals by providing relevant, equitable, and innovative learning opportunities and services.
Description
Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) is seeking applicants for a full-time, tenure-track Microbiology Instructor at the Walla Walla campus. The start date is at the beginning of the Fall quarter in September 2025.
At Walla Walla Community College, we inspire all students to discover their potential and achieve their goals by providing relevant, equitable, and innovative learning opportunities and services. As an organization, we value learning opportunities, a sense of community, diversity, health and humor, excellence, integrity, teamwork, innovation, personal and professional growth, and sustainability.
This position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to applicants whose complete application has been received by June 15, 2025 @ 11:59pm PST. See Required Application Materials section
General Description:
The Physical and Life Sciences (PLS) Department is excited to welcome a new colleague to the team. WWCC is seeking a student-centered, team-oriented person who is passionate about helping students succeed. The successful candidate will have expertise and experience teaching both microbiology and general biology. A typical teaching load includes two of one and one of the other per quarter. The Department is dedicated to delivering equitable, inclusive, and transformative educational experiences, guiding students toward meaningful academic achievement and career growth in their chosen field.
Essential Functions:
Desired Traits
The science faculty at WWCC are innovative and passionate professionals focused on student success. A successful candidate should also display the following traits:
- Andragogy centered around student success
- Commitment to serve the mission of the two-year college
- Desire to provide relevant and equitable learning opportunities for all students
- Desire to invest in professional growth
- Experience with different teaching modalities
- Willingness to adapt teaching methodologies to the changing needs of students
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Teaching and Related Responsibilities
Full-time teaching faculty are credentialed, professional educators with the primary responsibility of providing a quality education for all WWCC students. Below is a summary of specific responsibilities as outlined in the current Faculty Contract (Download PDF reader).
- Teaching/Equivalent Responsibilities: An instructor is responsible for 1) curriculum development, preparation, presentation, and facilitation of classroom instruction and activities, 2) maintaining reasonable availability to students outside of classroom hours, 3) development, measurement, and assessment of student learning outcomes, and 4) assignment of grades consistent with outcomes.
- Advising: WWCC recognizes that quality advising is key to student retention and success, and is fostered through informed, intentional, and readily accessible advising opportunities. Specific advising responsibilities include 1) advising and mentoring students on coursework, program or transfer options, career plans, and graduation requirements, 2) maintaining reasonable office hours outside of classroom time, 3) maintaining advising competence through trainings and ongoing professional development, and 4) participation in the appropriate assessment of advising
- Professional Development: WWCC has a demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement, which is fostered by faculty engagement in professional development activities as described in Article 33.2 of the Faculty Contract, which includes self-selected activities and required training.
- Professional Accomplishments: Recognized professional accomplishments for faculty may include 1) membership in professional organizations and contributions to the profession, 2) sharing expertise and knowledge through conferences and group presentations, applying research, and/or publishing, and 3) activities resulting in the recognition of an instructional program by professional organizations or industry.
- Service: Service to the College, its students, faculty, or the community include 1) participation in the development of quarterly schedules and college catalog, 2) participation on college committees or related activities, 3) participation in program articulation with other colleges and schools, and 4) Participation in community activities related to instructional assignment and interests.
Competencies
Instructional Competencies
There are six essential instructional competency areas that are valued for all teaching faculty at WWCC. These essential instructional competencies focus on student success, equity, and teaching.
- Student Success Teaching Strategies – Implement and practice diverse teaching and learning strategies understanding that students come with different educational preparedness.
- Outcomes-Based Design – Design curriculum, assignments, and projects that align with course and college-wide learning outcomes.
- Assessment – Develop student knowledge and mastery through consistent, timely formative and summative assessment.
- Equity, Diversity, and Cultural Inclusivity – Design learning opportunities that recognize student diversity as well as foster a learning environment of inclusion and understanding.
- Digital and Information Literacy – Ensure students have technological and digital literacy skills needed for success at university level academic institutions or professional-technical work occupations.
