Pierce College District Looking for Assistant Professor of Instrumental Music Full Time

Join our Racial Equity-Centered College!Pierce College District is student-centered and mission-driven to ensure that all our students thrive and reach their fullest potential. As an institution committed to antiracism, we are action-oriented and intentional in dismantling every systemic barrier that prevents Black and Brown student excellence and liberation.

As Pierce College deepens its commitment to racial equity, it is of the highest priority that we focus our tenure-track faculty hiring process to seek faculty with the expertise to lead our institution in serving Black and Brown students. This cluster hire is an opportunity for the college community to continue to act upon our values but more importantly for the empowering of our student’s self-efficacy, for cultivating sense of belonging, and for the diversity of our entire student body, especially Black and Brown students, being reflected in a position of power in the classroom. We are fortunate that the Washington state legislature recognizes this through SB 5194 in its efforts to address student areas of inequities with the funding of additional faculty positions. Learn more about this year’s faculty cluster hire here: https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/hr-faculty-cluster-hire.

We are excited to invite you to bring your lived experiences and authentic selves to contribute to discourse and action in supporting Black and Brown students.

About the Program:

The Pierce College music program is a vibrant and growing program with excellent facilities, talented students, and a reputation in the community for creative programming and excellent performance. As a leading program amongst community colleges in the state of Washington, our faculty collaborate across the state in music curriculum and degree planning. The music department is fully engaged in the equity work of the college to serve our diverse community of learners to thrive in an evolving world. The ensembles and performances not only provide our students with the experience of performing diverse repertoire, but also provides our community a space for expansive and inclusive artistic expression.

Department faculty collaborate across the fine and performing arts with other faculty and students, and work closely with student programming and activities for funding and event planning. The successful candidate will join a dynamic district music department that includes choral and instrumental performance courses, private instruction courses, music theory curriculum, and music lecture courses. The successful candidate will also be joining committed equity educators within the division and the college as we engage the arts to celebrate excellence in cultural expression while also interrogating past cultural inequities.

The department prepares and transfers music majors to 4-year music performance and music education programs. The program serves music majors, students seeking humanities electives, and community members. Additionally, the department has multiple performance groups including: Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, Concert Band, String Orchestra, and Chamber Ensembles. The Pierce College Concert Band has been a staple of the music community for over 50 years.

About Pierce College:

Pierce College is an innovative community college striving to re-envision our institution through an antiracist framework to advance equity in student engagement and learning. We value student learning experiences that foster inclusion and intercultural engagement in the classroom and that expand into our local and global communities. Faculty, staff, and administrators work collaboratively to lead initiatives that advance equitable student success: from closing areas of inequity to building guided career pathways. The college serves over 15,000 students in basic skills, transfer, and professional technical programs. Through continuous efforts, we have improved retention rates by 17% and graduation rates by 89%. This year, Pierce was again named a top community college by several national organizations.

Pierce College employees and students live and work in various communities that offer the diverse cultural and environmental benefits of rural, suburban, and urban lifestyles in the Pacific Northwest. As part of the community and technical college system in Washington State, the District includes Pierce College Fort Steilacoom, Pierce College Puyallup, Pierce College at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, as well as other extended learning sites.

To be considered for this position, applicants must include the following items in their application package:

1. Letter of formal application that addresses how your experience and education qualifies you to perform the assigned responsibilities (Cover Letter).
2. Responses to the following: Provide specific examples how you fulfill at least two of the following criteria: (a) Have experience or have demonstrated commitment to teaching, mentoring and/or engaging in services for Black and Brown students; (b) Have demonstrated knowledge of barriers for Black and Brown students and experience in addressing disproportionate impact at an institution; (c) Have experience in or have demonstrated commitment in facilitating Black and Brown students’ navigating a higher education institution; (d) Have experience or have demonstrated commitment to integrating elements of culturally relevant and inclusive pedagogy. (Supplemental Question).
3. Detailed curriculum vitae of all educational and professional experience, which includes a list of courses taught (Curriculum Vitae).
4. Unofficial copies of all college and university transcripts that include degree received and confer date. International transcripts must include a foreign transcript evaluation. For a list of approved credential evaluation services visit: https://www.naces.org/members. (Unofficial transcripts acceptable for application process; official transcripts required prior to hire) (Transcripts).
5. A list of four current professional references with name, relationship to candidate, address, email address, and telephone number. Letters of recommendation will not be accepted in lieu of a list of professional references (References).

*If selected for an interview, a link to unedited conducting videos of a performance (10 minutes minimum) and a rehearsal (15 minutes minimum) from the past five years will be requested (Conducting Video)Terms of Employment:This position, which is contingent upon funding, is a full-time, tenure-track assignment of 174 contracted days per year with the tenure process starting in September 2022, and with the opportunity to start working an earlier quarter. Assignment may include district discipline/program coordination, as well as evening, hybrid, and/or online teaching. This is a District position with a “home” campus assignment. Initial placement of this position will be at the Puyallup campus. Candidates will be working for a District Dean and will be required to attend district meetings as well as collaborate with colleagues across the district and across departments. Initial salary placement is based on the current full-time faculty salary schedule and is dependent upon education and experience. Salary placement for newly hired full-time faculty will be at one of five levels based upon qualifications including teaching experience and credentials. The five levels range from $60,374 to $65,173 per 174-day academic year. Opportunities for summer employment and other assignments are in addition to the base salary.

Sexual Misconduct and Background Check:

Prior to start of employment, finalists(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check as a condition of employment. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment, but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position. Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington State Law.

Reasonable Accommodation:

Applicants with disabilities who require assistance with the application and employment process will be accommodated to the extent reasonably possible. Requests should be made to the District Human Resources Office by calling 253-964-7342. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may dial 711 to place a call through Washington Relay, the state’s free telecommunication access service.

Screening & Interview Process:Only those candidates who have complied with the application process and have met the required qualifications will be considered. The most desirable candidates will be contacted for an interview. Application materials submitted to Pierce College are the property of the College and will not be returned.

Conditions of Employment:

• In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, proof of authorization to work in the United States will be required at the time of hire. An offer of employment will not carry with it any responsibility or obligation on the part of the District to sponsor an H-1B visa. 
• Pierce College has adopted a Drug Free Workplace policy. As a condition of employment, employees must agree to abide by the requirements established in this policy.
• Per Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.2 , state employees must be fully vaccinated no later than October 18, 2021. Your vaccine status will be verified upon hire. Please reach out to the HR Office at www.pierce.ctc.edu/hr if you need information on medical or religious accommodation.

Bargaining Unit:

• This position has been designated as a bargaining unit position represented by the Pierce College Federation of Teachers (PCFT).

The Pierce College District is an equal opportunity employer. The Board of Trustees and Pierce College District are committed to providing equal opportunity and will not discriminate in terms and conditions of employment and personnel practices for all persons without regard to race, color, national origin, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal.

For more information or assistance regarding your application, contact Human Resources at: [email protected]. 

Questions regarding equal employment opportunities or discrimination may be directed to the following: 

Sean Cooke, Title IX Coordinator
9401 Farwest Drive SW
Lakewood, Washington 98498
(253) 840-8472

Tami Jacobs, ADACO/Section 504 Coordinator
(253) 964-6581

Holly Gorski, Vice President for Human Resources
(253) 964-6519

Paula Henson-Williams, District Affirmative Action Officer
(253) 864-3229