3 Comments

1. 

   swhertzb

   2nd October 2009  

   First- remember you will probably have to teach at more than one CC to make a living wage – adjuncts [read: peons] are the norm in academia now even if you have [as I do] a PhD. Second – because of the facts of the market now it helps if you live in an area with many CCs. Third – check out the Chronicle of Higher Education’s job site and tips esp. for adjuncts and CC jobs – you can even sign up for job alerts in your field [also- go to your local reference librarian esp. at a University and ask for search site for employment in CCs and in your field]. Fourth – focus on teaching where you are now, rather than publications. It also helps if you are familiar [even to taking a course] with the higher ed. requirements in your state and advising students about how to meet them. If you can get evaluations on your classroom performance -even if just from your professors- this will help a lot. All things being equal though – the candidate with a proven teaching record outshines one without. Fifth – it always helps to know an insider and to have good references -be sure to tell anyone you ask for refs that you want to teach not try -at the moment- for tenure track it makes a difference. Sixth – good luck!
2. 

   cyneswil

   2nd October 2009  

   Ask Los Rios CC? Do they even have an opening?
3. 

   trey m

   2nd October 2009  

   The first answer is very complete and certainly conforms to my own experience and knowledge. As the respondent mentioned, teaching experience is really a factor. If you can get a graduate T.A. position, that would help. Also, consider a first teaching experience at a vocational college. For instance, art colleges and business colleges that award AA and BA degrees must offer general education courses. Try independent colleges too–there are independent professional schools for adults in psychology, for instance. Research on the internet. You would probably be qualified to teach something in the social sciences or perhaps courses listed under “liberal studies.” If you want to teach high school, try private high schools first(I’m assuming you don’t have a secondary teachng credential)–these schools prize the M.A. even above the Secondary Credential. True, the adjuncts are the serfs at universities, but not as much so at all at CCs. As long as you keep trying for a full-time CC job–don’t work so hard as an adjunct that you can’t continue to work on your professional development…