Physics/Astronomy

Physics/Astronomy Full-Time Faculty
Salary: $69,000.00 - $83,000.00 Annually
Location:  Jackson, MI
Job Type:  Faculty

Looking to Transform and Change Lives every day? Think about joining our Jackson College team and be a part of one of the elite League for Innovation Colleges. Located in the Midwest, with four beautiful seasons, miles of golf courses and beautiful lakes parks, trails, and active downtown. Jackson has an Amtrak stop, bus service, and we are an hour from an international airport. Our employees enjoy working on a beautiful campus complete with state-of-the art facilities, a fitness trail, disc golf, on site medical, dental, mental health care, and childcare.

Jackson College offers competitive wages, a generous benefits package including dental, vision and MESSA medical insurance, along with tuition grants for employees and eligible dependents. While we offer many of the amenities of larger institutions, our students, and our Total Commitment to Student Success (TCS2), is our focus. We provide small class sizes, individual professional development opportunities and a family atmosphere.

Primary Responsibilities:
This position is responsible for teaching in the natural sciences area, with primary staffing in the physics and astronomy area. A portion of this full-time faculty position will be focused upon support to the Jackson College Observatory's mission to the College, and educational outreach to the surrounding community, and the astronomical research community. Expectation of leadership in developing a pre-baccalaureate program in astronomy and/or astrophysics. Each semester’s course load may be on the Jackson College Central Campus, or at its Centers in either Adrian or Hillsdale, or at another off-campus location. Other duties include creation of course materials, oversight of assessment, and mentoring adjunct faculty. A commitment to equity in the classroom and continuous curriculum innovation, including instruction for condensed semesters, competency-based learning, hybrid and online courses is expected.

This full-time teaching position includes instruction of 33-35 contact hours per academic year. Teaching assignments will be based upon the specific applicant’s qualifications and experience, but with a primary focus upon physics and astrophysics courses for both majors and non-majors and may include teaching a cross-disciplinary natural science course, and other courses as needed and as appropriate to the candidate’s qualifications. Leadership skills will be necessary as the College seeks broad engagement with the local community and with global partners. Teaching courses at other JC locations, online and hybrid instruction, evening courses, weekend courses, and at prison locations may be required. Candidates must possess the ability to obtain a Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN) clearance and maintain it annually, at all Michigan correctional facilities.

Other primary responsibilities include curriculum development and assessment, program development and review, advising students and meeting scheduled office hours. Participation in department/discipline meetings and in college-wide committees is required. The candidate must work effectively with other faculty and staff in a rapidly changing team environment. Support and contribution to diversity and student success initiatives and commitment to campus and curricular internationalization efforts is expected. A commitment to professional development and learning is required. The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to the mission, vision values and beliefs of Jackson College through working with diverse populations but still be able to connect one-on-one with students. This individual will have good listening skills and the ability to understand the needs of others, be flexible, and maintain a high work ethic and integrity
Essential Functions

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Planning

• Participates in department, academic program, and curriculum development activities.
• Plans thoroughly on a daily, weekly, and semester time period to ensure implementation of the established curriculum and provides strong support for students in their pursuit of established expectations.
• Develops plans that promote the development of higher-order thinking skills in the instructional process.
• Develops and maintains course outlines which are reviewed annually.

Instruction
Provides motivation to learn via:
thorough planning
enthusiasm for subject matter
appropriate climate for learning within the classroom
relevant and current course content
understanding of individual differences and learning styles

Facilitates and paces instruction to maximize learning.
Utilizes varied instructional delivery modes.
Assesses learning frequently using various methods, such as:
questioning techniques
oral and/or written quizzes
student presentations
writing assignments
self-determined assessment instruments
Provides remediation as deemed appropriate and possible.
Develops and administers exams consistent with learning goals including course competency examinations, where appropriate.
Possibility of teaching evening and weekend courses, weekend, online, condensed courses, CBE, and in the Corrections Education Program
Develops and distributes course syllabi for each course taught to each student which
a. conveys the goals and outcomes of the course
b. reflects curriculum adopted by the academic area and/or program for course
c. establishes and communicates challenging expectations for students
d. explains the relationship of those expectations to the grading and assessment process.

