HTML Preview Teaching Job Application Coverletter page number 1.
217-333-4610 | [email protected] | grad.illinois.edu/CareerDevelopment
Applying for Teaching Positions
at Community Colleges
WHY COMMUNITY COLLEGES?
Community colleges, also called two-year colleges because they offer associate’s degrees,
currently comprise about 41 percent of higher education in the United States today. There are
approximately 1200 community colleges across the United States, making these institutions a
good option for individuals with geographical constraints. Community colleges are usually locally
supported and primarily publicly funded, and they provide vocational training as well as
postsecondary education to students who intend to transfer to four-year institutions.
While a master’s degree is required to teach at most community colleges, institutions are also
eager to attract highly qualified PhDs. Graduate students who excel at teaching and enjoy
working with a diverse student population may find teaching at a community college to be a
good fit for them. Community college faculty members are not expected to conduct research
and publish as a condition of tenure, but teaching loads are fairly heavy (usually around 15
credit hours/semester).
FINDING COMMUNITY COLLEGE JOBS
Like bachelor’s-granting institutions, most full-time, tenure track faculty positions are nationally
advertised. Some community college postings are advertised through scholarly/research
societies, so look to the organizations within your own discipline.
HigherEdJobs.com and the Chronicle of Higher Education (chronicle.com) are also good
places to look for two-year faculty jobs.
Most community colleges will also advertise on their own websites. The University of Texas
at Austin provides a list of U.S. community colleges by state: www.utexas.edu/world/
comcol/state
TIPS ON PREPARING EFFECTIVE APPLICATION MATERIALS
Use a two-page résumé, not a CV.
Emphasize your relevant experience and commitment to teaching in both your résumé
and cover letter.
De-emphasize your research experience. Accentuating your scholarship can suggest that
you do not understand the nature of the institution to which you are applying.
Show enthusiasm for the position and explain why you are interested in teaching there.
Rev 06/2014