Adjunct Instructor, Biology (Laramie Campus)

Adjunct Instructor, Biology

The Adjunct Instructor, Biology is a part-time position responsible for delivering high-quality instruction in the STEM Pathway and other related courses at the community college level. The instructor may teach a range of biology courses, including General Biology, Animal Biology, Research, Plant and Fungal Biology, catering to students with varied academic and career goals. Responsibilities include developing, revising, and delivering course materials aligned with college standards, assessing student performance, organizing and executing laboratory experiments, supervising students in a laboratory setting, and providing academic support to help students succeed.

Compensation: $850 per credit hour.

Priority Screening Date: Position is open until filled.

Starting Date: As soon as practical after the hiring process. Tentative start date: End of May 2025.

Principal Responsibilities and Results, KSA's

Essential Functions: – this position is exempt and is not eligible for compensatory or overtime pay provisions of the FLSA. This listing of essential duties is not all-inclusive, but representative, other duties may be assigned).

• Maximizes student engagement and success by employing methods that develop student understanding of the values, practices, and procedures within a designated discipline and by engaging students in interdisciplinary practices to develop 21st-century learners.
• Prepares and delivers assigned courses by employing high-impact teaching practices in a learning environment that promotes respect and rapport.
• Facilitates student achievement by maintaining clear expectations and defined learning outcomes.
• Promotes learning through the innovative implementation of effective classroom technologies.
• Evaluates student engagement and success through formative and summative assessment.
• Maintains professionalism by embodying the values, ethics, and behavior codes of LCCC and one's discipline.
• Demonstrates social competence and effective communication in professional and academic venues.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge

• Principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups and the measurement of training effects.
• Administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
• Media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
• Organisms, their cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
• Core geoscience topics such as geology, hydrology, climatology, environmental science, and GIS applications. Ability to integrate current research and field methods into course content.
• Appropriate lab protocols including handling and disposal of materials.

Skills

• Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Analytical Skills — Capacity to analyze data, identify trends, and make informed decisions based on findings.
• Communication — Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the capacity to convey complex information clearly.
• Computer Software — Proficient in computer-based training software, Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Outlook, and other relevant software applications to effectively complete job tasks.
• Conflict Management — Use of tools, skills, and processes to find respectful and creative ways to resolve disputes and disagreements.
• Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Equipment Maintenance — Performing routine maintenance on classroom equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
• Instructing — Teaching others how to do something.
• Interpersonal and Collaboration Skills — Ability to interact effectively with others, be socially perceptive, build relationships, manage interpersonal dynamics, contribute to group goals, and foster a collaborative environment.
• Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Learning Strategies — Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
• Organization — Ability to organize tasks, resources, and workflows efficiently.
• Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Abilities

• Attention to Detail — The ability to observe, analyze, and comprehend even the most minute aspects of a task or situation.
• Communication — The ability to effectively express your thoughts, ideas, and messages to diverse people in oral and written form. Public speaking skills and ability to write/edit emails, letters, and technical reports.
• Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Emotional Intelligence — Ability to manage both your own emotions and understand the emotions of people around you.
• Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Originality — The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
• Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
• Professionalism — Capable of representing the organization in a professional manner, adapting to various situations with maturity, and maintaining confidentiality and discretion at all times.
• Selective Attention — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
• Time Sharing — The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information.

Physical/Mental Demands:

• There may be occurrences of interacting with employees and/or students, past employees and/or students, members of the general public, and others who express opinions, may exhibit strong emotions, which will require the employee to interact professionally, diplomatically, and appropriately in such situations.
• While performing the essential duties of this position, an employee would frequently be required to move around the assigned work areas as well as within hallways, meeting rooms, and other parts of the campus facilities.
• There may be multiple/daily instances of prolonged sitting, standing, and personal computer use, which would include keyboard and/or mouse usage as well as viewing a computer monitor.
• An employee must be able lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.
• The overall work environment requires the mental ability to shift focal point quickly due to interruptions; an employee must be able to mentally track multiple projects and tasking as well.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate; however, there may be instances of somewhat loud environments.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform essential functions of this position and/or may be encountered while performing essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Thesis-based M.S. (or equivalent) in biological science or related field such as biology, biochemistry, cell biology, ecology, or zoology

In lieu of the required degree, candidates with equivalent professional experience, industry certifications, or a combination of education and relevant work experience may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree in biological science OR Geology or related field such as biology, biochemistry, cell biology, ecology, or zoology.
• At least one year of college-level teaching experience including teaching in a laboratory setting
• Experience with web-based learning management systems

Note: This position description is a general description; it is not intended as an employment contract, nor is it intended to describe all duties someone in this position may perform. All employees of the College are expected to perform other tasks as assigned by their respective supervisor/manager regardless of job title or routine job duties.

If you are selected for the position, your appointment is contingent upon