- Commitment to Professional Development and College Life – Engage in continuous professional growth as well as participate in activities that promote the Walla Walla Community College’s community and mission.
Qualifications:
Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered at the discretion of the college.
Required Qualifications
- Master’s Degree in Microbiology or closely related discipline.
- Two years' experience teaching at the college level, experience as a teaching assistant or adjunct instructor may count towards the requirement.
Preferred Qualifications
- Doctoral Degree in Microbiology or closely related discipline.
- Experience teaching microbiology and/or general biology courses with labs at a community college.
- Experience and enthusiasm for using technology to teach in a variety of modalities (e,g. Face-to-face, web- or technology-enhanced, hybrid, HyFlex or online
- Experience mentoring and advising students
- Experience working with and relating to people from varied cultural, ethnic, gender, age, socioeconomic, and educational backgrounds
- Bilingual, English – Spanish
- Knowledge of/experience with outcomes-based-design
You don’t check every qualification listed? Please apply anyway! Studies have shown that traditionally marginalized communities - such as women, LGBTQ+ and people of color - are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification - even if they might be a great fit for the role! If you’re excited about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every single qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider applying.
Conditions/Terms of Employment
This is a full-time tenure-track faculty position exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Faculty terms and conditions of employment are negotiated with their exclusive bargaining representative, the Association for Higher Education. A complete copy of the agreement can be found on the WWCC Human Resources Page.
Persons hired must be able to provide acceptable documentation of lawful authorization to work in the United States within three (3) days of employment and official college transcripts. WWCC participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. Candidates will be subject to a criminal history background check as a condition for consideration of employment. Information from the background check may not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position. The College is a tobacco-free campus.
Compensation:
The College has a negotiated faculty salary schedule. Employee placement on the schedule is determined by education level and experience. Salary is dependent on the number of days of the contract and the candidate’s placement on the negotiated faculty salary schedule. Initial placement is generally $68,178 - $77,724 for a standard 176-day contract, dependent on qualifications (additional compensation for doctorate degree). The College has a comprehensive faculty benefit program including medical, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance; paid sick leave; and retirement and two optional deferred compensation programs. All full-time employees will automatically have 3% of taxable income deferred into the State of Washington Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). The college also supports faculty professional development. Walla Walla Community College requires all employees to participate in direct deposit for payment of salary.
Required Application Materials
This position is open until filled with priority consideration given to those applicants who submit a complete application by June 15, 2025 at 11:59 PM PST. To qualify for priority consideration, applicants must submit a complete application packet, which includes the following:
- Online NEOGOV application.
- Cover letter (In the cover letter, include cover letter prompt if provided)
- Curriculum vitae or comprehensive resume
- Names and contact information for three professional references
- Answers to three (3) supplemental questions
- Unofficial transcripts for application purposes; official transcripts are required prior to an official start date.
Please ensure you have attached all required application materials as you will not be able to attach any documents after you have submitted your application. If you have difficulty logging into your account, attaching documents, submitting your application, etc., please call NEOGOV Applicant Support at 1-855-524-5627 or email them directly at [email protected].
WWCC reserves the right to not fill this position, reject all applicants, or reopen the position. Applications received during this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies at the College's discretion.
Walla Walla Community College is committed to provide equal opportunity and nondiscrimination for all educational and employment applicants as well as for its students and employed staff, without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, including gender expression/identity, marital status, age (over 40), the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, the use of trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, or status as a Vietnam and/or disabled veteran, National Guard member or reservist in accordance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Federal Rehabilitation of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and any other applicable Federal and Washington State laws against discrimination. The Human Resources Office is accessible to persons with disabilities. If you need accommodations in the application/employment process, please contact the Human Resources Office at (509) 527-4224 - TDD (509) 527-4412, email [email protected], address: 500 Tausick Way, Walla Walla WA, 99362.
