Instructor Marine Science and Aquarium Coordinator (Tenure Track)
Orange Coast College ( OCC ) is seeking a fulltime, equity-minded, tenure track faculty member in Marine and Aquarium Science commencing with the 2022 fall semester. The primary teaching assignment involves all areas of Marine and Aquarium Science. This assignment also includes primary responsibility for the Orange Coast College Aquarium facility and organisms, curriculum and program development, participation in department, division, college committees, and participatory governance activities assuming leadership roles both within the department and in the institution as a whole; collaboration across disciplines and the leveraging of student support resources; and participation in ongoing professional development.
The assignment may be day, evening, weekend, online, hybrid, or off-campus and is subject to change as needed. The ideal candidate for this position embraces the overall mission of Orange Coast College and the Coast Community College District, with a clear, focused commitment to supporting individualized student and employee goals through the work of Marine and Aquarium Science. The Mathematics and Sciences Division shares Orange Coast College’s commitment to equitable outcomes; inclusive practices; and racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity.
Ideal candidates for this position share Orange Coast College’s devotion to educating and improving the lives of our representative student, employee, and community populations. We currently enroll 18,705 students, the majority of whom are from racially minoritized populations: 34% of OCC’s students are Latinx, 2% are African- American, 25% are Asian, less than 1% Native American, 30% are White, and 5% are multiracial. Faculty have the opportunity to enhance their classroom methods during two professional development days during the academic year, which include learning sessions like “Digital Accessibility”, “Basic Skills: Helping students help themselves” and “Taking a skills-based approach to teaching college students”. Student-centered activities that support OCC’s mission include campus-wide student success projects funded by the Office of Student Equity; partnerships with local Hispanic Serving four-year institutions; active programs that work to improve the academic achievement of racially minoritized students, such as PUENTE and UMOJA; Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) and Disabled Student Program and Services (DSPS). The Mathematics and Sciences Division at Orange Coast College serves students bound for transfer and in service of career and technical programs. We encourage innovative teaching as well as student and faculty engagement outside of the classroom. The Division promotes faculty work on student research and projects, community engagement, and partnerships with local institutions to promote STEM engagement for racially minoritized populations. The Marine Science Department offers an Associate of Science degree in Marine Science for students looking to transfer to a 4-year institution for a degree in a marine-related field, or for interdisciplinary students looking to apply their future major to the marine realm. The department also has an onsite student-run aquarium that includes temperate, tropical, and freshwater systems, and offers a Certificate of Achievement in Aquarium Science for students looking to gain experience in animal husbandry, life support operation, and aquarium management. Orange Coast College Employee-Student Demographic Information Direct Link: Employee/Student Profile Comparison Dashboard
Functions & Responsibilities
Essential Functions
Essential Duties and Responsibilities Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following: Provide instruction in Marine and Aquarium Science in accordance with established course outlines. Provide leadership in the development and revision of the Marine and Aquarium Science curriculum responsive to the students served. Participate in curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation; participate in and develop programs to measure student performance. Maintain current knowledge in the subject matter areas. Maintain appropriate standards of professional conduct and ethics. Fulfill the professional responsibilities of a full-time faculty member including, but not limited to the following: teach all scheduled classes unless excused under provisions of Board Policy; follow the department course outlines; keep accurate records of student enrollment, attendance, and progress; submit student grades according to established deadlines; post and maintain scheduled office hours; participate in departmental meetings and college and/or district-wide activities and committees as assigned. Ability to contribute to campus and district-wide professional responsibilities and activities. Ability to complement existing staff, student, and community demographics in terms of professional and personal skills. The assignment may include day, evening, weekend, and online sections.
Other Duties & Responsibilities
Desirable Qualifications: Recent experience working with African American, Latinx, Native American, and other racially minoritized students in the classroom, and an understanding of how historical patterns of exclusion of these groups within higher education and the field of Marine and Aquarium Science shape patterns of participation and outcomes. Willingness to examine and re-mediate one’s instructional, relational, and classroom practices to more effectively engage and support racially minoritized students. Experience and skill with addressing issues of equity in the classroom. Experience and expertise in culturally responsive teaching in Marine and Aquarium Science, particularly as it relates to the relevance of Marine and Aquarium Science to students’ lives, interests, and communities. Demonstrated ability to address equity gaps within Marine and Aquarium Science courses and classrooms. Evidence of an ability to self-reflect and respond to an evidence-based assessment of student learning. Desire and demonstrated ability to participate actively in the department, division, and college committees and in the shared governance of Coast Community College District. Ability to teach any of the Orange Coast College Marine and Aquarium Science department courses. Demonstrated ability to teach field courses or in non-traditional classrooms. Knowledge of a diverse array of aquarium systems including temperate, tropical, reef, freshwater planted, aquaponics, and aquaculture. Experience or knowledge of the aquarium industry involving animal husbandry, filtration design, inventory/purchasing of supplies/equipment/ food, and maintenance of complex aquarium systems Preferred Level 2 or progress towards AALSO life support operator. Experience troubleshooting emergencies in aquarium systems and the ability to use them as learning opportunities. Experience with training and managing student assistants or staff. Experience with coordinating public outreach, education, resources, and opportunities. Evidence of an ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Skills & Experience
Education & Experience
Minimum Qualifications: Must meet one of the following qualifications under (1) through (4) and demonstrated evidence of D.E.I. (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion): Valid California Community College instructor credential, appropriate to the subject, per Education Code 87355 (issued prior to July 1, 1990); OR Master’s degree from an accredited institution in any biological science; OR Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in any biological science AND a Master’s degree in biochemistry, biophysics, or marine science from an accredited institution; OR Possess a combination of education and experience that is at least the equivalent to the above. Candidates making an application on the basis of equivalency must submit an Application for Equivalency in addition to all other required materials. Please see “Additional Information” below to determine if you need to submit an Application for Equivalency. AND Demonstrated evidence of responsiveness to and understanding of the racial, ethnic, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic, academic, and cultural diversity within the community college student population, including students with different ability statuses (e.g., physical and/or learning) as these factors relate to the need for equity-minded practice within the classroom.
Job Requirements
Salary & Benefits
The district provides medical, dental, and vision insurance for the employee and eligible dependents and life insurance for the employee. Please see the Benefits tab above for a comprehensive list of employee benefits.
