Southwestern Community College District (SWCCD) is committed to meeting the educational goals of its students in an inclusive environment that promotes intellectual growth and develops human potential. We are the leader in equitable education that transforms the lives of students and communities.

SWCCD employees are collegial and collaborative. They demonstrate the highest degree of professionalism, integrity and respect when interacting with students, colleagues, leadership and members of the Jaguar community. Our employees actively honor and respect diversity to foster a safe and welcoming community where all are inspired to participate and realize a sense of belonging.

Incumbents exhibit an equity-minded focus, responsiveness, and sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, and employees, including those with physical or learning disabilities, and successfully foster and support an inclusive educational and employment environment.

 

Description

This position may include a combination of day, evening, weekend, and extension site assignments and instructor may be assigned to any of the campus sites (Chula Vista, National City, Otay Mesa, San Ysidro, local high schools, and/or local correctional facilities).
 
Southwestern Community College District (SCCD) is seeking a full-time, tenure track, equity-focused faculty member committed to serving its’ culturally diverse student population.
 
Southwestern Community College District seeks faculty who will foster an inclusive learning environment through equity-minded teaching, leadership, and service to students working toward goals of university transfer, associate degree and certificate completion, employment advancement, and personal growth.
 

THE COLLEGE
Southwestern Community College District is a single college district providing higher education in Chula Vista, San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, National City and Coronado.  SCCD’s strategic south San Diego County locations position the College to provide exceptional service to a binational community on the U.S.-Mexico International Border.  SCCD is one of 20 initial California Guided Pathways colleges and is known for its excellent learning communities.  As a designated Hispanic Serving Institution, the College values equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive andragogy for all students.
 
The College is dedicated to providing quality academic programs, comprehensive student support services that ensure equitable access, and clear pathways to student success.  These efforts include professional development opportunities, employee-led affinity groups, proud commitment to DACA students, and supportive employee onboarding practices.
 

OUR STUDENTS
Southwestern Community College District currently enrolls approximately 28,000 students annually.  SCCD is comprised of 69% Hispanic students, 10% Caucasian students, 8% Filipino students, 5% African American students, and 3% Asian students.  Approximately 63% of the College’s students are under the age of 24 with 23% between the ages 25-39.  Our students’ gender demographics are represented by 55% female and 44% male.
 

OUR VALUES
We value the ability to serve students from a broad range of cultural heritages, academic backgrounds, genders, abilities, and orientations.  We seek applicants who demonstrate they understand the benefits diversity brings to a professional educational community.  Successful candidates will be expected to exhibit responsiveness and sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, cultural, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, religious, and ethnic and racial backgrounds of community college students and employees, and successfully foster and support an inclusive educational and employment environment.  An equity-minded individual is a person who already does or has demonstrated the desire to:

1. Critically self-assess their individual impact, through teaching practices and student engagement, on closing equity gaps and holds themselves accountable to upholding and delivering equitable practices.
2. Reframe deficit language and take individual and collective responsibility to look at their own practices as a vehicle to eliminate inequities. 
3. Encourage positive race-consciousness and embrace human differences.
4. Strategically encourage and build buy-in and participation among colleagues for equity efforts.

 
Southwestern Community College District seeks faculty who value mentorship and working in a collegial, collaborative environment, guided by a commitment to helping all students achieve their educational goals.
 

 

Qualifications

 

Bachelor’s Degree and two (2) years of professional experience in American Sign Language.
OR 
An associate degree and six (6) years of professional experience in American Sign Language.
 
Note: Professional Experience is required when the applicant possess a Master’s Degree. The Professional Experience required must be directly related to the faculty member’s teaching assignment. The above stated number of years is for Full-Time experience or the equivalent in Part-Time Experience.

Additional assessment is required for applicants with foreign degrees from colleges or universities outside of the United States. Applicants must have their coursework evaluated by a professional association that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) and must submit a copy of the evaluation with the application.

