New Program Wants To Put More Community College Grads In Full-Time Professor Jobs, Diversify Faculty

Compton College, in partnership with USC’s Race and Equity Center, will soon launch a program that aims to help community college graduates become community college professors.

The program, set to start in mid-February, will pair participants with faculty “coaches.” These mentors will help students craft cover letters and résumés. They’ll also help students navigate the job market and introduce them to colleagues and administrators who might hire them for full-time positions.

The Compton College Faculty Prep Academy is open to California community college alumni who are currently in graduate school and plan to apply for faculty positions in 2024.

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“What prompted this initiative was the recognition that there's a lack of faculty of color,” said Adrián Trinidad, associate director for community college partnerships at USC.

Lack of representation

In November 2023, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office issued a report on faculty diversity, which acknowledges that progress has been slow. A CalMatters analysis found that the disparity between faculty and student representation is especially high among Latinos: They make up nearly half of the state’s community college student population, but less than 20% of tenured or tenure-track faculty.

The Compton College Faculty Prep Academy aims to demystify the job hunt and create a pipeline for candidates who’ve been historically excluded. Applicants will explore questions like “What do you do during an interview with a college president?” and “What are search committees looking for?” Trinidad said. Then, “as you enter that first interview or the second interview, how do you stand out?”

“These jobs are really quite competitive,” he added. Adjunct professors often teach at multiple campuses “for many, many years before they are able to land a full-time, tenure-track position.”

Trinidad, who began his higher ed journey at L.A. Trade-Tech before going on to earn a doctorate at USC, also emphasized that the academy will delve deep into equity-minded teaching practices that help affirm students in their future classrooms. That means examining everything from syllabi design to daily interactions, including something as simple as the correct pronunciation of a student’s name.

Compton College will select 30 graduate students of color for the program. These students will be required to visit the campus twice, starting with a day-long kickoff event in February, followed by a culmination event in September. Students will also participate in seven monthly online meetings. The college will cover students’ travel, lodging, and meals.