Physics Instructor

Laredo College•Laredo, TX

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Full-time faculty are essential in carrying out the college's mission, vision, core values, and institutional goals. Under the direction of the respective Department Chairperson/Program Director/Director, faculty ensure the quality and integrity of the academic programs and maintain oversight of the curriculum and instruction. The essential duties include providing a high-quality learning environment, delivering effective instruction, assessing student learning, promoting continual improvement in teaching and learning, encouraging student engagement, providing advisement, and pursuing professional development. Faculty must participate in department, discipline-specific, college, community service activities, and shared governance. Faculty must adhere to all LC policies, procedures, and guidelines, including DH (LOCAL) Employee Standards of Conduct. Faculty are expected to adhere to the terms of their contractual agreement. The position requires office hours and physical presence on campus. Employee must reside in the Laredo area or be able to commute to campus daily.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Physics or Master’s degree with a minimum of 18 graduate semester hours in Physics.
Graduate coursework hours must be aligned with the course learning outcomes that the instructor will be teaching.
Some teaching experience.
Clear and effective communication is essential for conveying complex ideas to students.
Adapt teaching methods and materials to meet the needs of varied learners and changing circumstances, such as different class sizes or student backgrounds.
Encourage and foster critical thinking skills in students by challenging them to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information.
Build rapport with students, foster a positive learning environment, and provide support and guidance when needed.
Manage course materials, assignments, and assessments efficiently to ensure the smooth running of the course and fair evaluation of students.
Be able to address challenges and solve problems that arise in the classroom or with individual students effectively.
Be proficient in using technology tools and platforms for teaching, communication, and assessment, especially given the increasing integration of technology in the classroom.
Understand and adhere to ethical standards in teaching and interactions with students, colleagues, staff, and administrators.
Must balance teaching responsibilities with other academic duties, professional development training, committee work, and advising, which requires strong time management skills.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Physics.
Some experience teaching at the community and/or senior college level.

