• Agriculture Instructor

Position Summary
The faculty member is this position will teach animal science, agri-business, and agriculture courses as assigned by the division chair and in keeping with the guidelines listed below.  Assignments may include all delivery methods (traditional, online, ITV and flex) and on any of the Crowder instructional sites (Neosho, McDonald County, Cassville, Webb City, Nevada). These may include, but are not limited to Animal Science, Horse Science, Ag Economics, Meat Science, Beef Cattle Production, Farm Business Management, Livestock Evaluation, Ag Capstone, Poultry Careers, Ag Careers or courses as assigned by the division chair.  Advise students as needed.
 
Essential Job Duties
The primary function of faculty members at Crowder College is to help Crowder students maximize their learning. Duties include those related to curriculum, instruction, student advisement, professional enrichment, institutional service and other tasks associated with full-time faculty, which may include evenings and weekends. Delivery methods may include traditional, online, or flex. Travel to other instructional sites may occasionally be required. Learning is the key to human growth and development. In order to help our students be better learners, faculty members in general are expected to:
 

• Teach a regular load of fifteen (15) hours in the fall and spring semester and six hours (6) in the summer as assigned by the Division Chair.
• Advise students in agriculture related programs of study
• Develop career connected learning experiences for students in agriculture programs
• Explore industry-related partnerships that are aligned to course and program learning outcomes
• Maintain regular office hours. Generally, that would include 8-10 hours total per week with times in both mornings and afternoons.
• Coordinate Division student organizations: Aggie Club, PAS, Collegiate Farm Bureau.
• Plan and execute Travel Seminars as needed
• Explore development of judging/competition team(s) such as livestock, meat, etc. to compete against other colleges
• Oversee assigned Career Development Events during Aggie Day
• Organize and facilitate business and industry leadership team meetings to ensure continuous relevancy of instruction.
• Actively serve on institutional committees as needed.
• Devote full time and energy to maximize student learning outcomes.
• Continue learning through professional development activities.
• Conduct activities or events or participate in events in efforts to recruit students in agriculture programs of study.
• Include students in all facets of instruction, guidance, and academic association.
• Maintain confidential relationships with respect to student information.
• Select appropriate texts and other course materials in conjunction with the appropriate division chair. Selection of materials should be reported to the bookstore by the prescribed deadlines.
• Adhere to institutional, program, and course learning outcomes as listed in the institutional syllabi of courses taught.
• Develop and distribute course syllabi based on the institutional syllabi. Copies should be submitted to Division Chairs and AVP/VP each semester.
• Return evaluated student exams and papers in a timely manner.
• Develop and utilize assessment instruments in conjunction with department, division, and college assessment goals.
• Maintain grades and class status information.
• Submit required reports by deadlines.
• Submit student course attendance records in a timely manner (per Crowder Faculty Reference Manual).
• Meet classes at the listed times.
• Actively support college activities.
• Conduct student evaluations in conjunction with other performance measures.
• Do faculty evaluations within prescribed guidelines.
• Perform departmental and divisional responsibilities.
• Assist with farm supervision in the absence of the farm manager.
• Must attend graduation ceremonies
• Provide instruction in online or hybrid courses or develop skills to teach online/hybrid within one semester after hired

• A bachelor’s degree or higher in agriculture with a minimum of five years teaching in a similar program at the secondary level or a minimum of two years teaching in a similar program at the post-secondary level.
  • And willingness to earn up to 18 graduate hours in agriculture field related to areas of instruction within first three years of employment
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Must be able to design and develop instructional objectives for curriculum and set up laboratory assignments, experiments, simulations, and tests, as well as student projects.
• Ability to handle agricultural/farm equipment and animals.
• Demonstrated experience in connecting students with learning opportunities or collaborating with others in the agriculture industry
• Ability to plan, organize, and implement responsibilities effectively.
• Ability to perform financial record keeping and report writing duties.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with students, other professionals, staff, and the public.
• Ability to develop learning experiences for students that connect coursework to regional agriculture needs
• Knowledge of effective strategies to sustain and grow high-quality student-led agriculture projects

• Master’s degree required in Agriculture or closely related field OR Master’s degree in any content area with 18 hours of graduate level courses in an agriculture area related to areas of instruction with at least three years teaching experience.

• Experience in development of materials and media for online learning
• Knowledge of a learning management system (such as Canvas)
• Preferential consideration will be given to individuals holding credentials to teach agriculture

• Information Technology Abilities required:
  1. Ability to operate a personal computer using the Windows environment.
  2. Ability to understand operating a personal computer within the Crowder College Network environment.
  3. Ability to use E-mail.
  4. Ability to perform basic student database (Jenzabar) functions.
  5. Ability to perform basic word processing using MS Word.
  6. Ability to perform basic spreadsheet functions using MS Excel
  7. Ability to perform basic presentation functions using MS PowerPoint
  8. Ability to use learning management systems for instruction (currently using Canvas).

• Generally indoors in a normal office/classroom/lab environment with moderate exposure to temperature changes, noise, dust and/or chemicals.
• Normal college working hours but adjustment of hours involving evening and/or weekend work may be required from time to time.
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• A neat appearance and appropriate businesslike apparel are required. 

• Requires the ability to function effectively indoors and outdoors in classroom, laboratory, and field environments, engaged in work of primarily a moderately active nature, and to perform the following with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Requires sufficient physical ability to move to indoor and outdoor work locations and stand for extended periods of time on a continuous basis.
• On a frequent basis, requires the ability to walk up to 400 yards, push and pull heavy weight items up to 150 pounds, and lift and carry items up to 50 pounds.
• Requires arm, hand, finger dexterity in order to use a personal computer keyboard and other office equipment, farm equipment, and to guide the movement of animals.
• Requires sufficient hearing and speaking skills to communicate with staff and students in lecture settings and in one-on-one conversations.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, or crouch; and talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to devise or modify methods or processes to solve specific problems.
• Ability to plan, develop and implement necessary curriculum.

• Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of people, including staff, students and the general public, in both written and oral mediums.
• Ability to interact with a broad range of people both on and off campus in a positive manner.