Instructional Faculty - Physics at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona

Job Description:

Physics- Instructional Faculty (Academic)



Position Type: Faculty - General Funding


Salary: $47,235-$73,779 (based on education and experience)


Close Date: Friday, January 31st at 5:00 p.m. (Arizona Time)


Please note, this position will be in person, to be located in the Pima County/Tucson area.



About Pima Community College


At the core of Pima Community College's mission is serving our community and providing educational opportunities to all learners. We value inclusion and inquiry because diversity in people, experiences, and perspectives unlocks critical thinking, creativity, and innovation. With a focus on a culture of belonging and care, we are committed to nurturing a climate where all students and employees feel welcome, successful, and have opportunities to reach their potential. We are proud to be designated a Hispanic-serving Institution and are intentional with equitable actions that promote social and economic prosperity.

At Pima Community College we seek a workforce with a wide range of perspectives and experiences. We provide equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. For more information on Pima Communities commitments and its institutional population please visit our web pages About Pima, Diversity, and Reports & Data.


About the Division


The Science Division at Pima Community College has a passion for instilling scientific knowledge and curiosity through innovative and inclusive learning environments. Our division recognizes that the discipline of physics lacks representation that mirrors the global community. We believe that science is integral to everyday life beyond the academic study or preparation for careers within and adjacent to physics. To that end, our department has made a commitment to:

• Grow underrepresented populations within the field,
• Improve the understanding and retention of students taking physics courses,
• Increase the relevance of our General Education physics courses by integrating scientific literacy and critical thinking skills, and
• Implement the use of research-proven pedagogy and andragogy to better support our diverse population of students and enhance our physics curriculum.

About the Position


This position is available beginning the 2025-2026 academic year as an ongoing nine-month contract. Faculty teach and work a set schedule over a nine-month academic year, August-May, that could include day, evening, and weekend duties.

Physics faculty teach introductory physics in both algebra-based and calculus-based sequences. The classes are integrated lecture-lab format, with lectures, activities, and laboratory work all taking place in a single classroom or adjacent laboratory. Online course offerings are also available. Faculty are also expected to contribute to lab development, college-wide assessment, and curriculum development initiatives.

Candidates should be enthusiastic about teaching physics and be committed to creating a learning environment that is inclusive and values the diversity of our student body. Candidates can expect classrooms that host a range of students, from current secondary students to adult learners, with a wide range of college experiences, ethnic and religious backgrounds, and career trajectories. Candidates should be familiar with current physics education research and its implications for successful student learning at all ages and stages.


Benefits


We offer a highly competitive benefits package that goes beyond affordable medical plans. Because we value work-life balance, we offer an award winning Wellness and Employee Assistance Programs. For more information visit our Benefits webpage.


Duties and Responsibilities


General Duties:

• Full-time faculty are expected to teach a minimum of 15 load hours, or equivalent, per semester
• Instruct students and work with them on learning strategies to help them achieve academic success
• Use current, effective classroom management techniques
• Monitor and continuously improve instruction to ensure Course Learning Outcomes are met on a classroom, discipline/program, and College level
• Evaluate and assess student performance
• Facilitate learning and help students achieve academic success and retention
• Continually improve instruction utilizing appropriate delivery methods
• Evaluate and revise course outlines and course materials
• Provide academic advising
• Provide leadership in the department
• Maintain competency and currency in the teaching fields as well as in teaching strategies, subject delivery modalities, and assessment methods
• Engage in professional development in current and emerging instructional approaches to engage new majority learners
• Serve actively as a member of the department and discipline groups
• Participate in fostering partnerships that strengthen educational opportunities in response to community needs
• Represent the department and/or campus on college-wide committees
• Work collaboratively with faculty of other disciplines, campus resources, and departments to support active student learning
• Work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students and utilize a collegial style in all forms of communication
• Possibly work at more than one Pima Community College Campus, depending on need
• Teach in multiple modalities, including in-person, online, and hybrid

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities


The College places a premium on candidates with an openness to new approaches and professional growth. We recognize that our faculty body is strengthened by a cross-sectional breadth of experience.

• Ability to adapt and modify instruction based on the students' instructional needs and learning styles, including working with accommodations and accessibility
• Knowledge of appropriate and effective use of assessment information to improve instruction
• Evaluation of students' educational progress: ability to maintain high instruction and learning standards and assess students' academic progress in meeting course objectives and student learning outcomes
• Teaching in multiple modalities such as online, web-enhanced, and D2L courses: knowledge of curriculum development, course design, and delivery
• Knowledge of the resources available to students to assist them with academic and personal challenges, and ability to help students access those resources, skilled in providing academic advising
• Interest in curriculum development and course design, including best practices in assessment
• Integration of the Community College mission within the course content and teaching practice
• Competencies in multiculturalism, diversity, and inclusivity: knowledge of diverse community college student populations, and the ability to address diversity in effective instructional practice and student learning
• Knowledge and appreciation for the Community College mission

Job Requirements


Minimum qualifications requirements for faculty positions are governed by our faculty qualification standards. This position is in an Academic discipline and requires the following to obtain Pima Community College teaching certification:

• Master's degree in Physics or
  


• Master's degree in any discipline and 18 graduate semester hours in the field of study.
  Fields of study (disciplines/subfields) are physics; physical sciences; applied and industrial physics; other closely related fields.


