September 30, 2005

Visit to Scottsdale Community College

Prepared by Vicki Sealey

 

We traveled to Scottsdale Community College to learn about the life of a community college professor.  We met with Connie Caruthers, Daytime Chair of the Mathematics Department, and several other faculty members. 

 

We were given a handout with the names and e-mail addresses of all mathematics faculty members, including information on the course coordinators.  We were encouraged to e-mail the course coordinators if we are interested in working with them on a PFMF project. 

 

Scottsdale Community College hosts an annual Math/Science Field Day for Arizona high school students.  Last year, over 250 high school students attended from a total of 8 high schools.  In mathematics, all students take the same test, regardless of their level (algebra, geometry, calculus, etc.), but students only compete with other students at their level.  The 2006 Math/Science Field Day is scheduled for January 13th, and members of PFMF were encouraged to attend and help for a PFMF project.

 

We were also given a list of sample hiring committee questions that SCC has used in the past.  Recent ASU graduate, Phil Clark is now a faculty member at SCC.  He shared some of his experiences with the hiring process.  His advice to us was to start early with preparing our vitae, teaching and research statements. 

 

The hiring process at SCC was described to us.  Applicants submit a complete application package to the hiring committee, and the committee chooses approximately 20 applicants for phone interviews.  The phone interviews last approximately 10 to 15 minutes, and are usually all held in one day.  From that group, approximately 6 people are chosen to give a micro-teach in front of the committee.  The committee chooses a math topic, and the applicants usually have 1-2 weeks to prepare a lesson.  The lesson should be approximately 20 minutes in length.  Finally, the committee recommends 3 people (in order) to the dean.  These 3 applicants have an interview with the dean, and the dean makes the final decision on the hire.  At SCC, the dean seems to always hire the top pick of the hiring committee, but that is not the case at ever community college. 

 

Finally, we were given a tour of the mathematics offices and classrooms.  The building is relatively new and in very nice condition.  Faculty members have their own offices, and adjunct instructors have two shared spaces to use when they are on campus. 

 

There is one hour during each week when no classes are held.  The department has it's staff meetings at this time, and on weeks when there is no staff meeting, several of the faculty members have lunch together. 

 

The classrooms showed what teaching styles were valued at SCC.  Both classrooms we saw had tables that were arranged for groups of 4 students.  Whiteboards were on all 4 walls of the classroom to encourage students to use them and work together.  Dr. Kawski pointed out to us the location of the overhead screen.  The screen was in the corner of the room and was not blocking the view of the whiteboards.  This is well designed for math classes so that instructors can use the whiteboard and overhead simultaneously.  The room in which calculus is taught also has a computer for every 2 students. 

 

Community college job postings are rarely on the MAA website, but can often be found on the website for AMATYC (American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges).  Another way to find out about job postings is by attending conferences.  Handouts are usually given at conferences when a community college has a job posting.