Adjunct Faculty - Earth Science

About Oakton College

Educate. Empower. Transform

At Oakton College, we know education changes lives - and that starts with the people who make it happen. For more than 50 years, we've built a welcoming and inclusive community where students from all backgrounds and experiences thrive.

We're looking for passionate educators, professionals and leaders to join our team. Whether in the classroom, student support, or behind the scenes, your talents and expertise will make a difference and shape the future.

We provide dynamic learning environments that empower students and employees alike with campuses in Des Plaines and Skokie and a Health Careers Education Center in Evanston.

As a proud institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Oakton is more than a college - it's a place where innovation, equity and lifelong learning drive everything we do. We value diverse perspectives and embrace new ideas and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and student-centered culture.

Oakton College is looking to develop a pool of adjunct instructors to teach.

Adjunct faculty positions are ongoing pooled positions. Candidates' materials will remain on file and will be reviewed on an as-needed basis.

Job Description

Part-time faculty are paid on a lecture hour equivalents (LHE) basis. For most courses, the LHE is the same as a credit hour. For others, the LHE represents additional work for teaching the class, such as grading papers for Composition classes or teaching a class with a laboratory section (computers, languages, and the sciences); in those cases, the LHE represents a figure higher than the credit hour. All part-time faculty start at the beginning pay rates, regardless of the level and type of experience obtained elsewhere. For the 2025-26 academic year rates are $1221/LHE for faculty without doctorates and $1294/LHE for faculty with doctorates.

Part-time faculty advance one step within the salary schedule with the successful completion of 2 fall & spring semesters where 3+ LHEs are taught in each semester.

Part-time faculty are hired on a semester-by-semester basis. A reasonable effort is made to assure the assignment of courses to more senior part-time faculty who are fully qualified by virtue of their education, training, work experience as related to current technology and pedagogical techniques, and who have had a history of successful performance at Oakton College.

All assignments are conditioned on sufficient enrollment. Once a course starts, the part time faculty member is expected to complete the course.

Applicants must be strong communicators and effective classroom facilitators who enjoy teaching in a student-centered environment.

Oakton especially values candidates committed to working in a culturally competent environment. Cultural competence integrates and transforms knowledge about individuals and groups of people into specific standards, policies, practices, and attitudes used in appropriate cultural settings to increase the quality of services.

Applicants should be current and skilled in their use of evolving technologies, active in promoting critical thinking, and committed to challenging our students to be knowledgeable, ethical, and capable global citizens. Oakton seeks enthusiastic faculty who are committed to innovation in college-level teaching and learning and interested in non-traditional delivery of instruction. The College expects faculty to be professionally competent, have strong leadership qualities, participate in professional development activities, and engage in institutional and departmental service.

Part-time faculty are hired on a semester-by-semester basis. A reasonable effort is made to assure the assignment of courses to more senior part-time faculty who are fully qualified by virtue of their education, training, work experience as related to current technology and pedagogical techniques, and who have had a history of successful performance at Oakton College.

Essential Functions of the Position

• Construction of a course syllabus, consistent with the generic course syllabus that stipulates course objectives, content, and grading criteria.
• Preparation of course presentations and instructional materials for lecture, and laboratory and clinical functions (as appropriate).
• Delivery of instruction, including being prepared for and meeting courses and laboratories (if appropriate) at scheduled times.
• Consultation with and evaluation of students.
• Maintenance of clear records on student performance, as well as any other factors such as attendance involved with the grading of students.
• Compliance with departmental and institutional policies and procedures including but not limited to submission of midterm and final grades, keeping office hours, and decisions regarding instructional matters such as texts, assignments, and grading standards; also adhering to provisions of the AFA contract.
• Compliance with institutional procedures.

Requirements

Master's degree in earth science, geology, geography, meteorology, atmospheric science or oceanography, with 18 graduate semester hours of coursework related to course assignment.

Preferred - College teaching experience. Doctoral degree in earth science, geology, geography, meteorology, atmospheric science or oceanography.

Additional Information

Oakton is looking for qualified Earth Science faculty to teach these courses: EAS100 - Introduction to Earth Science, EAS101 - Physical Geology, EAS121 - Physical Geography, EAS125 - A Survey of Oceanography.

Based on the needs of the college and with Administrator approval, some positions at the college may have a hybrid schedule option available after 30 working days.