• In disciplines where a master's degree is not offered and the doctorate is the terminal degree, or where the candidate has opted not to receive a master's degree during the course of study for the doctorate degree as a terminal degree, or where all but dissertation of a doctorate degree has been obtained, 24 graduate semester hours in the teaching field are required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with research-based teaching strategies
• Experience teaching physics at the community college level

The selected candidate will:

• Work a flexible schedule including mornings, afternoons and evenings as needed to meet student demand
• Possibly work at more than one Pima Community College Campus, depending on need
• Teach in multiple modalities, including in-person and online

Directions for Applying and Other Important Information


Degrees and courses qualifying for Pima Community College teaching certification must be from a regionally accredited college or university. Applicants currently in progress for a degree or additional coursework to meet the minimum qualifications must have the degree conferred and/or coursework completed by May 2025.

A degree from any college outside of the United States (even if the transcript is in English) may need to be evaluated by a foreign transcript evaluation service. Pima Community College requires that applicants use an evaluation agency that is a member of NACES or AACRAO's corporate partners

Before ordering an evaluation, check with Faculty Qualifications & Hiring to confirm whether you will need to complete this step.

To submit an application you must include the documents that are listed within the application form as required. Documents listed as optional do not have to be attached in order to submit the application. Follow the directions in the application form to upload your documents. At minimum, these documents are required:

Resume. This should be up to date and account for and describe all gaps in employment.

Letter of interest or cover letter. This is a description of your knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience related to the duties and responsibilities of the position, as well as the strengths you would bring to the assignment. The letter should not exceed two (2) pages.

Teaching Philosophy Statement: In one page or less, please share your experience working with diverse student populations typically served by community colleges and indicate how that informs your teaching practice and/or philosophy.

Unofficial copies of transcripts. These must be:

for all post-secondary degrees you have listed in your application

legible (front and back) and show the name of the regionally accredited institution, the degree conferred, and the page(s) explaining the institution's grading system

attached to the application even if they have been submitted in the past

The selected candidate(s) must provide Faculty Qualifications & Hiring with official (unopened) transcripts and/or official (unopened) foreign transcript evaluation.


Selection Process:


The selection process typically consists of one or two advisory group interview(s), a teaching demonstration, and an administrative interview.

Candidates invited to the interview process will be chosen from those who most closely meet the stated requirements. Meeting these qualifications does not guarantee an interview.

If you have any questions regarding the application process or to request a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities, please contact faculty-hiring@pima.edu. Office hours are normally Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm.

Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Minorities/Females/Disabled/Protected Veterans are encouraged to apply.


About the College and Tucson Community


Pima Community College is committed to becoming a premier community college, one that is built on a foundation of student success, community engagement, and diversity. We hire people who:

• set and meet high standards
• believe in service and accountability
• have a passion for learning
• are creative
• can help fulfill our mission
• understand the first-generation college student experience
• are knowledgeable about the challenges of underprivileged populations
• are knowledgeable about the traditions and culture of the populations of the Southwest, including Latinos and Native Americans
• have cultural sensitivity and understanding of the needs of differently-abled, veterans, and LGBTQ

Pima recently was named one of the top workplaces in Arizona by Forbes magazine, which analyzed such factors as safety of work environment, competitiveness of compensation, opportunities for advancement and openness to telework.

The College meets the needs of the community by offering instruction when and how our students want it: evenings, weekends, year-round, in traditional classroom settings, online and virtual learning, in web-classroom hybrids, and in semester-long or accelerated formats. Employees can expect to participate in innovative, flexible scheduling, in keeping with the College's vision, to provide access to learning without the limits of time, place, or distance.

Pima Community College is in Tucson, an inclusive oasis in the Arizona Sonoran desert. With a population of about 1 million, metro Tucson is a cosmopolitan community. It is a majority-minority city enriched by an active LGBTQIA+ community and by nearly 150 distinct neighborhoods, from Barrio Anita to Poets Square.

Located 65 miles from Mexico, Tucson sits on the border-spanning ancestral lands of the Tohono O'odham and Pascua Yaqui peoples and is proud of centuries of Hispanic and Indigenous heritage.

Environmental stewardship is in Tucson's nature. The city is situated in a valley surrounded by four mountain ranges that create a unique ecosystem encompassing a saguaro-studded desert floor and pine forests on Mount Lemmon. We're bracketed on the East and West sides by Saguaro National Park, and we're committed to planting 1 million trees by 2030.

Additional information about the College may be found at www.pima.edu. Apply Now