Job Responsibilities
I teach at a suburban community college in Phoenix, Arizona. I
primarily teach computer information system courses, but also
teach speech communication and can also teach journalism and
business courses if needed. I am also the campus online learning
coordinator.
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Job Requirements
I received an online MBA (AACSB accredited) from Morehead State
University. This is the third graduate degree I hold (others
being a Master of Arts in communication from Eastern Michigan
University and an Education Specialist in instructional
technology from Valdosta State University). I did the MBA to
move up the salary scale at my community college and to qualify
me to teach other business courses. I took two years to finish
the MBA. It was work, I do mean work. You have to be very
driven to succeed in most online programs and the Morehead State
program was no exception. But I did it and I worked fulltime
along the way! Many have asked in my case why I chose an MBA
over a doctorate. At my community college, getting a doctorate
would have paid me $1800 more a year than if I got an MBA. Two
years for an MBA versus up to 8 or 9 years for a doctorate. The
MBA was simply more cost effective!
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Uppers
Freedom. It is like I am an independent contractor as a community college
professor. I love learning. I get to do about whatever I want to do with very
little pressure from above.
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Downers
MEETINGS. There are too many and they are too damn long.
Sometimes I think we meet to give the allusion we are doing
something.
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Lifestyle
The lifestyle is the reason at age 45 I made a career change to become a
fulltime community college professor. I can dress any way I want. I choose to
wear a tie most of the time so I can get better service in the cafeteria, ha ha.
At the end of this year, I get tenure, a promise of lifetime employment. Best
career move I ever made.
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Compensation
A community college professor makes a lot more than you might
think. The pressure to "publish or perish" is not a part of the
community college. And, if you want to make more, you volunteer
to teach more. Summers are a bonus. You can take them off or
teach.
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Advice to Jobseekers
Teach parttime at your local community college and get known.
You need a masters degree. A doctorate will not help you much;
in fact, it might hurt you in a job interview. I've been on many
hiring committees and the first thing we think with a doctorally
qualified applicant is "why do you want to teach here?" Most of
the Ph.D.'s I've interviewed either give off an arrogant air
about themselves (I will stoop down to teach at a community
college attitude) or they just do not know the role of the
community college. If you want a doctorate, get hired FIRST.
And if you don't want a doctorate, do what I did and get another
graduate degree to make yourself even more useful.
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