I have a few questions for community college teachers?

Question

In the next year, I will be completing my MS in Biology and I would like to teach at the community college level. Here are my questions:

1) Is job security okay, if you do not have tenure?

2) Are colleges more apt to keep teachers who have high regards from students even when budgets get tight?

3) Would a community college fire me for not having a Ph.D if they make them mandatory?

4) How are the benefits?

5) Is the pay decent ($35,000+)?

Keep in mind that I will have a Master's. I really do not plan to get a Ph.D.

Thanks

Answer 1

a. most community colleges do not hire full time professors...most of the staff are adjuncts or part time professors who may teach full time at another school, usually a high school, and teach at the CC for extra $...or they teach at a few different CCs...

b. colleges don't care what the students think...so as long as the position is funded it will be posted...no $ means no job...

c. people with phds do not teach at community colleges because they can get hired at REAL colleges...

d. you don't get any benefits as an adjunct...

e. the average is about $3000 per class you teach, last semester i taught 2 classes...6 grand!

many of the questions you are asking apply to full time professors at universities or colleges...CCs are really the minor leagues...it is a good place to start but for the most part it is really a job for retired teachers or teachers looking for extra income...