Adjunct Faculty, Sociology Instructor

About the role

The Adjunct Faculty, Sociology Instructor will teach within the sociology discipline beginning winter quarter 2027 (quarter begins Wednesday, January 6, 2027). The candidate should have the ability to teach in the following areas: race and ethnicity, evidenced by graduate-level course credit with related additional research or teaching experience. This position reports to the Dean for Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences. Teaching modality is online asynchronous; the instructor must also be able to teach in-person and hybrid modalities dependent on departmental needs. The appointment is part-time (FTE varies by course assignment), overtime-exempt, and classified as faculty.

Whatcom Community College (WCC) is a public associate and applied baccalaureate degree-granting institution serving 7,604 students annually on a 72-acre campus in Bellingham, Washington. The college offers transfer degrees, applied baccalaureate degrees, professional and technical training, basic education, job skills, and community and continuing education classes through in-person, hybrid, and online modalities. WCC is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. Bellingham (population 95,960) lies midway between Seattle, WA and Vancouver, B.C., surrounded by the rural landscape of Whatcom County (population 226,850) with farms, scenic wilderness, historic neighborhoods, waterfront cities, and mountain towns. The area is known for outdoor activities, galleries, live theater, kayaking, hiking, and snowboarding.

Mission: Whatcom Community College contributes to the vitality of its communities by providing quality education in academic transfer, professional-technical, and lifelong learning, preparing students for active citizenship in a global society. Vision: Whatcom is a supportive community, empowering lives through education. Promise: We transform lives through education by supporting student growth, respecting student investment, embracing diversity, promoting excellence, and creating opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Develop, prepare, and deliver high-quality, evidence-based education and promote the development of qualified students to help prepare them for the future.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively with faculty and administrators to support program development and continuous improvement.
• Apply current subject matter expertise and remain up to date in the field to ensure relevant, workforce-aligned curriculum.
• Use student-centered, inclusive, and innovative teaching practices to support diverse learners.
• Teach in-person, hybrid, and/or online courses as assigned.
• Assess 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.
• Perform other related work of a similar nature and level.

Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution in sociology or a closely related field.
• Ability to teach both in-person and online modalities dependent on departmental needs.

Qualifications

• Experience designing, delivering, and assessing curriculum using evidence-based, student-centered, equity-minded, and culturally responsive teaching practices.
• Experience teaching in higher education, including online instruction and use of learning management systems (e.g., Canvas).
• Demonstrated ability to teach and support diverse and historically underserved student populations, incorporating feedback to improve learning outcomes.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and teamwork skills, with experience working in team-based environments.
• Leadership experience and a demonstrated commitment to the mission and role of community colleges.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Skills

• Knowledge of the academic discipline, including current research, trends, and developments in the field.
• Knowledge of pedagogical theories, instructional design, and relevant accreditation standards and higher education regulations.
• Skill in effective teaching, classroom facilitation, and classroom management.
• Strong written and