Adjunct Faculty/Program Lead, Paralegal Studies

About The College

Whatcom Community College (WCC) is a public associate and applied baccalaureate degree granting institution with an accomplished faculty and staff who serve 7,604 students annually on its beautiful 72-acre campus in Bellingham, Washington. Programs and courses are offered through in-person, hybrid, and online modalities to promote access for a diverse student population. The College is committed to equal opportunity and believes diversity of experiences and cultures enrich our campus community. The College is accredited by The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

General Description Of Work

The Adjunct /Program Lead, Paralegal Studies will teach within the Business, Education, and Law Department beginning fall quarter 2026. Courses may include legal research and writing, civil litigation, contracts, and related paralegal studies coursework across in-person, hybrid, and/or online modalities. In addition to teaching, this position serves as the Program Lead for Paralegal Studies as defined in the Faculty Negotiated Agreement, providing leadership for the program through course scheduling, adjunct faculty assignment, advisory committee support, program review, and curriculum development.

Responsibilities

• Develop, prepare, and deliver high quality, evidence-based education and promote the development of qualified students to help prepare them for the future.
• Apply current subject matter expertise and remain up to date in the field to ensure relevant, workforce aligned curriculum.
• Uses student centered, inclusive, and innovative teaching practices to support diverse learners.
• Absess student learning and provide feedback, contributing to a positive learning environment.
• Maintain office hours at times and places convenient for students and respond to student emails and requests in a timely manner.
• Develop and submit annual and quarterly course schedules, including assigning courses to adjunct faculty.
• Develop and revise curriculum in accordance with curriculum committee procedures; review and maintain catalog materials and pathway maps.
• Work with the Department Chair to prepare the annual program budget request and initiate purchases in alignment with approved budget.
• Lead the adjunct faculty hiring process and participate in the initial adjunct review process.
• Provide program-specific orientation for new faculty.
• Lead the Program Improvement Plan (PIP) review process as scheduled.
• Support the program advisory committee.
• Cooordinat with marketing and outreach on recruitment efforts, including information sessions and program marketing materials.
• Perform other related work of a similar nature and level.

Qualifications

• An associate's degree in paralegal studies or bachelor's in legal studies, or a closely related field from an accredited institution.
• A minimum of 5 years professional experience working as a paralegal or related field in a legal setting such as a law office, court system, or governmental agency.
• Experience teaching in-person and online modalities dependent on departmental needs.