Full-Time Ethnic Studies Instructor

Definition

[INTERNAL VOLUNTARY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY]

Tenured faculty may request a voluntary transfer to an open, full-time faculty position. A voluntary transfer is the reassignment of a current tenured faculty employee from the department where presently assigned to fill a full-time vacancy in which the member meets the minimum qualifications or equivalencies. The vacancy may be in another department at the same college, or in any department at the other college. See WVMFT Article 23.4 for more information. This notice serves to inform full-time faculty employees of an upcoming position opening.

Internal applicants who are eligible for the voluntary transfer opportunity will receive first-consideration for interview prior to non-eligible applicants.

This transfer opportunity period is open ONLY for 10 business days so as to allow eligible, current tenured faculty employees an opportunity to request a voluntary transfer, if interested. The deadline to apply is November 5, 2026. Applications that meet eligibility for a voluntary transfer but are received after this deadline will not be considered for a voluntary transfer opportunity but will still be considered along with all other applications.

ATTENTION ALL APPLICANTS:

West Valley College is now accepting applications for a full-time, tenure-track instructor position in Ethnic Studies Department, requiring the ability to teach courses from Ethnic Studies. We are currently seeking applicants who have successful experience and a genuine interest in working with under-represented groups.

West Valley College is part of the West Valley-Mission Community College District. Designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution, West Valley College enrolls over 15,000 students annually and is minutes away from the heart of the Silicon Valley in a beautiful park-like setting on 143 wooded acres. The student population represents diverse communities from the cities of Saratoga, Campbell, and Los Gatos. Detailed information about the student population, including data related to student success, can be found on the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Research webpage.

The college is ranked number one in transfer in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area and number one in California out of 116 community colleges. The college is known for high quality academic and career education programs supported by talented faculty and dedicated classified professionals who bring an equity-minded approach to student success. Most recently West Valley College was recognized by the Aspen Institute as one of the top 200 U.S. community colleges eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for community College Excellence. WVC inspires students to create a future for themselves so they can contribute to a world in need of their talents, drive, and enthusiasm. Centered on innovation, excellence, belonging, and inclusivity, the college was honored to receive the 2025-2028 FamilyU Seal for its service to parenting students.

As a campus community, West Valley is committed to addressing inequities and injustices, both societal and institutional, and so recognizes that institutions of higher education have colluded, harmed, and remained complacent in upholding aspects of white supremacy, ableism, patriarchy, and other systems of oppression. The West Valley College community is committed to long-term equity, social justice, and racial justice work which will transform individuals, the institution, and the greater community. As a collective community, we embrace accountability and will act with courage, grace, and humility in fulfilling our commitment to learning and unlearning.

Applicants who possess the knowledge, skills, and life experiences to address the cultural and educational needs of a culturally diverse student population are encouraged to apply.

Assignment

This is a full-time, 10-month, tenure-track faculty position that begins in Spring 2027. Instructional assignments may include day and/or evening classes, Monday through Saturday, as needed and rotate among the Ethnic Studies faculty. It is expected that over several semesters all levels of Ethnic Studies offered at the college will be taught. This position is represented by the West Valley-Mission Federation of Teachers (WVMFT / AFT Local 6554).

Work location: West Valley College, Saratoga, CA

Salary and Benefits

Anticipated Hiring Range:

• $97,318 – $157,048 annually (10 months), based upon academic achievement, teaching and related experience (Academic Salary Schedule, Steps 1-9).

Benefits include:

• Employer-contributed medical, dental and vision for employee, spouse and dependents.
• Employer paid long term disability for employee.
• Employer-provided life insurance.
• Sabbatical, Rejuvenation and Retraining Leaves.
• Banked leave provisions.
• Professional Growth and Development activities.
• 10 days sick leave accrued annually; personal necessity and catastrophic leave.
• Conference leaves.
• Opportunity for overload assignments.
• Cal STRS Retirement.
• Position is union affiliated.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Education – Possess one of the following:
   • Master’s in African-American/Black/Africana Studies or Latino Studies, La Raza Studies, Chicana/o Studies, or Asian-American Studies, or Native American/ American Indian Studies; OR
   • Master’s in Ethnic Studies; OR
   • A valid California Community College Instructor’s Credential in Ethnic Studies; OR
   • The equivalent of the above.

AND

2. Understanding of, and sensitivity to the diverse academic, socio-economic, ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds, disability, and sexual orientation of community college students, faculty and staff.

Desired Qualifications

The ideal candidate will also demonstrate the following desired qualifications:

• Commitment to culturally sustaining pedagogies.
• Strong commitment to student-centered learning.
• Experience, skills, or ability teaching Ethnic Studies courses using a wide variety of instructional strategies, and in a distance education environment, preferably at the community college level.
• Commitment to on-going professional growth and development, dedication to fostering a positive work and classroom environment, and continued innovation and improvement of Ethnic Studies teaching.
• Emphasis in African American, Latino/a, Asian American, and/or Native American Studies in addition to general ethnic studies.
• Development of a classroom environment that recognizes and honors all marginalized, racialized student populations and their communities in the committed pursuit of social justice and greater student equity.

Knowledge and Abilities

N/A

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities

Instructional duties and assignments may consist of one or more of the following:

• Provide instruction for assigned courses. This includes preparation, in-class activities, evaluation of students’ work, consultation with students outside of class (scheduling time beyond normal office hours if necessary), ensuring regular effective student contact for Distance Education courses, maintenance of currency in the subjects taught and other efforts related to the teaching of the assigned classes, and participate in the process of SLO assessment and evaluation and use the results of these assessments in the process of continuously improving student learning.
• Maintain accurate class and other records.
• Submit, when due, all necessary reports, such as attendance, grade reports, rosters, class and office schedules.
• File a syllabus for each course with the appropriate division offices.
• Post and maintain office hours each week.
• Provide each student with a current course syllabus as required by Title 5, which includes SLOs, classroom procedures, requirements and grading policies and provide a copy to the Division Office.
• Refer students to appropriate college resources.
• Assist students by providing advice on requirements for successful achievement in the members’ area of expertise.
• Assume institutional responsibilities, essential to the ongoing operation and effective achievement of department, division, college and district programs.