General Responsibilities

• Advises students on curriculum, academic programs, employment and career goals, and other matters as appropriate.
• Responds to requests of academic area and/or program leaders, department heads, committee chairs, records office, etc. in a timely and thorough manner.
• Consistently meets instructional schedule and other assignments and commitments in support of the college.
• Establishes and maintains regular and appropriate office hours
• Treats all members of the college community with dignity and respect.
• Works through established channels to resolve problems.
• Participates in activities designed to promote attainment of the college vision and its missions.
• Participates in academic area and/or program planning and improvement activities as requested.
• Meets requirements of the APRP with the intention of maintaining teaching effectiveness, professional development and support of college/community initiatives.
• Attends Commencement.
• Attends and participates in academic area and/or program and department meetings.
• Formally documents learning assessment efforts in a timely manner.
• Learns and complies with all college policies.
• Upholds and enforces the student code of conduct.

Professional Growth

• Maintains a current knowledge in subject area(s) of instruction.
• Maintains a current knowledge of research in the area of teaching and learning.
• Incorporates new knowledge in the planning and instruction process.
• Demonstrates a commitment to the ongoing growth and development of students and fellow staff members alike.
• Participates in professional development activities
• When appropriate, maintains ties with professional organizations.

Curriculum

• Advises students on curriculum, academic programs, employment, career goals, and other matters as appropriate.
• Contributes to the growth and development of the academic area and the college by participating in team-based committee work, academic area planning, and other academic area-related and college-related activities.
• Supports the academic area and college through other work normally expected of faculty members.
  Teaching Effectiveness
• Places the primary emphasis on student learning in the design, delivery, and evaluation/assessment of courses.
• Understands the various levels of preparation represented in the typical classroom and communicates well to the various levels.
• Provides a course syllabus to the students.
• Understands and adapts teaching to various learning styles present in the classroom as demonstrated in the presentation of course materials and assessment of student learning.
• Conducts classroom assessment techniques.
• Designs and implements course curriculum that reflects the relevance and conveys the value of academic studies to everyday world.
• Understands and successfully uses learning technology, as needed, both in class and as a tool for distance learning.
• Fosters higher-level learning with an emphasis on analysis, problem solving and critical thinking.
• Promotes student demonstration of learning through a variety of assessments that may include exams, discussions, debates, presentations, simulations, and/or debriefings.
• Has high expectations of students and gives challenging work.
• Makes contact with students, recognizing them as individual learners
• Is accessible to students both in and out of the classroom and/or formal office hours and strives to help students be successful.
• Listens to students and encourages them to actively participate in the learning process.
• Demonstrates respect, care, and empathy for students.
• Encourages students to believe they can learn successfully; shows confidence in them.
• Is flexible switching from one teaching approach to another when things don’t work, yet keeps the objectives of the course in sight at all times.
• Is enthusiastic about the subject matter in the classroom and shares the joy of learning with students.
• Maintains a sense of humor and humanity in the classroom.
• Encourages student growth and celebrates student success.

Faculty Professional Development
Demonstrates a continuing engagement with the learning and scholarship of their area of specialization.
Strives to be on the cutting edge of professional content knowledge and methodology
Support of College, Community Initiatives

Is fully committed to the mission and values of Jackson College and participates actively in the shared governance system.

College mission may include, but would not be limited to:

• College Assessment Activities
• Curricular Development
• Coordination/Communication -Transfer Institutions
• Academic Advising
• Career Advising
• Recruiting/Screening Faculty
• College Projects and Activities--Participation and Leadership
• Professional honors awarded during the evaluation period
• Faculty professional development opportunities
• College Committee Participation/ Leadership
• Registration/Orientation Participation
• Advisory Committee Participation
• Service to Community on Behalf of College
• Presenting or Consulting in Areas Related to Field
• Representing the College at School Visits
• Program Coordination/Leadership
• Teaching for Extended Educational Services or Training and Research
• Relevant Work Activities (contributory to college role or institutional image)
• Recruiting Students
• Community Service/Leadership Publication Research
• Facilities Development
• Articulation
• Participation in community education initiatives
• Artistic/Creative Accomplishments Related to Field
• Assistance to Other Faculty and Staff
• Participation in College Sponsored Events

Required
Master’s degree or higher in astrophysics, master’s degree with 18 graduate credit hours in astrophysics
Teaching, including laboratory experience in astronomy, astrophysics, physics, or closely related courses
Experience with research level observatory equipment and practices

Preferred
Two years teaching experience at the community college level in physics, astronomy, or a closely related field
Qualified under the guidelines of the Higher Learning Commission to teach additional disciplines in the natural sciences
Experience in creating courses, course materials and content for both lecture and lab

QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints. Ability to write speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style. Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Utilize arithmetic and apply concepts of basic algebra as appropriate to the job responsibilities.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems. Ability to deal with nonverbal symbolism (formulas, scientific equations, graphs, musical notes, etc.,) in its most difficult phases. Ability to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.

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