Teri

Posted on 9/26/09

My Master's is in Community College Teaching (GSC, now Rowan
U.) and am active in AMATYC. I started my career as a
visiting prof and adjunct at two different state (4-yr)
colleges before being hired at my cc 22 years ago. I want to
keep this brief, feel free to email me directly if you have
more questions. You need to understand that the cc is a
different culture than a four-year school. It is a place
where you teach everything from K-12 to 200-level content.
You will see more non-traditional students going to school
for the first time, you will have more students who are
working too much - some work full-time while trying to go to
school full-time. You will have far more students who are
woefully underprepared for college, yet at the same time you
will see some of those gems who will amaze you with their
ability to offer deep insight into whatever content you are
teaching. Some are going to a cc to get a job (diplona or
AA/AS pgm), some in order to save money/prepare to transfer
to a senior level institution, others are only there to
remain on their parents medical insurance. You will need to
be understanding, flexible, able to handle just about
anything that comes up, yet at the same time being willing to
keep your standards high and refurse to lower them.
Remember, there are still many students who are the first to
go to college. My success rate at the four-year schools was
99-100%, at my cc a 50% success rate makes one giddy! You
will see many students who drop-out, some for attempting a
class without the prereq, some for personal issues, some
because they are not willing to do the necessary work to
pass, others for job reasons. For example, I'll start a
semester with 18 students, end with 9 - 6 passing. Can you
handle some of these things and not take it personal? Are
you comfortable teaching an adult a concept or skill they
should have learned in 6th grade? Are you able to make up
material if your class is canceled due to snow or your
illness? Can you able to "drop back and punt" as I call it -
having to change a lesson plan at the last minute for what
ever reason? These are some of the things that may come up
in the interview process. I have never regretted teaching at
this level - when things got especially discouraging, one of
those special students would come along that would remind me
why I was teaching where I was. Please forgive the length of
my reply. We professors can give long answers at times! I
love my students, even the ones that drive me crazy.
Education at this level can be frustating, but for the most
part it is so rewarding that you will never get bored!
Hopefully I've given you something you can use going into an
interview.

On 9/25/09, Hopeful wrote:
> Happy Friday, everyone.
>
> I am hoping for an interview for a full-time position at our
> local CC where I already teach part-time. I did not have to
> interview for the part time position, and I am looking for
> advice on the interview process. Are there particular
> things that Community Colleges look for opposed to 4-year
> colleges and secondary schools? I am looking to make this
> area my home and hope that the part-time position will help.
>
> Any thoughts on areas of experience that I should emphasize?

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