Environmental Conservation Faculty (Full-Time Tenure-Track)

Skagit Valley College (SVC) is seeking qualified equity-minded applicants for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position in the Environmental Conservation program. The successful candidate will demonstrate exceptional teaching skills including those needed to effectively teach in an online or hybrid environment, enthusiasm for the subject matter, an inclusive and equity-driven approach to teaching and learning, and innovative pedagogy and teaching strategies. Candidates should be able and excited to teach a variety of lecture and laboratory-based coursework in the department. Faculty at SVC respect and work effectively with diverse students, colleagues, staff, and others in a campus climate that promotes innovative and equity-minded teaching, a diverse learning environment, and a strong focus on improving student success rates and addressing systemic inequities in access and achievement for all students.
 
SVC Environmental Conservation Faculty typically teach an equivalent of 15- 18 instructional units per quarter (3 classes) and College service. This position is expected to begin in Winter Quarter, January 2025.
 
This position is based primarily at the Mount Vernon Campus; however, Instructors may be called upon to teach at the Whidbey Island Campus located in Oak Harbor.
 
SVC welcomes faculty with a commitment to excellence in teaching and the success of all students. We are committed to cultivating a welcoming and supportive learning environment for non-native English speakers and other diverse groups. In so doing, we offer our students and community not only the opportunity to learn about varied disciplines but to engage with diverse perspectives and ways of knowing and learning. Candidates representing all aspects of diversity are encouraged to apply.

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Incorporate an equity-minded approach to teaching and learning;
• Participate in and collaborate on ongoing development, assessment, and revision of Bachelors of Applied Science and Associate of Applied Science degrees and certificate curriculum that reflects innovative and inclusive pedagogy and advances in the field of Environmental Conservation;
• Initiate new interagency agreements and develop partnerships with regional agencies for student projects, resource sharing, and collaboration; play an active role in developing and maintaining industry partnerships, including local tribal partners and state agencies;
• Work collaboratively with SVC faculty from other fields to develop appropriate curricula that reflect the diversity of student experience;
• Create a positive learning environment for students using diverse teaching methods to support and enhance student success;
• Collaborate with other disciplines to increase enrollment and support student retention in the program with a focus on ameliorating equity gaps;
• Develop, monitor, and assess student learning outcomes and fully participate in the college’s program review process;
• Develop, assess, and analyze program outcomes for the purpose of program improvement and enhanced student learning;
• Conduct program outreach by leading program briefing sessions for prospective students, assisting with marketing and recruitment activities and leading student application reviews;
• Collaborate, facilitate, and participate in advisory board meetings;
• Participate in unit, department and other College activities, including College governance;
• Teach online, hybrid, or classroom-based classes as required;
• Work collaboratively as part of the Environmental Conservation department team;
• Practice multicultural understanding and foster equity;
• Participate in division/department and other College activities, including College governance;
• Perform other related duties and special projects as assigned.

All faculty at SVC are expected to meet the following faculty competencies:

• Instructional Excellence: Demonstrates (and sustains through professional development) instructional excellence by incorporating high-impact practices and subject matter expertise and drawing on college resources including technology, to create a learning environment that supports student achievement.
• Student Learning Assessment: Provides consistent, timely formative and summative performance assessment, promotes student self-assessment, and creates opportunities for student feedback to support student achievement and engagement.
• Program and Course Assessment: Contributes to ongoing program and course assessment activities and to the related development and revision of curriculum.
• Advising: Fosters relationship-based advising connections with students in support of student’s academic and career aspirations.
• Service to the College: Participates in college governance, campus life and/or community relations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to teach a variety of applied ecology and related subjects, including biostatistics;
• Ability to establish and maintain community partnerships and connections with a variety of agencies;
• Engage students through innovative instructional approaches such as service learning projects, and contextualized learning;
• Demonstrate commitment to equity-minded approaches to teaching and learning;
• Practice and adopt a variety of active learning strategies that facilitate student learning and that are inclusive of all cultures and backgrounds;
• Support students in accessing appropriate instructional and non-instructional services to facilitate student retention, completion and academic success for all students;
• Adapt to a variety of teaching situations, including interdisciplinary learning communities, and online and hybrid modalities;
• Express appropriate awareness of the history of underrepresented groups to promote an equitable work and learning environment;
• Recruit and inspire diverse student populations to embrace learning and facilitate completion;
• Work and interact effectively with colleagues, staff, students, administrators and other various cultural and socio-economic backgrounds in support of SVC’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion;
• Act according to principles of integrity, respect, open and honest communication, collaboration, and compassion.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Have, or ability to obtain, a Ph.D. in Environmental Conservation, ecology, or related field by January 2025;
• Experience training or teaching adults;
• One (1) year of teaching experience, which may include previous community college, university, K-12, graduate school, teaching assistant, and/or substitute teaching.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional experience in the field of Environmental Conservation;
• Ph.D. in a relevant field;
• Experience teaching ecology and/or related subjects;
• Proficiency in and ability to teach biostatistics;
• Familiarity in R and GIS software;
• Experience training or teaching adults;
• Experience teaching online using an industry-standard LMS such as Canvas;
• Experience teaching any courses offered within the Environmental Conservation department;
• Five (5) or more years of teaching experience in a higher education setting.

SVC provides a drug-free environment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity, pregnancy, genetic information, age, marital status, disability, honorably discharged veteran or military status in its programs and employment.