Responsibilities

Develop, evaluate, and revise course objectives to ensure instructional quality and curriculum alignment with THECB’s ACGM and/or WECM, SACSCOC Principles and Standards, and other applicable accrediting agency standards and outcomes.
Utilize the Laredo College Learning Management System (LMS), known as CANVAS, to organize and publish all current instructional materials prior to the first day of classes.
Maintain an accurate and updated syllabus through Concourse each term/semester.
Maintain students’ attendance records, submit grades and grade distribution sheets on time, and provide timely constructive feedback to students.
Follow procedures and the academic calendar related to the Office of the Registrar, including grade reports and deadlines, attendance records reports, withdrawal deadlines, class changes, and time and room scheduling.
Assume primary responsibility for and exercise oversight of the curriculum in conjunction with LC policies, ensuring course rigor, academic integrity, and quality of instruction.
Review and revise curriculum and instructional materials.
Ensure courses and educational programs align with transfer frameworks and workforce placement to meet current industry demands.
Utilize a variety of teaching techniques to assess student learning needs.
Integrate real-life situations into learning experiences to encourage critical thinking, interdisciplinary skills, active learning, and teamwork.
Use technology appropriately to design and support relevant learning activities that develop students' understanding of discipline-specific thinking practices and create academic literacy.
Consider individual differences of students to design and support a range of appropriate learning activities.
Collaborate with colleagues, chairs, deans, and the provost/vice-president of academic affairs across the institution to continue improving measurable learning outcomes, including the THECB (Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board) core curriculum objectives and other applicable accrediting agency standards and outcomes, and participate in Institutional Effectiveness/Program Reviews.
Appropriately measure and assess ACGM and WECM end-of-course learning outcomes and any applicable accrediting agency standards and competencies.
Design and align assessments with learning objectives and opportunities that measure or demonstrate student academic achievement.
Regularly assess student performance and provide timely constructive feedback.
Evaluate teaching and assessment practices to continue improving them.
Hold at least ten office hours physically conducted on campus. Three out of the ten office hours will be devoted to the Center of Learning, Academic, and Student Success (CLASS) for academic coaching, conducting workshops, advising, and/or departmental and student needs. Office hour locations need to be identified by the Employee in the faculty schedule.
Attend at least fifteen hours per week of LC business in consultation with the Department Chairperson/Program Director/Director.
Complete all evaluation measures, Title IX, and other training the institution provides.
Participate in instructional, departmental, or institutional research to improve education effectiveness, support the student survey process, and continue evaluating teaching and assessment.
Encourage a sense of community among students for learning inside and outside the classroom.
Pursue Professional Development by staying current with the discipline. Some activities include participating in professional societies, reading discipline-specific journals, attending conferences or making presentations; and/or maintaining required professional credentials, licensing, and continuing education hours a disciplinary standard dictates; and/or contributing to one’s academic discipline through research and publication or other endeavors as appropriate; Participate in service through appropriate discipline-specific organizations, educational organizations, statewide boards/committees.
Actively participate in professional development opportunities pertaining to active, applied, and experiential learning related to workforce and transfer outcomes.
Shall participate in mandatory professional development activities required by the college.
Conduct assessment plans for their respective discipline and/or program, which includes program reviews, course assessments, and institutional effectiveness reports.
Faculty must participate in department, discipline-specific, and college activities and serve and be active in department, college, cross-college, discipline-specific, and /or district committees.
Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders such as other higher education institutions, program advisory council meetings, and public and private K-12 schools/districts.
Participate in the development and implementation of retention and persistence plans.
Advise students about program, career, or transfer opportunities to help them make informed decisions about their educational pathway.
Participate in assessment and compliance practices such as Quality Enhancement Plan, General Education, SACSCOC IE assessment, and/or other accreditation processes.
Attend college-wide mandatory events such as Graduation, Convocation, In-Service, and other activities deemed by the college.
Participate in community outreach and public relations initiatives such as career day for elementary and secondary schools, Fall Fest, Fun Fest, open houses and campus tours, and other activities identified for the college.
Participate in community advisory councils on behalf of the college's interests.
Assist in policy development and other governance matters.
Perform other duties assigned by the Department Chairperson, Program Director, or Director, respective Dean, Associate Provost (when applicable), Provost/Vice-President of Academic Affairs, and President.
Teach courses in the designated discipline across multiple modalities: face-to-face, online, hybrid, and dual enrollment.
Instructors may be required to teach at Fort McIntosh, South, and high school campuses.
Depending on departmental and student needs, instruction may be scheduled during daytime, evening, or weekend hours.
Direct library research or other outside assignments.
Encourage students to utilize campus resources such as the Library, Tutoring Center, Counseling Center, and other support services.
Communicate required course materials to Library and Writing Center staff to support student access and success when needed.
Sponsor or assist in sponsoring student clubs and organizations; actively participate in student-centered events and activities.
Provide a safe learning environment for students and be responsible for securing assigned equipment, materials, and classrooms.
Substitute for colleagues as needed and serve as a peer mentor when requested.
Follow established procedures for requesting instructional supplies, arranging travel, and submitting absence reports promptly.
Teach related laboratory courses and develop corresponding materials and activities.
Maintain lab safety standards and attend required safety trainings when offered.

Benefits

The position requires office hours and physical presence on campus.
Employee must reside in the Laredo area or be able to commute to campus daily.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work is performed in a standard office environment.
Work inside a well-lighted and air-conditioned area most of the time.
The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.
Required to work safely and follow safety rules.
Report unsafe working conditions and behavior.
Take reasonable and prudent actions to prevent others from engaging in unsafe practices.
Immediate supervisor may assign other duties.
May be required to work outside regular working hours, as needed.
May be required to work at a different college work site or campus as needed.
Laredo College is open to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability, or national origin who are otherwise eligible for admission as students.
Laredo College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and no applicant or employee will be discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability or national origin.
This institution will not enter knowingly into any contractual agreement for services or supplies with any firm failing to follow fair employment practices.
Foreign degrees require an evaluation for United States equivalency from an approved stated education agency or having membership with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
Transcripts issued outside the United States of America require a course-by-course analysis with an equivalency statement from a certified transcript evaluation service verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA.
This report must be attached to your online application at the time of applying.