Assistant Professor of Communication (Debate)

Southwestern Community College District; Chula Vista (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

Southwestern Community College District in Chula Vista, CA invites applications for a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor in Communication. The ideal candidate will teach a broad range of communication courses, with emphasis on argumentation and debate, intercultural communication, and public speaking.

Commitment to equity and supporting a diverse student body is essential. Expect responsibilities include developing competitive communication activities, coaching students, and possible

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Speech, Speech Broadcasting, Telecommunications, Rhetoric, Communication, Communication Studies, Speech Communication, or Organizational Communication.
• Bachelor’s Degree in any of the above AND Master’s Degree in Drama/Theater Arts, Mass Communication, or English.
• The equivalent.
• Additional assessment required for foreign degrees; coursework must be evaluated by a NACES member and submitted with the application.

Responsibilities

• Teach a wide range of communication courses, including intercultural communication, public speaking, oral communication, interpersonal communication, mass communication, and oral interpretation.
• Develop, coach, and support competitive communication activities and travel with students, potentially serving as Assistant Director or Director at competitions.
• Lead and participate in departmental duties and contribute to equity-minded instruction.

Skills

Communication teaching

Argumentation & debate

Intercultural communication

Public speaking

Oral communication

Interpersonal communication

Mass communication

Oral interpretation

Education

Master’s degree in related field

Bachelor’s degree + Master’s in drama/theater arts, mass communication, or English

Equivalent degree

Job description

This position may include a combination of day, evening, weekend, extension site, and online or hybrid assignments.

Southwestern Community College District is seeking a full-time, tenure-track, equity-focused faculty member committed to serving its’ culturally diverse student population.

Southwestern Community College District seeks faculty who will foster an inclusive learning environment through equity-minded counseling, teaching, leadership, and service to students working toward goals of university transfer, associate degree and certificate completion, employment advancement, and personal growth.

THE COLLEGE

Southwestern Community College District (SWCCD) is not just a college district; it is a vibrant hub of higher education serving the diverse communities of Chula Vista, San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, National City, and Coronado. Our strategic location in south San Diego County places us in a unique position to provide exceptional services to a binational community along the United States-Mexico International Border.

As a proud Hispanic Serving Institution and eligible Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (ANNAPISI), SWCCD places immense value on equity, inclusion, diversity, and culturally responsive classroom instruction and support services. We understand that each employee and student bring a unique set of experiences and perspectives to our campus, and we are committed to creating an environment that welcomes and celebrates this diversity.

The College is dedicated to providing quality academic programs, comprehensive student support services that ensure equitable access, and clear pathways to student success. These efforts include professional development opportunities, employee-led affinity groups, proud commitment to DACA students, and supportive employee onboarding practices.

OUR STUDENTS

SWCCD currently enrolls approximately 32,000 students annually. SWCCD is a very diverse college with an ethnicity/race make up of 58% Hispanic students, 19% Caucasian students, 6% Filipino students, 5% African American students, 2% Asian students and 3% multi-ethnicity. Approximately 56% of the college’s students are under the age of 24 with 28% ages 25 to 39. Approximately 53% of students receive some form of financial aid, 39% are full-time students and 61% part-time students. The college has approximately 1,500 employees.

OUR VALUES

We value the ability to serve students from a broad range of cultural heritages, academic backgrounds, genders, abilities, and orientations. We seek applicants who demonstrate they understand the benefits diversity brings to a professional educational community. Successful candidates will be expected to exhibit responsiveness and sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, cultural, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, religious, and ethnic and racial backgrounds of community college students and employees, and successfully foster and support an inclusive educational and employment environment. An equity-minded individual is a person who already does or has demonstrated the desire to:

1. Critically self-assess their individual impact, through teaching practices and student engagement, on closing equity gaps and holds themselves accountable to upholding and delivering equitable practices.
2. Reframe deficit language and take individual and collective responsibility to look at their own practices as a vehicle to eliminate inequities.
3. Encourage positive race-consciousness and embrace human differences.
4. Strategically encourage and build buy-in and participation among colleagues for equity efforts.

