Political Science Instructor

Full-time, Tenure Track (177 Day 10 Month)
$69,380.72 - $106,542.71 per year
Probationary (Contract I) Member of Academic Faculty

Projected Timeline:
Tentative Screening Period: Week of March 23, 2026
Tentative First Interview Dates: Week of April 6, 2026 (Zoom)
Tentative Second Interview Date: April 20-22, 2026 (In Person)
Tentative Third Interview Date: April 23, 2026 (In Person)
Tentative Start Date: August 1, 2026

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW:
The Department of Sociocultural Studies is committed to equity and excellence in lower division education for majors and non-majors. The faculty work closely together to support one another while supporting student success, completion, and transfer. We seek a well-rounded political science instructor with a strong foundation in American institutions, international relations, comparative politics, and political theory. We seek candidates who utilize a public sphere pedagogical approach, centered on students and a commitment to equity. 

The person selected should be able to demonstrate excellence in teaching that inspires diverse students’ critical reading, writing, and thinking.  Potential candidates should be knowledgeable of all subfields within political science and demonstrate a commitment to promoting active learning and a civic engagement approach to teaching. Ideal candidates will possess the ability to inspire learners from diverse abilities, identities and backgrounds to engage and excel in the college classroom. An awareness of and commitment to teaching with a public sphere pedagogical approach, as well as other innovative active learning approaches are also valued.

POSITION DUTIES:
In addition to the representative duties listed below, this position is also responsible for:

1. Teaching courses and engaging civically in courses such as United States Government, California State and Local Government, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, Research Methods, and Politics of Race and Ethnicity. 
2. Working collaboratively with others in the department to create programming that bridges classroom and community experience for students. 
3. Teaching in-person at the Glenn Center, Main Campus, and Chico Center, as well as local area High Schools.  

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

A. General Scope of Responsibilities

1. Excellence in teaching and instruction.
2. Maintenance of professional growth and academic currency.
3. Carrying out of area, departmental and/or program responsibilities.
4. Contribution to the College as a whole in the form of College-wide service.
5. Development and assessment of student learning outcomes.

1. Instructor plans for and is continually well prepared to teach.
2. Instructor provides organized delivery of instruction.
3. Instructor communicates respectfully to students and encourages contact.
4. Instruction is consistent with the stated and approved outcomes of the course.
5. Instruction is relevant to the course.
6. Instructor shows interest in the subject matter and student learning.
7. Instructor uses strategies designed to foster student engagement with the content.
8. Instructor uses standards of student evaluation that are clear, fair and followed consistently.
9. Instructor requires and evaluates levels of student effort sufficient to develop mastery of the subject or skills in the course.
10. Instructor grades and returns student work, assignments and tests in a reasonable period of time.
11. Instructor makes effective use of teaching aids, instructional methods and materials required of students (e.g., texts, manuals, etc.).
12. Instructor is an effective teacher.
13. Instructor prepares complete and timely course syllabi.
14. Instructor continually evaluates, updates and revises course content and instructional methods and materials.
15. Instructor coordinates course contents and instructional methods with other teachers in the program/discipline.
16. Instructor meets and assists students during office hours, by appointment or at other reasonable times.
17. Instructor initiates and carries through with improvements to course contents and classroom teaching methods.

1. Instructor demonstrates examples of activities which show a pattern of academic, professional, and/or technical updating or currency.

1. Instructor is knowledgeable about and abides by College, Area and Department policies and procedures.
2. Instructor meets deadlines and time targets including deadlines for reports, grades and paperwork.
3. Instructor orders instructional materials, equipment and textbooks with sufficient lead times.
4. Instructor assists Chair in evaluating and revising course schedules.
5. Instructor collaborates to determine equitable course assignments.
6. Instructor provides assistance to other full-time, part-time and/or new instructors.
7. Instructor participates in departmental plans and activities with others.
8. Instructor helps develop departmental budgets.
9. Instructor monitors expenditures to keep within authorized budget spending appropriations.
10. Instructor exercises good judgment in the use of and/or management of facilities, equipment and supplies.
11. Instructor regularly attends assigned meetings.
12. Instructor is punctual to assigned meetings.
13. Instructor works collegially with faculty peers, classified staff and administration.
14. Instructor performs their fair share of outside-of-class departmental duties and responsibilities, including contributing to unit plan and program review processes.
15. Instructor initiates and/or participates in overall department-wide program development and curriculum improvements, maintenance, evaluation, revision and/or expansion.

1. Serve on College committees.
2. Serves on College committees and project teams.
3. Serves as a sponsor to student clubs and organizations.
4. Participates in faculty/college governance.
5. Participates on special project teams or ad hoc committees.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s in political science, government, or international relations; OR
• Bachelor’s in any of the above AND Master’s in economics, history, public administration, social science, sociology, and any ethnic studies, Juris Doctor Degree (J.D.) or Legum Baccalaureus (LL.B.); OR
• Possession of a current California Community College Credential that permits full-time service as an instructor in the applicable discipline; OR  
• The equivalent  (Applicants wishing to be considered for employment under District equivalency standards must submit a detailed statement explaining how you possess the equivalent to the minimum qualifications discussed above.)

DIVERSITY AND EQUITY QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated understanding of and responsiveness to the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds that characterize community college students in a manner specific to the position.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience designing culturally responsive curriculum for and teaching 100 level courses in all subfields of Political Science, such as Intro to United States Government, Race and Ethnicity, Political Theory, Intro to State and Local Government, Intro to International Relations, and Intro to Comparative Politics. 
• Graduate coursework and/or research in all sub fields of Political Science. 
• Awareness of and commitment to teaching with a public sphere pedagogical approach, as well as other innovative and active learning approaches. 
• Collaborative event planning related to curriculum needs. 
• Understanding of and commitment to using anti-racist, culturally responsive, assets-based, and collaborative methods in curriculum and pedagogy. 
• Demonstrates currency in the field of political science. 
• Ability to adapt to new technologies and integrate technology into the classroom in ways that are culturally responsive and accessible for students. 
• Ideal candidates will possess the ability to inspire learners from diverse abilities, identities and backgrounds to engage and excel in the college classroom.