An applicant who does not possess the minimum educational degree or holds a degree that does not match the exact degree title(s) listed under “Minimum Qualifications,” may have their educational preparation reviewed to determine if it is equivalent to the breadth and content of coursework typical of the required degree(s).  Granting of equivalency is a District decision and may be considered if the applicant submits a Supplemental Equivalency Application by uploading the form with your online application.  Applicants may include additional supporting documents to demonstrate their equivalency request.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Commitment to working in a diverse and multicultural community.
2. Experience in culturally responsive teaching in ASL and addressing equity gaps in the classroom.
3. Knowledge of practices within a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution and commitment to institutional and departmental goals.
4. Expertise in Deaf culture, linguistic fluency, and cultural competence, particularly in relation to native signers.
5. Proven ability to teach Deaf Culture and ASL at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels using current communicative methodologies at community college and high school levels.
6. Experience utilizing language labs and instructional technology to support language acquisition and enhance ASL learning outcomes.
7. Active involvement in the Deaf community through events, activities, or related programs at both the college and community levels.
8. Enthusiasm for collaborating on curriculum development, campus affairs, and innovative initiatives such as Open Educational Resources (OER) or Study Abroad opportunities.
9. Experience teaching Lengua de Señas Mexicana (Mexican Sign Language) at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels is highly desirable.
10. The ideal candidate maintains memberships in professional associations and connections with the professional community.

 
Candidates must exhibit an appreciation of, a sensitivity to, and respect for a rich and diverse academic environment, inclusive of students, faculty, and staff of varying social, economic, cultural, ideological and ethnic backgrounds, and those with disabilities.  Experience working in a community with a similar diversity pattern as is found in the service area for Southwestern College is desirable.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Subject matter preparation experience:

1. Experience in teaching ASL and Deaf culture at the undergraduate level.
2. Experience in developing assessments and interpersonal communicative activities.
3. Experience in developing in person, online and hybrid courses.
4. Experience in teaching and assessing Interpretive Communication, Presentational Communication and Interpersonal Communication (as per ACTFL).

  Evidence of ability and effectiveness as a faculty member:

1. Understanding of the role and purpose of the community college.
2. Ability to evaluate one’s andragogy and its effectiveness in facilitating student learning.
3. Ability to use teaching methods that engage racially, ethnically, academically, and culturally diverse students.
4. Promote critical thinking and emphasize cooperation and collaboration.
5. Sensitivity to, and respect for a rich and diverse academic environment, inclusive of students, faculty, and staff of varying social, economic, cultural, ideological and ethnic backgrounds, and those with disabilities.
6. Commitment to collegiality and collaboration by working as a team with faculty and staff enhancing instruction, curriculum, and student success; as well as in the planning of class schedules and teaching rotations.
7. Knowledge and practice of culturally responsive pedagogy and andragogy that supports student-centered, self-reflective, and student-capable approaches which includes a wide range of institutional delivery systems.
8. Ability to teach online courses effectively.
9. Commitment to professional responsibilities through contributions to ASL programs, departments and college activities and to professional ASL associations outside of the college.
10. Experience and expertise in culturally responsive teaching in American Sign Language for non-native signers.
11. Demonstrate ability to address equity gaps within American Sign Language courses and classrooms.
12. Demonstrate knowledge of the implications of the Hispanic-Serving Institution designation for instructional, department, and instructional practices. 

 

Duties

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Southwestern Community College is seeking an innovative educator to teach courses in the American Sign Language (ASL) program in-person. Ideal candidates are available to teach beginning and intermediate levels of ASL in-person and are experienced in teaching a variety of modalities (including hybrid and/or online). 
 
Provides instruction in ASL with a focus on language structure, including grammar, syntax, and non-manual signals. The role involves teaching sign recognition (receptive skills) and sign production (expressive skills) to help students achieve proficiency in ASL. Additionally, the position includes introducing students to key aspects of Deaf culture, such as history, social norms, and the cultural significance of ASL within the Deaf community, emphasizing both language fluency and cultural competence.
 
