Community College Teacher Job Description - Salary, Education and Career Guide for Becoming a Community College Teacher

Community colleges are also known as junior colleges, tribal colleges, technical colleges or two-year colleges. They are generally open admission and have low tuition fees. Associate degrees are the highest degrees offered. Most classes are lower-division general education courses and major preparatory courses that can be transferred to a four-year college. Students come from diverse backgrounds, from all ages and ethnicities. As a whole, it is the largest public education system in the world, serving more than 2.5 million students.
 
Community college teacher jobs are both rewarding and demanding. Teachers make a difference daily in their students' lives. Community college teachers have two different tracks to choose from: teaching in the pre-university track; or teaching in the trades, such as law enforcement or electronics.

Job Description

Teachers are expected to be proficient with a wide variety of technology to prepare students for a four-year university. Computer software and high-tech instructional material and aids are just two categories. Building Web sites and having experience with distance learning are important as well. Keeping up with technology to stay in touch with students' needs is mandatory.
 
A diverse group of students attend community colleges. An instructor must be able to work with different age groups, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds to provide the best environment for the student. Community college teachers work with many "high risk" students, including single parents, full-time workers and underprepared students.
 
Teaching adolescents and adults in the trades at community colleges simulates real-life work environments. Students learn trades such as data processing, cosmetology and machine shop. Teachers must prepare a learning plan and instructional material, evaluate students' progress and prepare an inventory of tools and supplies.
 
Trade instructors must buy the highest-tech tools and provide students with hands-on experience. If they do not, the graduates will not be marketable. Sometimes classes are held at the college, but sometimes students actually work at an employer-based training program.

Salary Guide

The average community college teacher salary for full-time faculty is $53,000. Teaching loads are often heavier than those of four-year professors, and teacher's assistants are nonexistent. Most state systems offer very good benefits, which include insurance, free graduate courses and a retirement plan.
 
Salaries for trade instructors vary greatly depending on degrees, experience, geographical area and unions. In general, teachers earn from $6 an hour with no experience, to $30 an hour and up with some experience. Instructors advance by obtaining additional education and experience. The Department of Defense now sponsors a program called Troops to Teachers, which places talented military and civilian workers who were displaced from their jobs.

Education and Training

Minimum education and training requirements for community college teachers usually include a master's degree with 18 units in graduate semester hours in their field. Hiring practices are diverse. Some community colleges do not offer tenure for their faculty. For those that do, instructors are not required to publish journal articles, but they may be expected to participate in professional development programs. Since research is not a priority at the community college level, exhibiting excellence in teaching and participating in important college functions like committees is the only method for promotion.

Prior Work Experience

A graduate teaching assistant position is a great way to move up into a job as a community college teacher. Other ways of gaining experience include:
  • any teaching experience
  • community involvement
  • serving on college or university committees
  • volunteer work.

Career Advancement

Community college instructors may wish to move into the world of four-year universities. In this case, the major goal would be to attain tenure as an instructor, assistant professor, associate professor or professor. From there, they may wish to pursue further education and experience to move onto higher positions, such as:
  • dean
  • departmental chairperson
  • university president.

Related Associations and Groups

Community college instructors can take advantage of a number of associations available to them. These groups may be national, local or specialized for teachers in certain departments. Some examples:
  • American Association of Community Colleges
  • Education Directorate of the American Psychological Association
  • National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs
  • National Council of Teachers of English
  • Texas Community College Teachers Association.

 

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