Instructor/Assistant Professor – Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Suffolk County Community College; Brentwood, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Instructor/Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Suffolk County Community College’s Grant Campus in Brentwood will oversee fieldwork sites and teach OTA courses. The role emphasizes high-quality fieldwork, student-centered instruction, and program assessment.

The ideal candidate holds NY licensure, NBCOT certification, and a record of teaching or clinical experience. A commitment to equity and ongoing professional development will be important in this

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy or health-related field with NY license and NBCOT certification and 3 years of clinical/educational experience.
• Minimum of two years’ teaching experience in a college setting or professional/technical experience related to the discipline.
• Practicing as an occupational therapy assistant engaged in curriculum design, strategic planning, teaching, and student advising.
• Familiarity with a learning management system and/or willingness to use the college’s LMS (i.e. Brightspace).

Responsibilities

• Oversee OTA fieldwork site development and maintenance.
• Teach OTA courses and coordinate fieldwork experiences.
• Contribute to curricular development and assessment at course and program levels.
• Promote equity and inclusion in curriculum and instructional practice.

Skills

Teaching experience

Curriculum design

Student advising

LMS familiarity

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy

A.A.S. in Occupational Therapy

Tools

Brightspace LMS

Job description

TITLE: Instructor/Assistant Professor – Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

CAMPUS: Grant Campus in Brentwood

START DATE: Spring 2027

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT: Full Time

RANK: Faculty

Suffolk County Community College is the largest community college in the State University of New York (SUNY) system, enrolling more than 26,000 students at its three campuses in Selden, Brentwood, and Riverhead, as well as its Culinary Arts Center in Riverhead. Established in 1959, the college offers a wide array of transfer-oriented associate degrees in the liberal arts and sciences; business; communications and the arts; computing and cybersecurity; health sciences; and many other areas. Career-facing degrees and certificates are offered in allied health professions, automotive technology, culinary and baking, manufacturing, and many other areas. The college provides high school concurrent enrollment opportunities to thousands of students each year through both Suffolk’s Beacon program and through on-campus early college classes. Designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic Serving Institution, Suffolk enrolls thousands of students in English Language Learning courses, and also serves more service veterans and military-connected students than any other college in the SUNY system.

Announcement is hereby made for a full-time (10-month), tenure-track Instructor/Assistant Professor for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. This appointment will begin in the Spring 2027 semester on the Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood. Suffolk County Community College is an open admissions institution committed to serving a diverse student population in a variety of degree and career programs.

Job Description

The Instructor/Assistant Professor reports directly to the Academic Chair of the Health Careers & Physical Education Department. This position oversees all aspects of the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program's fieldwork, including the development and maintenance of high-quality fieldwork sites. In addition to coordinating fieldwork, the Instructor/Assistant Professor also teaches in the OTA Program. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong expertise in occupational therapy and possess a thorough understanding of current ACOTE standards and industry best practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading all aspects of OTA program fieldwork, including the identification, development, and ongoing maintenance of high-quality fieldwork sites.
• Planning and delivering high-quality student-centered instruction appropriate to an open-access community college.
• Participating in curricular development, assessment, and revision at the course, discipline, and program levels, including assessment of student learning outcomes.
• Engaging in assessment of college-wide learning outcomes and demonstrating the use of the results of these assessments in courses.
• Ensuring that principles of equity and inclusion are integrated in curriculum and instructional practice.
• Ensuring that student knowledge, skills and abilities are aligned with current academic and workforce best practices.
• Incorporating engaging and appropriate academic technology into all modes of instructional delivery.
• Maintaining a commitment to ongoing and research-based professional development in pedagogy and subject matter.
• Teaching assigned courses in accordance with description published in the college catalog and the approved course outline.
• Providing academic advising and actively participating in collegewide recruitment, student engagement and retention strategies (e.g. early alerts).
• Scheduling required time to meet with students outside of class.
• Active participation in departmental, campus and college committees/meetings.
• Participating actively in the life of their department, home campus, and the college.
• Fulfilling all contractual requirements related to faculty.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy or health related field and A.A.S. in Occupational Therapy with a current New York State license to practice Occupational Therapy and NBCOT certification with at least three years of clinical/educational experience.
• Minimum of two (2) years’ teaching experience in a college setting or professional/technical experience related to the discipline.
• Practicing as an occupational therapy assistant—whether in clinical practice or education—who is actively engaged in curriculum design, strategic planning, teaching, and student advising.
• Familiarity with a learning management system and/or willingness to use the college’s LMS (i.e. Brightspace).

Preferred

• Community college teaching experience.
• Experience teaching face-to-face, online, hybrid, and/or blended learning.

HIRING SALARY

This is a Unit III position covered under the Faculty Association of Suffolk County Community College collective bargaining agreement with the College. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision, vacation days, deferred compensation, and a defined benefit (pension) plan.

The New York State Retirement and Social Security Law requires retirees of a public pension plan within the State or City of New York to disclose prior public employment and pension plan history for the purpose of establishing a retiree’s eligibility for employment.

NON-DISCRIMINATION NOTICE

Suffolk County Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, marital status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, equal pay compensation-sex, national origin, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction or disability in its admissions, programs and activities, or employment. This applies to all employees, students, applicants or other members of the College community (including, but not limited to, vendors and visitors). Grievance procedures are available to interested persons by contacting either of the Civil Rights Compliance Officers/Coordinators listed below. Retaliation against a person who files a complaint, serves as a witness, or assists or participates in the investigation of a complaint in any manner is strictly prohibited.

The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the College's non-discrimination polices:

Civil Rights Compliance Officers

Christina Vargas
Chief Diversity Officer/Title IX Coordinator
Ammerman Campus, NFL Bldg., Suite 230
533 College Road, Selden, New York 11784-2899
[e-mail]
[phone]

or

Dionne Walker-Belgrave
Affirmative Action Officer/Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Ammerman Campus, NFL Bldg., Suite 230
533 College Road, Selden, New York 11784-2899
[e-mail]
[phone]

In an emergency, contact Public Safety to make a report 24 hours a day/7 days a week by calling [phone] or dialing 311 from any College phone.

Inquiries or complaints concerning alleged civil rights violations in the College’s education admissions, programs and activities may also be directed to:

Office for Civil Rights (OCR) – Enforcement Office
U.S. Department of Education
32 Old Slip, 26th Floor
New York, NY 10005-2500
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
TDD: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Also see: https://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/CFAPPS/OCR/contactus.cfm

Inquiries or complaints concerning discrimination in employment practices may also be directed to:

NYS Division of Human Rights
Long Island (Suffolk)
New York State Office Building
250 Veterans Memorial Highway, Suite 2B-49
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Telephone: [phone]
TDD: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Also see: https://dhr.ny.gov/how-file-complaint

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
New York District Office
33 Whitehall Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
TTY: [phone]
ASL Video Phone: [phone]
Also see: https://www.eeoc.gov/field/newyork/charge.cfm

Suffolk County Community College is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal opportunity and non-discrimination in employment, education, access to services, programs, and activities, including career and technical education opportunities.

A copy of the postsecondary career and technical education courses offered by the College is available and may be obtained on our website at: www.sunysuffolk.edu/explore-academics/college-catalog or by calling the Office of Admissions at 631-451-4000 to request a mailing.