Full-time faculty responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: 

1. Teach all scheduled classes and maintain office hours.
2. Class preparation.
3. Curriculum development duties.
4. Assessment and evaluation of students.
5. Student performance monitoring and record-keeping.
6. Attend meetings pertinent to discipline/division/college.
7. Involvement in selected staff development and/or extracurricular activities. 
8. Participate in the planning, implementation, peer evaluation, and peer mentoring as well as evaluation of educational programs (including student learning outcomes and assessment), courses and other professional duties (including program review) that will directly result in the educational growth of the students and support advancement of the visions, missions and values of the college. 

JOB DESCRIPTION: Instructor (Download PDF reader)

 

Supplemental Information

This is a non-telecommuting position.

A short teaching demonstration may be required of those invited for an interview.

SALARY SCHEDULE: Academic Contract 10-Month (Download PDF reader)

Upon initial employment, full-time faculty members are placed on the salary schedule based upon years of experience and education.  Initial salary placement can range from $68,017.00-$102,342.00 per year.
 
Faculty members are encouraged to continue their professional development through additional study qualifying them for advancement on the salary schedule.   For the current salary schedule and information on salary placement visit our website at www.swccd.edu.
 
Academic employees participate in the State Teachers’ Retirement System, a defined-benefit retirement plan through the State of California.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

1. Narrative that includes discussion of the following questions as well as the job duties listed in the announcement:
   • In your experience, what are the most effective strategies for supporting students who have been under-resourced?
   • Think of the most successful class you have taught. What were the key factors in creating that success for diverse students?
   • How is your teaching approach culturally responsive to the students you serve?

TENTATIVE TIMELINE (Subject to change): Any application received after the initial screening deadline is not guaranteed a review.
 

November 27-February 2, 2025	Position advertised; District receives applications
February 2, 2025	Initial screening deadline for guaranteed consideration. Position is open until filled.
February 10-28, 2025	Reviewing of applications.
March 10-21, 2025	Search Committee interviews candidates
April, 2025	Top finalist interviews
May, 2025	Successful applicant name submitted to Governing Board for approval.

 

 

Application Process:

A confirmation email will be sent once your application packet has been successfully submitted.

It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all required application materials are submitted by the initial screening deadline date, including a current resume, and unofficial transcripts showing awarded degree(s) and completion date, as well as any relevant certifications, diplomas, or licenses that demonstrate you meet the minimum qualifications of the position. Failure to submit supporting documentations may result in an incomplete application.

A separate, complete application packet is required for each position for which you are applying for. All materials included in your application packet become SWCCD property, will not be returned, will not be copied, and will be considered for this opening only.

A screening committee will evaluate applicants, taking into account the breadth and depth of relevant education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, and abilities. Selected applicants will be invited for an interview.

 

INTERVIEW TRAVEL COSTS MUST BE BORNE BY THE APPLICANT.

 

If additional positions become available in this classification, applications received in response to this posting may be considered for those additional positions for up to 90 days after final board approval.

Candidates selected for employment with SWCCD must be fingerprinted by an electronic fingerprinting service (i.e. LiveScan) within 10 days of employment; provide clearance of tuberculosis (dated within the past 4 years and renewed every four years as a condition of continued employment) within 60 days of employment; provide proof of eligibility to work in the United States.

Successful candidate selected may be assigned to any of the campus sites (Chula Vista, Crown Cove, National City, Otay Mesa, and/or San Ysidro).

 

American with Disabilities (ADA):

Reasonable accommodations will be provided to candidates with verified disabilities. Accommodation requests should be made as soon as practical by calling Human Resources at (619) 482-6395.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

As an Equal Opportunity Employer and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, SWCCD will make reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

SWCCD shall not discriminate against any person in employment or in any program affiliated with the SWCCD on the basis of age, ancestry, color, ethnic group identification, national origin, religion, race, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or on the basis of these perceived characteristics, or based on association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.


Notice of Availability of the Annual Security Report:

SWCCD is committed to assisting all members of the community in providing for their own safety and security. The Annual Security Report is available on the SWCPD website.

If you would like to receive a hard copy of the Annual Security Report, which contains this information, you can stop by the College Police Department or you can request that a copy be mailed to you by calling (619) 482-6390.


Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Plan (DAAPP):

More information about the DAAPP, including the Biennial report and additional resources can be found in the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program website.