Political Science Faculty Member

The Critical Social Thought (CST) Department at Holyoke Community College seeks a full-time tenure-track faculty member to bring vision and innovation to Political Science courses within the department’s CST Option. We seek candidates who will bring a broad grounding in US Political Science to the department, and who can enhance our course offerings with specialized areas of expertise. Candidates with research or teaching in US National Politics, State and Local Politics, Civics, Civil Liberties, Immigration, Transnational Politics, and Latinx Politics are particularly encouraged to apply. Our ideal candidate will continue the department’s tradition of interdisciplinary teaching with colleagues across campus and engaging with the external community via community-based learning. As part of the college’s efforts to ensure equitable outcomes for all HCC students, candidates must bring a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in their teaching practice, as well as a record of excellence in college-level instruction. 

Primary responsibilities include: teaching lecture classes on general US Political Science topics as well as electives that serve the needs of students in our program as well as other degree programs; strengthening the ongoing development of our CST academic program via assessment and curriculum development; participating in college governance, recruitment and retention efforts; and professional development. 

In addition to teaching experience, candidates should also demonstrate a commitment to student-centered advising, and to building partnerships that will enhance students’ opportunities for career and transfer. Such partnerships may include internal collaborations with colleagues in the CST department and in the Latinx Studies program as well as external collaborations to expand career and transfer opportunities for students who major in CST and Latinx programs. 

Although hybrid teaching options may be available, this position will require a substantial amount of in-person, on-campus work with students, faculty, and community partners.

• Teaching US Political Science lecture courses, in particular general US National as well as State and Local Politics surveys, and courses that address specific subfields in Political Science relevant to the faculty member’s expertise. Ability to teach Immigration, Transnational Politics, and Latinx Politics is of particular interest. 
• Working closely with colleagues in Critical Social Thought Department and across campus, develop innovative teaching methods; expand community-engaged learning initiatives; continue a commitment to innovative, inclusive, discovery-based and critically engaged curricula; incorporate technology in the classroom; develop and implement new courses as appropriate that serve the students’ academic needs, and strengthen the ongoing development of our CST academic program. 
• Advising students in the CST program and related majors. 
• Meeting with and assisting students during regular office hours. 
• Actively participating in department, division, and professional staff meetings as well as other components of college governance. 
• Maintaining professional expertise in areas of specialization. 
• Participating in college programs and activities. 
• Assisting the Dean, Associate Dean, and Chair of the Critical Social Thought Department to establish and maintain existing academic partnerships with related college programs as well as expand articulation agreements with external college and university programs. 
• Providing college service as required by the MCCC contract, including participation in shared governance committees, sub-committees, or task forces. 

• Master’s degree in Political Science or closely related field, with the ability to teach standard survey courses (US National, State and Local Government, Civil Liberties) as well as specialized courses within US Political Science and across disciplines; 
• Teaching experience in higher education, specifically as instructor of record; 
• Demonstrated excellent teaching skills including interactive teaching, varied pedagogical strategies, and culturally responsive pedagogies; 
• Experience using instructional technology across teaching modalities (i.e. in physical, hybrid, and online classes) to enable student success; 
• Experience working successfully with a diverse student body, staff, and faculty; 
• Effective communication skills and ability to work collaboratively on projects and initiatives. 

• A record of teaching excellence in Political Science at a community college or at the first year/sophomore college level; 
• Ph. D in Political Science or closely related field; 
• Interest in promoting and participating in interdisciplinary learning; 
• Ability to provide leadership within an academic department that will contribute to growth, innovation, and excellence in alignment with institutional goals; 
• Bilingual (English/Spanish). 

Full-Time, Tenure-Track MCCC/MTA Position:

• Applicants must include a CV, cover letter, and syllabus in one of the following areas: US National Government, State & Local Government, or Civil Liberties.
• A teaching demonstration is a required part of the interview process.