Communications Studies - Associate Faculty Pool

Associate Faculty Position

Skagit Valley College is accepting applications for associate faculty to teach for the Communication Studies Department for the 2026/2027 academic year. The purpose of posting this position is to seek applicants who can begin teaching in Fall 2026 and to build a pool of qualified instructors interested in teaching Communication Studies classes that center equity in content and class design.

This Associate Faculty position will instruct students seeking their various degrees and certificates at Skagit Valley College. The successful candidate(s) will demonstrate exceptional classroom skills, enthusiasm for the subject matter, an inclusive and equity-driven approach to teaching, curriculum development, learning, and innovative pedagogy and teaching strategies. Candidates should be excited to teach a variety of first- and second-year Communications Studies courses, but will most often be responsible for teaching an equity-focused 200-level Interpersonal Communication course that serves as a degree requirement for most students at the college. Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to design an equity-centered Interpersonal Communication curriculum that addresses the needs of students who enter the class in different stages of understanding and comfort with equity-centered concepts and content. Upon hiring, successful candidates will complete a supportive paid workshop to develop their equity-based Interpersonal Communication course. Other potential teaching assignments may be available, including Public Speaking and/or Intercultural Communication.

Faculty at SVC take pride in respecting and working effectively and compassionately with a diverse campus community that promotes innovative and equity-minded teaching, a student-centered learning environment, and a strong focus on improving student success rates and addressing systemic inequities in access and achievement for all students.

We are committed to cultivating a welcoming and supportive learning environment for non-native English speakers and other diverse groups. In doing so, we offer our students and community not only the opportunity to learn about varied disciplines, but to engage with diverse perspectives and ways of knowing and learning. Candidates representing all aspects of diversity are encouraged to apply. Please note that this posting is reviewed and hired on a quarter-by-quarter basis. Candidates will be directly contacted by the department as employment opportunities arise.

The Location: Skagit Valley College is on the traditional and unceded territories of the Coast Salish People's, especially on Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, Samish Indian Nation, Nooksack Indian Tribe, and Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe. Located in a geographically diverse region between the dynamic metropolitan hubs of Seattle and Vancouver, BC, SVC is never far from world-class outdoor recreation, urban arts scenes, and local cultural events. SVC serves our local communities with a campus in Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island, and centers in Friday Harbor, a Marine Technology Center in Anacortes, and a Brewing Academy in Burlington.

Mission: Skagit Valley College cultivates student learning and achievement; contributes to the educational, personal, and economic success of students; and promotes equitable and thriving communities. Vision: The primary focus of Skagit Valley College is student-centered teaching and learning. We are committed to:

• Equitable student outcomes in access, achievement, and community;
• Our Guiding Principles;
• Decisions based on strategy and evidence;
• The development of our employees;
• A diverse and inclusive college community where everyone belongs.

Guiding Principles: Respect, Integrity, Open and Honest Communication, Collaboration, and Compassion.

About SVC: Established in 1926, Skagit Valley College is a comprehensive community college within the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) providing associates and bachelor's degrees, as well as certificates, in high-quality academic transfer pathways, workforce training, basic education for adults, and lifelong learning opportunities. Our equity goals align with SBCTC's Vision statement; "Leading with racial equity, our colleges maximize student potential and transform lives within a culture of belonging that advances racial, social, and economic justice in service to our diverse communities." SVC's commitment to equity and social justice drives our collective work to increase access to higher education, inspire student learning and achievement, and strengthen our diverse community. We embrace equity through our core themes of access, achievement, and community by pursuing the continuous examination and revision of norms, policies, and practices to foster the success of all. SVC aspires to reflect the diverse racial, ethnic, and linguistic demographics in the district, particularly a growing Latinx population. As an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) SVC seeks equity-minded leadership, faculty, and staff that are committed to inclusive practices and diverse environments where students from all backgrounds can thrive via multidisciplinary collaboration and the implementation of an array of services. Candidates representing all aspects of diversity are encouraged to apply.

Skagit Valley College offers:

• An unrelenting focus on our mission to improve the lives of our students and to strengthen our diverse community.
• Support for innovative teaching, learning, and scholarship.
• Exciting opportunities for personal and career growth.
• Diverse cultural and environmental benefits of rural, suburban, and urban lifestyles.
• Friendly, supportive, and diverse work environments.
• Excellent benefits include competitive leave packages and an array of health, dental, vision, and retirement plans to meet your current and future needs.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide in-person instruction for introductory Communication Studies courses;
• Incorporate an equity-minded approach to teaching and learning;
• Conduct ongoing development and revision of curriculum that reflects innovative and inclusive pedagogy and advances in the field of Communication Studies;
• Work collaboratively with SVC's Equity Steering Committee to develop an Interpersonal Communication curriculum for the Communication Studies Department that reflects the diversity of student experience;
• Create a positive learning environment for students using diverse teaching methods to support and enhance student success;
• Develop, monitor, and assess student learning outcomes and program outcomes for the purpose of program improvement and enhanced student learning.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Engage students through innovative instructional approaches for contextualized learning;
• Demonstrate commitment and ability to address systemic inequities in student access, learning, and achievement;
• Practice and adopt a variety of active learning strategies and varied approaches to formative and summative assessment that facilitate student learning and that are inclusive of all cultures and backgrounds;
• Express appropriate awareness of the history of minoritized groups to promote an equitable work and learning environment;
• Support students in accessing appropriate instructional and non-instructional services to facilitate student retention, completion and academic success for all students;
• Act according to principles of integrity, respect, open and honest communication, collaboration, and compassion.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Speech, Communications Studies, or a closely related field;
• One (1) year of teaching experience, which may include previous community college, university, K-12, graduate school, teaching assistant, and/or substitute teaching.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Communication Studies or related field(s); Ed.D. with an emphasis in Speech or Communication Studies;
• Community college teaching experience:
• Teaching, learning, and research experiences in Intercultural Communication, Professional Technical Communication, and/or Interpersonal Communication.

Salary, Benefits, Conditions of Employment, Application Procedure, About SVC

Salary and Benefits: The salary rate for part-time faculty is in accordance with the negotiated agreement and may be subject to change based on legislative mandates. In order to be eligible for benefits, state regulations must be met. Rate of Pay: Faculty compensation units (FCU) are computed by total hours (lecture, lab, clinical) identified on the approved course outline for a given course divided by eleven (11). Associate faculty pay is computed by multiplying the faculty compensation unit rate by the number of faculty compensation units.

The current FCU rate for 2025-26 at Step A is $1,084.00 (includes I-732 COLA of 3.0% for 2025-26). Example of Associate Faculty pay (this is for illustrative purposes only):

• Course: BISC 220 | 33 lecture, 44 lab
• 33 + 44 = 77
• 7/11= 7 FCUs
• A Step A faculty member would be paid 7 x FCU rate $1,084.00 = $7,588.00