Exploring Job Opportunities at Spokane Colleges

Spokane Colleges, comprised of Spokane Community College (SCC) and Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC), offers a diverse range of job opportunities within a dynamic and supportive environment. This article explores the various employment categories, the colleges' commitment to student success, and the benefits of working in this vibrant Pacific Northwest community.

A Commitment to Student Success and Community

Located on the ancestral land of the Spokane Tribe, near the Spokane River, Spokane Colleges are deeply rooted in the region. Founded in 1963, the colleges serve over 30,000 students annually in Eastern Washington. Spokane Community College serves 15,000 students with career technical, transfer, and adult basic education programs. Spokane Falls Community College serves 6,000 students with liberal arts/transfer, professional technical, and applied bachelor’s programs. The faculty and staff are dedicated to student success and strive to meet students where they are, providing affordable, high-quality education. Spokane Colleges provide affordable, high-quality, transfer degrees, professional-technical degrees and certificates, and applied bachelor's programs. We serve students from infants in Head Start to seniors in Continuing Education.

Spokane itself, named one of the Best Places to Live in America by Outside Magazine, offers a high quality of life with a true four-season climate and numerous outdoor recreational opportunities. Situated 300 miles east of Seattle and 30 miles from Idaho, Spokane is Eastern Washington’s largest city, providing a blend of urban amenities and access to nature.

Employment Categories at Spokane Colleges

Positions at Spokane Colleges fall into several categories, each with its own application procedures.

Administrative and Exempt Staff

Administrative and exempt staff are employed on annual contracts from July 1 (or the initial date of employment) through June 30 of the following year. Typical positions include presidents/vice presidents, deans, associate deans and directors of major areas or major programs. The application process for these roles requires the Spokane Colleges Application for Employment, a cover letter, resume, and professional references. Recruitment typically begins in the spring for positions starting in the following academic year.

Academic Employees (Faculty)

This category includes instructors, counselors, and librarians. A master's degree or vocational equivalent is generally required. Faculty have potential to earn up to $129,585 (average annual salary paid to our 20 highest earning faculty during FY2022/23). Individuals selected for tenure-track academic employee positions are required to serve a three-year probationary period before being granted tenure. Adjunct academic employees are given contracts for each class assigned and generally do not instruct more than 66 percent of a full-time load per quarter. Additional qualifications are listed on the announcement.

Spokane Community College and Spokane Falls Community College frequently seek motivated individuals for adjunct faculty positions in various disciplines, such as:

Chemistry Instructor - Adjunct (SCC)
Mathematics Instructor (SCC)
Information Systems Instructor - Adjunct (SFCC)
Math Instructor - Adjunct (SFCC)
Nursing Instructor - Adjunct (SCC)

General Support Staff

General support staff provide services and perform tasks typical of non-instructional positions within higher education.

Spokane Colleges also seek qualified individuals for positions such as:

HVAC Technician (SFCC Facilities Department)
Electrician (SCC Facilities Department)
Program Specialist (SFCC Concurrent Enrollment Programs)

The Program Specialist position, for example, provides administrative and programmatic support for the Office of Concurrent Enrollment Programs. This role supports dual credit programs at Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC), including Running Start and Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Gateway to College. Key responsibilities include:

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Coordinating and monitoring student progress toward earning a high school diploma.
Processing applications, transcripts, and enrollment verification forms.
Updating grades, credits, and test scores.
Creating, tracking, and reconciling reports.
Assisting in grant preparation and program reporting.
Coordinating with teachers, counselors, staff, and administrators.
Assisting with outreach efforts, including presentations and information nights.
Tracking student eligibility requirements.
Generating final rosters for CTE teachers.
Assisting students with processes such as ctcLink, applications for admissions, and online registration.
Maintaining student files and departmental statistics.
Traveling with the Director of Community Outreach and Dual Enrollment.
Modeling professional decorum and mutual respect.
Complying with district policies, procedures, and regulations.
Supporting Spokane Colleges’ strategic plan.

The minimum requirement for this position is an associate degree from an accredited institution.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Spokane Colleges also provide experiential learning opportunities, such as externships, internships, and work-study programs, to help students gain hands-on experience and prepare for their careers.

Externships

Job shadowing is when an employer allows you to visit and watch someone work. Some externships may also entail hands-on training, but this is not the norm, and the level of responsibility is far below that of an intern. Generally, these opportunities are not paid and not long-term. Externships are also generally not going to be for course credit either since they do not provide as much time on the job as an internship. The goal is to see what a typical workday may look like and get a feel for the profession.

Internships

Internships are hands-on working experience. These can be paid or unpaid and can sometimes be for college credit. Some careers even require internships before you can get licensed.

Work-Study Programs

The Work Study Office, in conjunction with the Financial Aid Office, administers the SCC on-campus and off-campus work programs.

Career Services can help you prepare once you have attended the Fall Career Expo and learn what the employers are looking for! Shake hands and make eye contact upon meeting. Be sure that your grip is firm, but does not crush their hand. You may receive job offers or find job postings that seem too good to be true. Do not pay for a job opportunity. Research the company!

Compensation and Benefits

Starting salary for some positions is: $3,752 (Monthly). Employees hired at the entry step of this range receive salary step advancement after six months and every 12 months thereafter. An employee hired at anything higher than the entry step of the range will have salary step advancement after 12 months and every 12 months thereafter until they reach the top of the salary range.

Spokane Colleges offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

Medical, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance (provided as currently administered under Public Employees Benefits Board)
WA State Retirement Plan
Vacation and sick leave (accrued at a rate of one day per month, prorated for part-time positions)

This position is designated a bargaining unit position and union membership is not a condition of employment.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Spokane Colleges provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, veteran or military status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal.

Important Considerations

Citizenship or lawful authorization to work in the United States is an absolute condition of employment.
Spokane Colleges maintain a drug-free work environment and prohibits all smoking in college buildings and state-owned vehicles.
Successful candidates must be able to work in and promote a multicultural work and education environment.
A background check, including criminal record history, will be conducted prior to a new hire.

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