Physics Professor - Tenure Track

Who We Are

Priority Consideration Date : January 11, 2026

Located in the scenic Puget Sound area with Mount Rainier in the distance, Tacoma is the third largest city in Washington State with a thriving and diverse community of over 200,000 residents. ?Tacoma Community College (TCC) was built on the?ancestral territory of Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Puyallup and Squaxin Island Tribes. The 1854 Medicine Creek Treaty forcibly removed them to Reservations to make way for colonizers; we recognize the privilege of utilizing this land has come at great cost. ?We honor the resilience of the Puyallup and Squaxin Island people, who still live here, defend their rights, and contribute greatly to the well-being of our community. ?Our institution aims to increase partnerships and community ties with the local indigenous populations. Moreover, TCC stands in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the Black community by further strengthening collaboration with the Black Student Union as well as community entities such as the Tacoma-Pierce County Black Collective, the Tacoma Urban League, and local black-owned businesses. In addition, we strongly support the Stop Asian Hate movement and have an active Asian Pacific Islander Student Club as well as an Asian and Pacific Islander Faculty and Staff Coalition. TCC is committed to developing more culturally responsive curricula by infusing and incorporating more educational content focused on the lives, experiences, and contributions of Native, Black, Asian, and other marginalized communities. We continually strive to become an anti-racist institution.

To grow our workforce, we are seeking creative, collaborative faculty who are reflective of the diverse community we serve. Tacoma Community College is a public Associate- and Bachelor's-granting institution that serves a student-body of approximately 10,000 students. Our students are 48% students of color, 60% female, and have a median age of 26. We embrace our identity as a community college. Our faculty are engaged in innovative work to improve student retention and program completion, and community success. According to the Community College Survey of Student Engagement, TCC ranks high on measures of active learning and academic challenge, thanks to our creative and scholarly faculty.

We are specifically focusing on improved support for traditionally marginalized populations, including Black / African- American, Indigenous, People of Color, Dreamers, justice-involved, immigrants and refugees, Veterans, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, and the LGBTQIA2+ community. To this end, TCC seeks applicants who :

• Value intellectual curiosity and innovative teaching
• Welcome difference and model respectful interaction with others
• Recognize and honor the important role that diversity brings to an educational community
• Have experience teaching or doing research in Native / Indigenous communities.
• Are committed to educating a racially and socioeconomically diverse student population
• Are committed to teaching in a community college setting
• Care deeply about student success
• Intentionally support and promote efforts related to equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Honor TCC's mission promoting equitable access to educational opportunities
• Reflect the diversity of our community

The Science, Engineering, and Mathematics (SEM) Division, which includes 40 full-time faculty and nearly 60 part time faculty, offers courses for STEM students, who transfer to colleges and universities throughout the nation, our pre-allied health students, and general education courses. We also proudly have a Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) program, with the stated goal of diversifying the STEM workforce. The Physics program is housed within the Computer Science, Astronomy, Physics, and Engineering (CAPE) Department. It is a collaborative group of 9 full-time faculty members and 4 part time faculty members. As a Physics professor, you will have the opportunity to provide direction with a focus on increasing diversity within the discipline.

REGIONAL SETTING

For information on Tacoma and the surrounding area : https : / / www.tacomacc.edu / tcc-life / life_in_tacoma

Position Summary :

This is a full-time tenure-track position that would be expected to teach courses in physics, engineering, and related courses. This position reports to the Dean for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics (SEM) and supports the broader scope of academic pathways at TCC. This position is expected to start in September 2026.

This is an on-campus position with opportunities for hybrid and online teaching. The current Collective Bargaining Agreement provides for a 176 day yearly contract running approximately from September 1 to June 15. The faculty member filling this position may be assigned classes to be taught during evenings or on Saturdays, or at our Gig Harbor campus . This position reports to the Dean for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics. This position is expected to start in September 2026. Tenure track candidates are supported through a 3-year long tenure process, after which they are eligible for tenure. A one time stipend is paid for achievement of tenure and is currently $2650. Tenure track faculty are assessed primarily on their teaching, service to the college, and community involvement. This may include performing research or writing grants; however the college strongly values other ways faculty choose to advance the college's mission.

Essential Functions

Qualifications

Duties of the position require the following knowledge, skills and abilities :

Required education and experience :

Preferred Qualifications :

Conditions of Employment :

Application Process

Application Materials & Procedure :

Complete application packages must include the following :

Knowledge of the challenges faced by minoritized students (historically marginalized or excluded) and a demonstrated commitment to addressing disparities within an institutional setting.

Please provide a statement of no more than two pages that address how you meet two or more of these characteristics. Candidates with less work experience should be specific as to how they demonstrate commitment. Candidates with more work experience should be specific about what they have done as well as what they would like to do.

Terms of Employment :

This is a full-time tenure track faculty position contracted on an annual basis. The salary range for this position is $69,995 to $81,995; any legislative approved COLA will be adjusted later in the new academic year. Placement on the faculty salary schedule will commensurate with educational background and experience per the Faculty Negotiated Agreement 24-27 (Download PDF reader) (Article 4.00 Academic Employee Compensation). . Tacoma Community College offers a comprehensive health care benefits package for you and your dependents, including medical, dental, and vision insurance. Life and long-term disability insurance plans, sick and personal leave, reduced tuition for the employee, and retirement benefits are also provided. For more information, please visit our employment page / employment benefits : https : / / www.tacomacc.edu / about / employment / . A collective bargaining agreement exists, and membership in the TCC Federation of Teachers or payment of a service fee is available anytime upon hire. Evening and off-campus assignments may be a part of the instructional load. Flexibility is required to meet the needs of the department. Degrees must be from accredited colleges or universities recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and verified by the National Clearinghouse. International degrees will be verified for U.S. equivalency.

Tacoma Community College values diversity and is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator. Tacoma Community College provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, creed, religion, or status as a veteran of war. Prohibited sex discrimination includes sexual harassment (unwelcome sexual conduct of various types). Provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students, employees, and applicants with disabilities in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act and Federal Rehabilitation Act. Tacoma Community College is a smoke-free / drug free environment. This recruitment announcement may not reflect the entire job description and can be change and or modified at any time.

Tacoma Community College

Human Resources

6501 S 19th St Bldg. 14, Tacoma WA 98466

www.tacomacc.edu / about / employment