Southwestern Community College District seeks faculty who value mentorship and working in a collegial, collaborative environment, guided by a commitment to helping all students achieve their educational goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direction of the Dean of the School of Arts, Communication, Design and Media, the School is seeking a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor in Communication. This position requires a candidate skilled in teaching communication courses. The School is particularly interested in candidates who have training and/or experience in, and a commitment to argumentation and debate, in addition to experience in teaching a wide range of communication classes, including intercultural communication, public speaking, oral communication, interpersonal communication, mass communication, and oral interpretation.

The successful candidate will also be expected to develop, coach, and support competitive communication activities and to travel with students, potentially serving as the Assistant Director, and potentially Director, while representing the institution at regional and national competitions.

Master’s Degree in Speech, Speech Broadcasting, Telecommunications, Rhetoric, Communication, Communication Studies, Speech Communication, or Organizational Communication.

OR

Bachelor’s Degree in any of the above AND Master’s Degree in Drama/Theater Arts, Mass Communication, or English.

OR

The equivalent.

Additional assessment is required for applicants with foreign degrees from colleges or universities outside of the United States. Applicants must have their coursework evaluated by a professional association that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) and must submit a copy of the evaluation with the application.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Recent Director, Assistant Director, and/or experience managing debate budgets.
• Recent experience coaching collegiate policy debate.
• Recent teaching experience, especially at the community college level.
• Experience in teaching Communication Studies courses using non-traditional approaches.
• Experience teaching argumentation and debate courses at the college level.
• Familiarity with computer-assisted technology as related to public speaking applications.
• Experience in curriculum development and maintenance.
• Experience assessing student learning outcomes.
• Ability to facilitate team travel.

Candidates must exhibit an appreciation of, a sensitivity to, and respect for a rich and diverse academic environment, inclusive of students, faculty, and staff of varying social, economic, cultural, ideological and ethnic backgrounds, and those with disabilities. Experience working in a community with a similar diversity pattern as is found in the service area for Southwestern College is desirable.

A short teaching demonstration may be required of those invited for an interview.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

1. Subject matter preparation:

1. Experience in coaching and directing collegiate policy debate.
2. Experience in teaching general education/non-major students.
3. Experience in teaching Communication Studies courses.

1. Evidence of ability and effectiveness as a faculty member:

1. Understanding of the role and purpose of the community college.
2. Ability to evaluate one’s andragogy and its effectiveness in facilitating student learning.
3. Ability to use teaching methods that engage racially, ethnically, academically, and culturally diverse students; promote critical thinking and emphasize cooperation and collaboration.
4. Sensitivity to, and respect for a rich and diverse academic environment, inclusive of students, faculty, and staff of varying social, economic, cultural, ideological and ethnic backgrounds, and those with disabilities.
5. Experience in equitable teaching practices.
6. Commitment to collegiality and collaboration by working as a team with faculty and staff enhancing instruction, curriculum, and student success; as well as in the planning of class schedules and teaching rotations.
7. Knowledge and practice of culturally responsive pedagogy and andragogy that supports student-centered, self-reflective, and student-capable approaches which includes a wide range of institutional delivery systems.
8. Ability to teach online courses effectively.
9. Commitment to professional responsibilities and associations outside of the classroom through contributions to the department, division and college activities.

SALARY SCHEDULE:Academic Contract 10-Month

Upon initial employment, full-time faculty members are placed on the salary schedule based upon years of experience and education. Initial salary placement can range from $70,277.00-$105,742.00 per year.

Faculty members are encouraged to continue their professional development through additional study qualifying them for advancement on the salary schedule. For the current salary schedule and information on salary placement visit our website at www.swccd.edu.

Academic employees participate in the State Teachers’ Retirement System, a defined-benefit retirement plan through the State of California.

TENTATIVE TIMELINE (Subject to change):Any application received after the initial screening deadline is not guaranteed a review.

November 4-February 7, 2027	Position advertised; District receives applications
December 21-January 1, 2027	District closed for winter break.
February 7, 2027	Initial screening deadline for guaranteed consideration. Position is open until filled.
February 15-26, 2027	Reviewing of applications.
March 1-12, 2027	Search Committee interviews candidates.
April, 2027	Top finalist second level interview.
May, 2027	Successful applicant name submitted to Governing Board for approval.