Description

Are you passionate about increasing student success in Communications? Do you want to work side by side with colleagues who are leading the conversation on increasing retention and completion? Are you eager to find innovative ways to address persistent equity gaps in communications courses? If these questions resonate with you, then we invite you to consider joining the faculty at Yakima Valley College (YVC), a designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) that is located on the ancestral homelands and traditional territories of the people of the Yakama Nation.

As a federally designated Hispanic-serving Institution residing on the traditional homelands of the 14 Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, Yakima Valley College cultivates equity and a culture of innovative and inclusive teaching and learning.

Yakima Valley College serves all students holistically, supports all students learning goals, and fosters achievement within career and educational pathways.

We strengthen our communities by providing opportunities for personal enrichment, economic mobility, and sociocultural engagement.

Yakima Valley College seeks an innovative Communications Instructor committed to community college students and their success. This position is full-time, in-person, non-tenure track on our Grandview campus. We are an innovative and equity-focused college, dedicated to helping our students achieve their academic and personal goals. All applicants must be able to exhibit a sensitivity to and an understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of YVC students, faculty, and staff. The successful applicant will demonstrate how these factors underscore a shared responsibility to develop equity-minded practices within an educational environment. All faculty are engaged in the assessment of college goals and purposes. The Communications Instructor reports to the Dean of Arts and Sciences.

The successful applicant will demonstrate how these factors underscore a shared responsibility to develop equity-minded practices within an educational environment.

This is a full-time, in-person, special faculty (non-tenure track) position, with an anticipated start date of September 2024.

Essential Tasks

ESSENTIAL TASKS:

• Provide instruction in a variety of communication courses, including Public Speaking, Fundamentals of Speech Communication, Interpersonal Communication, and Intercultural Communication
• Participate in college-wide registration and advising
• Consult with students outside of class through daily office hours
• Prepare course instruction and course and curriculum planning
• Participate in departmental and college curriculum planning and assessment
• Understand and successfully use learning technology
• Emphasize student learning in the design, delivery, and evaluation of courses
• Utilize interpersonal communication skills for effectively working and interacting with colleagues, staff, students, administrators, and others of various cultural and socio-economic backgrounds
• Practice effective written and oral communication in the classroom and with other professionals
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to the mission and values of community college education

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Current and effective pedagogical techniques

ABILITY TO:

• Adapt to a variety of teaching situations, including learning communities and other interdisciplinary approaches
• Communicate effectively in a multicultural setting
• Demonstrate dedication to students by creating an equitable environment conducive to meeting students learning needs
• Demonstrate commitment to upgrades knowledge and skills in order to maintain relevant curriculum
• Demonstrate enthusiasm for using and learning new technologies to support student success.
• Provide student-centered academic advising within YVCs Guided Pathways model.
• Serve on institutional and community committees, including advisory and K-12 partnership committees
• Teach populations diverse in age, culture, and ethnicity
• Teach to a variety of learning styles as demonstrated in the development of course materials and assessments of student learning

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Masters degree in Communication, Communication Studies, Speech Communication, or equivalent from an accredited institution
• Minimum of one year teaching experience in Communication at the college or university level (assistantships included)

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated ability to adopt teaching methods/styles that support successful learning appropriate to Yakima Valley College student population.
• Experience teaching at a community college.
• Experience teaching Public Speaking, Mass Media, Interpersonal Communications, Intercultural Communications, Organizational Communications, or Journalism
• Experience using educational technologies and an online learning management system.
• Experience in outcomes-based assessment.
• experience or professional training in curriculum development.

Supplemental Information

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications of this position (a generic cover letter will not be accepted)
• A current resume (a resume will not substitute for the "work experience" section of the online application)
• Three (3) professional references (personal references do not count as professional)
• Unofficial transcripts for confirmation of degree (if minimum qualifications require a degree). The successful candidate will be required to submit official transcripts at time of hire.
• Certifications/Credentials as required for fulfillment of the minimum qualifications.
• Supplemental Question: The college requires a Diversity and Inclusion response as part of its application materials. The statement is found in the supplemental question area of the application. Please respond (NO MORE than two pages in length) in the text box area provided or upload the document to your application as an attachment.

Please note: Failure to follow the above application instructions will lead to disqualification. Please do not include any attachments other than the ones requested above. E-mailed documents will not be accepted after the closing of the recruitment or in lieu of attaching your documents to the online application.

Supplemental Information:

Candidates may be subject to a Criminal History Background Check as a condition for consideration of employment.

"In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire."

Yakima Valley College does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, sex, genetic information, or age in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. All inquiries regarding compliance should be directed to the Director of Human Resource Services, YVC, South 16th Ave. & Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima, WA 98902; or call 509.574.4670. Equal Opportunity - Yakima Valley College (yvcc.edu)

Yakima Valley College's Annual Safety and Fire Report is available online at https://www.yvcc.edu/services/safety-security, containing mandated information about current campus policies concerning safety and security issues, required statistics, and other related information for the past three calendar years. To obtain a paper copy of the report, please call 509.574.4610.

Applicants with disabilities who require assistance with the recruitment process will be accommodated to the extent reasonably possible.

All positions are subject to funding.

Yakima Valley College offers a selection of health and retirement plans allowing you to take advantage of the plans that work for you. We also offer paid leave, development and career opportunities, and other compensation benefits. Benefit packages are a key component of our Total Compensation Model.

 

Insurance Benefits

Yakima Valley College offers medical (including vision), and dental. There are several medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state. Employees are also covered by basic life and long term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts. To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website.

 

Retirement and Deferred Compensation

State Employees can elect to participate in the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) Plan 3 or the State Board Retirement Plan (SBRP) through TIAA. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site. Employees can elect to participate in the Washington State Board Retirement Plan instead, check out the plan vendor at https://www.tiaa.org/public/tcm/sbctc for more information.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP), a supplemental retirement savings program that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Please refer to the Washington State Board for more detailed information.