Assistant Professor, Astronomy

Position:Assistant Professor Astronomy

Department: Academic Affairs

Type of Position: Full-time Faculty

Exemption Status: Exempt

Work Schedule Hours per week: Varies depending on department needs

Opportunity for hybrid schedule: No

Starting Salary Range: $54122.00-$91437.00 and determined based on relevant years of work experience provided on application and resume.

Position Summary: Johnson County Community College (JCCC) invites applications from a diverse pool of candidates for a full-time faculty position in the Astronomy Department beginning Fall 2026. The successful candidate will teach astronomy lecture and laboratory courses and will be prepared to deliver instruction in a variety of formats including face-to-face hybrid and online modalities. As a full-time faculty member at JCCC responsibilities include maintaining regular office hours; serving on department division and college-wide committees; developing and revising curriculum; designing and implementing assessments of student learning outcomes; participating in professional development; and collaborating with faculty staff and stakeholders across the College and the broader community. Additional duties may be assigned as needed.
While not required faculty members are encouraged to pursue professional opportunities such as national and international travel for conferences and workshops grant writing and publishing and participation in independent or course-based undergraduate research with students.
JCCC is located in Overland Park Kansas part of the greater Kansas City metropolitan area. The community is known for its museums restaurants and vibrant music and arts scene. JCCC is committed to fostering a rich cultural environment and is home to an award-winning contemporary art museum and a nationally recognized center for the performing arts.

All applications must be submitted through the JCCC jobs portal. Required application materials include:
Cover letter
Curriculum vitae (resume)
Unofficial transcripts
One-page teaching philosophy

Required Qualifications:

• Masters degree with a minimum of 18 graduate credit hours in Astronomy and/or Physics.
• At least one year of college-level teaching experience in astronomy lecture and laboratory courses.
• Demonstrated computer literacy including the ability to communicate electronically develop instructional materials and enter grades using learning management and institutional systems.
• Demonstrated proficiency with appropriate instructional and discipline-specific software.
• Demonstrated fluency in both written and oral communication.
• Demonstrated experience with the use care and maintenance of telescopes and related equipment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree in Astronomy or Physics including a minimum of 18 graduate credit hours in astronomy and/or physics.
• Three years of community college teaching experience in astronomy lecture and laboratory courses.
• Experience mentoring undergraduate students in research including independent projects or course-based research experiences.

Position Details: Job duties include but are not limited to:

Teaching Faculty members are expected to be effective teachers and excel in course instruction. Listed below are the minimum expectations of faculty who teach at JCCC.

• Effective teaching requires content expertise: Faculty must demonstrate deep subject knowledge including key concepts current and relevant research methodologies tools and techniques and meaningful applications. Consequently faculty members are expected to do the following:
  • Possess thorough and accurate knowledge of his or her specific field/discipline including the ability to evaluate and apply content.
  • Be committed to professional development by keeping current in their respective discipline.
  • Maintain faculty credentials as required by the colleges accrediting agencies.
• Effective teaching reflects sound instructional methods drawn from the scholarship of teaching and learning and cultivates a supportive learning environment that allows students to think critically and experiment with material. Therefore faculty members are expected to do the following:
  • Select and develop instructional materials; plan and organize instruction to enhance student learning; create appropriate assignments to encourage student learning the development of communication skills and higher order thinking; and use available instructional technology as appropriate.
  • Use a variety of proven methods of engagement and assessment that facilitate student mastery of the content.
  • Provide students constructive encouraging and corrective feedback. Evaluate student learning by creating and applying course competencies and accurately evaluating student progress.
  • Strive to increase teaching effectiveness through the application of appropriate teaching and learning strategies; evaluate student learning and modify instructional methods and strategies as appropriate to meet diverse student needs.
• Effective teaching communicates successfully. Effective teaching clearly articulates high achievable and purposeful expectations. Effective teaching adeptly guides meaningful course activities allowing students to advance their knowledge or skill. As a result faculty members are expected to do the following:
  • Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in clear communication of subject matter to the students.
  • Provide timely substantive feedback in appropriate forms.
• Effective teachers should meet institutional expectations. Therefore faculty members are expected to do the following:
  • Meet classes as scheduled; notify the appropriate Chair Assistant Dean or Dean in advance if they are to be absent and if possible arrange for a substitute instructor or assignments for his or her class.
  • Be accessible to students through e-mail wireless/cellular technology or scheduled office hours including arranging when necessary additional time for appointments.
  • Prepare and distribute syllabi in accordance with established procedures and guidelines and follow the published final exam schedule.
  • Maintain accurate records of students academic standing; promptly provide final grades attendance and other information as required by administration.
  • Respect the confidentiality of student information; refrain from discussing or releasing such information except within recognized limits.
  • Evaluate students based solely on their academic performance and to respond promptly to student grade questions and/or appeals.

