Associate Faculty, Astronomy (part-time)

College of the Redwoods; Eureka (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

College of the Redwoods in Eureka, CA is collecting applications for a pool of qualified instructors for Academic Year 2026-2027. Positions will include teaching and possible nonteaching duties, with salary based on education and experience as per district policy.

Assignments will be in various disciplines, with responsibilities including maintaining current curriculum, advising, office hours, and involvement in program review and accreditation as required by the college.

Qualifications

• Master’s in physics, astronomy or astrophysics OR Bachelor’s in physics or astronomy AND Master’s in engineering, mathematics, meteorology or geophysics OR the equivalent.
• Placement and salary placement depend on class/column and step as described in the posting.
• All degrees/units must be from regionally accredited institutions.

Responsibilities

• Participates in teaching and nonteaching assignments as delineated by department policies.
• Maintains currency and depth of knowledge in the discipline.
• Demonstrates effective written and oral communication with students and colleagues.
• Ensures materials align with curriculum and department standards.
• Contributes to program development, governance, and accreditation processes.

Skills

Teaching experience

Communication skills

Patience and fairness

Diversity awareness

Education

Master’s in physics, astronomy or astrophysics

Bachelor’s in physics or astronomy AND Master’s in engineering, mathematics, meteorology or geophysics

Tools

Class placement rules

Job description

This is a posting to gather a pool of qualified applicants for possible openings in the Eureka area for Academic Year 2026 - 2027.

Teaching and Nonteaching Assignments

• Demonstrates effective performance of duties and responsibilities of the assignment. Duties and responsibilities of the discipline or area of assignment are delineated in specific job descriptions and/or department procedure manuals.
• Shows currency and depth of knowledge in the discipline and/or area of assignment.
• Demonstrates patience, fairness, and promptness in the evaluation and discussion of student work.
• Shows sensitivity and responsiveness to the needs of individual students and their special circumstances, when appropriate.
• Shows sensitivity to and knowledge of the diverse ways students learn and is responsive to individual needs.
• Uses effective written and oral communication skills with students and colleagues.
• Demonstrates effective organizational skills in the classroom and/or work site.
• Exercises effective judgment in following college policy.
• For faculty with teaching assignments, uses teaching methods and materials challenging to the student and appropriate to the subject matter, consistent with departmental curriculum, while encouraging within a department a variety of successful pedagogical approaches to learning.
• For faculty with nonteaching assignments, effectively fulfills responsibilities in terms of:
  • communication and coordination with students, colleagues, and administrators;
  • quality of work; and, if appropriate,
  • program development, budget planning and implementation, program leadership, and collegial governance.
• Ensures currency and appropriateness of curriculum, course outlines, and written materials.
• Ensures that the following are incorporated into materials in the area of assignment: communication skills, computational skills, critical thinking, and cultural diversity.
• Adheres to state and federal regulations applicable to area of assignment.

Responsibilities additional to Teaching/Nonteaching Assignment may include the following:

• Participates, where appropriate, in peer mentoring and evaluation processes and demonstrates objectivity in the professional evaluation of colleagues.
• Meets contractual obligations, including advising and maintaining regular office hours, when applicable to the position.
• Demonstrates responsibility in fulfilling division/department obligations and other district requirements.
• Participates in professional growth activities, such as workshops, seminars, conferences, publications, artistic exhibits, performances, research, or other activities appropriate to assignment.
• Provides leadership and demonstrates commitment to the profession through activities such as involvement in professional organizations, participation in collegial governance, college committees, campus activities, development of new curriculum, classroom research, or other appropriate activities.
• Works with colleagues to provide an educational program and environment that supports the success of each student, and otherwise implements the college philosophy and mission statement.
• Participates in program review and accreditation processes.

Professional Conduct

• Promotes and defends intellectual inquiry and the exchange and analysis of ideas among colleagues and students; values the diversity of opinions.
• Demonstrates respect for the college community and the profession.
• Promotes a nonthreatening campus environment free from verbal and nonverbal discrimination and sexual harassment.
• Supports gender equity and cultural diversity, and displays sensitivity to these issues.

Master’s in physics, astronomy or astrophysics OR Bachelor’s in physics or astronomy AND Master’s in engineering, mathematics, meteorology or geophysics OR the equivalent

Salary based on education and experience

Placement of all associate faculty will be determined by Class (column) and Step as described below: Class 0: Faculty Intern as defined by § 53500. Class I: AA + 6 years occupational experience; and BA + 2 years of occupational experience. Class II: MA; BA + 30 units post BA; BA + 4 years occupational experience; AA + 8 years occupational experience. Class III: MA with 50 units post BA; BA + 50 units post BA; BA + 6 years occupational experience; AA + 10 years occupational experience. Class IV: MA with 70 units post BA; BA + 70 units post BA; BA + 8 years occupational experience; AA + 12 years occupational experience. 3.10.1 For all Classes, all degrees and units must be from regionally accredited (or equivalent) institutions of higher education. 3.10.2 For Classes III and IV, all units beyond a Bachelor’s Degree must be upper division or graduate level semester units (or equivalent) earned subsequent to the granting of the Bachelor’s Degree. 3.10.3 For Classes III and IV, all units beyond a Bachelor’s Degree must be upper division or graduate level semester units (or equivalent) earned subsequent to the granting of the Bachelor’s Degree. 3.10.4 Nursing faculty and those faculty whose initial assignment is in disciplines the Minimum qualifications for Faculty and Administrators in California Community Colleges identifies as “disciplines in which a master’s degree is not generally expected or available” may be credited in class placement for years of full-time, paid occupational experience. 3.10.4.1 Full-time, paid occupational experience as an apprentice qualifies for credit toward column placement. 3.10.4.2 Experience as a teaching or laboratory assistant does not count towards initial salary placement. 3.10.4.3 Experience years as an intern paid or unpaid do not count as occupation years. 3.10.5 Step Placement: Up to two steps may be credited to a faculty member for prior teaching experience. Maximum step placement for teaching experience is step 2. 3.10.5.1 Credit for college teaching experience will be computed as one step for each one year of experience. 3.10.5.2 Credit for high school teaching experience will be computed as follows one step for each two years of experience.