Article on Academic Careers

Teaching at a Two-Year College: Is it for you?

Teaching at a two-year college can be the right choice for the right person. It can be stimulating and rewarding. It in no way resembles working at a university. Two-year colleges are committed to excellence in teaching, they provide educational access to all, and they often have diverse student bodies which are predominantly commuters.

The two-year college embodies the concept of educational access for all. More than 1200 colleges exist throughout the United States and they employ more than 7000 full-time mathematics instructors. Students at two-year colleges display a diversity of ages, ethnic backgrounds, and educational preparation. At present two-year colleges enroll approximately half of all the entering students in higher education.

Programs of study also span a wide gamut. Students study in programs ranging from developmental studies, career oriented occupational-technical programs, transfer programs, continuing education programs and community service programs.

Mathematics instruction at two-year colleges can also span a wide spectrum of courses. A two-year college instructor can expect at some point to be teaching courses ranging from arithmetic to differential equations, from technical mathematics to statistics, from math anxiety courses to business-oriented mathematical concepts. Although the offerings can be similar to those enrolled in by 95% of the students at a university or four-year college, two-year colleges are different in that they hire full-time instructors whose primary focus is to provide high quality instruction to every student at his or her level. The two-year college commitment to quality teaching is evidenced by the strong importance of teaching in tenure, promotion, and employment decisions.

The typical workload of a faculty member at a two-year college is 15 hours per week of instruction. In addition, faculty hold up to ten office hours per week, and spend additional time on course preparation, professional development, and departmental and college committee activities.

The minimum credential for employment at a two-year college is a master's degree. Most often the degree is in mathematics or a mathematics related area. Although not required, the Doctorate is encouraged. At present, approximately 17% of full-time mathematics faculty at two-year colleges hold the doctorate.

In obtaining a position at a two-year college, the degree one has is less important than a commitment to quality teaching. In addition, two-year colleges seek faculty who have versatility and adaptability. Future hires will most likely be expected to teach a wide variety of mathematics course offerings. Today, two-year colleges are especially interested in hiring individuals with experience in statistics, in incorporating computers into the classroom, and with working with students in need of remedial, occupational, and technical instruction. Since most two-year colleges are public institutions, remuneration is similar to that at other public institutions of higher education.

Teaching at a two-year college is challenging and exciting. Classes will likely have students with varying levels of expertise. Some of their backgrounds will be weak and others will be strong. Some will be recent mathematics students and others will not have had any mathematics for more than ten years. The job at some times will be frustrating and at other times highly rewarding. It will definitely require all of your creative abilities.

Should you be fortunate enough at the end of a course to have a student, who had let you know at the beginning that your class was definitely not where he or she wanted to be, come forward and say ``Wow, what mathematics should I take next?'', then you will know that teaching at a two-year college is the only place to be.

How Do I Get a Job at a Two-Year College?

If you are interested in teaching mathematics at a two-year college, you should be aware that for each position there are often many applications. To be a successful candidate, you should emphasize how you meet those special needs of two-year colleges. You should emphasize teaching experience, including that as a teaching assistant, and any awards for teaching. Be sure that letters of reference sent to a two-year college on your behalf emphasize the teaching that you have done, not the research that you have done. Most two-year colleges advertise in the CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION, a weekly newspaper available in college libraries. Two-year colleges tend to advertise positions in the early spring although you can find advertisements for positions at two-year colleges in almost every issue of the CHRONICLE. In most cases the deadline for positions at two-year colleges will be within a few weeks of the advertisement. If you are interested, you should respond immediately.