Member of the College Community In addition to teaching faculty members are expected to be an active member of the college community. Listed below are the expectations of faculty as responsible and professional representatives of JCCC. Members of the college community should perform their professional responsibilities in accordance with the goals missions and plans of the department program division and College. Therefore faculty members are expected to do the following:

• Fulfill all requirements as stated in College policies and procedures including mandatory training.
  • Attend and participate in all required meetings and exercise stewardship in the use of college facilities and materials.
  • Submit information or materials related to their assigned duties as requested by college administrators or peers in a timely manner.
• Members of the college community should contribute to the creation of a collegial culture. As colleagues all faculty have obligations that derive from common membership in the community of scholars. Faculty do not discriminate against or harass colleagues. They respect and defend the free inquiry of associates even when it leads to findings and conclusions that differ from their own. Faculty accept their share of faculty responsibilities for the governance of the institution (drawn from AAUP Statement on Professional Ethics 1966 Revised). Therefore faculty members are expected to do the following:
  • Collaborate with faculty staff and stakeholders from across the College and the community in order to create preserve and enhance important partnerships.
  • Provide support for both adjunct and full-time colleagues in the form of consultation and cooperation; work as effective team members when required.
  • Treat all members of the college community with dignity and respect demonstrating professional courteous behavior and engage in constructive conflict resolution when needed.
• In addition full-time faculty members are expected to serve the College by contributing to the growth and enhancement of the College mission and programs. Consequently full-time faculty members are expected to do the following:
  • Fulfill all requirements as stated in the Master Agreement.
  • Participate in instructional and College planning and assist in the recruitment and retention of students faculty and staff.
  • Serve on college division program and department committees and assist the Chair or Dean in the exercise of their duties.
  • Attend and participate in professional development opportunities including activities during Professional Development Days and other opportunities offered by the College and/or external organizations.
  • Create and revise develop and amend where appropriate departmental or program curricula.

*Duties and responsibilities as required by business necessity may be added deleted or changed at any time at the discretion of management formally or informally either verbally or in writing. Scheduling shift assignments and work location may be changed at any time as required by business necessity.

To be considered for this position we will require an application resume cover letter unofficial transcripts and one page teaching philosophy.

*Unofficial transcripts are required for all Adjunct faculty and Faculty positions.

Benefits Category

For Fulltime Employees:

• Health insurance with some employer paid options.
• Life insurance & AD&D (employer provided)
• Retirement plans (403(b) 457(b) and KPERS)
• Employer paid 8% contribution into a 403(b) no match required
• Paid time off (vacation sick personal and floating holidays)
• 14 days of paid holidays
• Full tuition reduction for JCCC credit courses (for employee and eligible dependents)
• Tuition reimbursement / assistance for nonJCCC courses for employee
• And many more!

Additional Incentives:

• Free access to the Gym on campus for all employees and dependents
• Discount to the Hiersteiner Child Development Center
• Snow days
• Professional development funding and training opportunities
• Mentorship program
• Recognition and awards programs
• Employee wellness programs

About JCCC:

Established in 1969 Johnson County Community College is dedicated to transforming lives and strengthening communities through learning. Located in Overland Park Kansas JCCC has enjoyed a national reputation for educational excellence and student success for more than 50 years. Thats five decades dedicated to smaller class sizes more resources and a thriving campus culture not to mention our competitive tuition rates and extracurricular experiences that transcend the norm.

Mission: JCCC inspires learning to transform lives and strengthen communities.

Vision: JCCC will be an innovative leader in equitable student access learning and success

Equal Employment Opportunity:

JCCC is an equal opportunity employer and equal access institution. JCCC does not discriminate on the basis of sex race color national origin ancestry disability age religion marital status parental status military status veteran status sexual orientation gender identity genetic information or other factors that cannot be lawfully considered in its programs and activities which includes employment and admissions in accordance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 the Equal Pay Act of 1963 the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 Executive Order 11246 Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 Section 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the Americans with Disabilities Act the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act the Jobs for Veterans Act of 2002 the Kansas Acts Against Discrimination and all other applicable civil rights and nondiscrimination laws.

Inquiries concerning JCCCs compliance with its nondiscrimination policies (including Title IX Title VI and Section 504 inquiries) may be referred to a Title IX Coordinator () or Director of Human Resources or the Dean of Students and Learner Engagement at Johnson County Community College 12345 College Blvd Overland Park KS 66210 ; or to Office for Civil Rights Kansas City Office U.S. Department of Education One Petticoat Lane 1010 Walnut Street Suite 320 Kansas City MO 64106 Telephone: Facsimile: Email to: .

Disclosure:

If you need any assistance throughout the search process please reach out to the . In accordance with the college policy finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations. Individual hiring departments at JCCC may elect to administer pre-employment tests which are relevant to essential job functions as part of the applicant selection/hiring process. Many departments require those selected for hire to submit a certified transcript for all degrees obtained. For full consideration applicants are encouraged to apply prior to the review date listed in posting.

Duties and responsibilities as required by business necessity may be added deleted or changed at any time at the discretion of management formally or informally either verbally or in writing. Scheduling shift assignments and work location may be changed at any time as required by business necessity.

If you are an applicant requesting assistance or a reasonable accommodation in the application process please contact the Office of Human Resources at or email .