Working Conditions

Other Duties

Physical Demands

Applicant Information

APPLICATION INFORMATION:

• Interested applicants must submit online all materials requested, including: (1) A completed online West Valley-Mission Community College District application; (2) Supplemental application questions; (3) Resume; (4) Unofficial copies of transcripts; (5) Cover letter and/or reference list, if requested; and (6) Any requested licenses or certificates, if applicable.
• All sections of the online application, including Education and Educational Work History, must be completed thoroughly.
• Supervisor(s) name(s) and telephone numbers must be included in the application.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Do NOT send unrequested materials. Unrequested materials will be removed from your application and will not be used for consideration of employment.
• The employment application and supporting documents represent you; it is to your advantage to fill out the application form carefully and completely.

ABOUT TRANSCRIPTS:

• If a minimum requirement is possession of a degree, then a copy of transcripts is required to be included with your application to verify the degree being awarded. If no transcripts are included or the transcript does not show a degree conferred AND degree conferred date, the application may be screened as not meeting minimum requirements, the application may be screened as not meeting minimum requirements.
• Should the minimum qualifications state “any combination equivalent to,” then additional relevant work experience may substitute for education. In this case, please upload a document stating such in the Required Transcripts document field.
• Degrees must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation and/or the U.S. Department of Education.
• Candidates with degrees earned outside of the United States must provide official certification of equivalency to U. S. degrees by a certified U. S. credential review service, must have a U.S. evaluation (course by course of the transcripts) and must be submitted with this online application.
• If you do not have an electronic version of the transcript, you can get it scanned at an office supply or copy store; then attach the electronic version of your transcript to this online application.
• Copies of diplomas, grade reports, graduation petitions, transcript evaluations requests, or similar documents WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of transcripts.
• When uploading transcripts, please ensure they are NOT encrypted, secured, or password-protected or they will be rejected by the system.

EQUIVALENCY INFORMATION:

Applicants applying under equivalency bear the responsibility of submitting the District’s Equivalency Application form with details and evidence of the factors (academic preparation and/or experience) that they believe to be equivalent of the required qualifications for this position. Application(s) for equivalency are required if degrees are not in exact discipline required.

The Equivalency Application is included in the online application as an OPTIONAL form to complete.

• ONLY complete the Request for Equivalency application if degree does not match discipline(s) stated in the Minimum Qualifications.
• List accurately and completely the courses taken that match requirements of the required degree.
• Do NOT attach documents such as course evaluations.

For reasonable accommodations and assistance, contact:

Office of Human Resources, Attn: Recruitment
14000 Fruitvale Ave, Saratoga, CA 95070
Phone: (408) 741-2174 Fax: (408) 741-2564
Email: Careers@wvm.edu

Selection Process

SELECTION PROCESS INFORMATION:

• After the deadline date, a committee will review and evaluate applications and supporting materials to select the applicants to be interviewed. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not assure the candidate an interview.
• All candidates will receive an e-notification to acknowledge receipt of their application materials. If not contacted within 3-6 weeks following the close of the recruitment, no suitable match was determined at this time.
• Travel expenses to attend first-level interview are the responsibility of the candidate.
• Application materials become the property of the District and will not be returned or duplicated.
• The district may choose to re-advertise or indefinitely delay filling a position. Some positions may include first and second level interviews.
• The district reserves the right to contact former, current, the most recent employers, and others to investigate past employment records of applicants.
• Any tentative verbal offer of employment is contingent upon formal approval of the college Governing Board.
• Upon hire the successful candidate must provide the required documents of identity and authorization to work and attest he/she is authorized to work in the United States.
• Prior to employment, the selected candidate must submit official transcripts.
• The district does not provide visa sponsorship.

EEO STATEMENT:

West Valley-Mission Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer that seeks to employ a diverse workforce who will contribute to an inclusive and welcoming educational and employment environment. The District is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of ethnic group identification, race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, physical disability, mental disability, genetic information, ancestry, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, language, accent, citizenship status, transgender status, parental status, marital status, economic status, military or veteran status, and medical condition consistent with applicable federal and state laws.

Posting Detail Information

• Posting Number: FY22/23-364FT
• Open Date: 10/23/2026
• Close Date: 11/18/2026
• Open Until Filled: No

Requisition Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. Discuss your teaching philosophy, including how your approach is grounded in Ethnic Studies and how you would support the diverse academic, cultural, and lived experiences of community college students. (Open Ended Question)
2. Provide a sample syllabus for an Introduction to Ethnic Studies course that includes course readings, assignments, and grading policies. Upload the syllabus under “Documents Needed to Apply” and use the textbox below to provide a rationale of no more than 250 words explaining how your selections reflect the interdisciplinary and comparative foundations of Ethnic Studies and support student learning. (Open Ended Question)

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

1. Resume/CV
2. Cover Letter
3. Transcripts
4. Response to Supplemental Question

Optional Documents

1. Supporting Documentation for Equivalency Request 1
2. Supporting Documentation for Equivalency Request 2
3. Supporting Documentation for Equivalency Request 3
4. Additional Supporting Documentation
5. Other Related Licenses or Certificates
6. Additional Transcripts