Instructor/Assistant Professor of Astronomy

SCCC REFERENCE #: 26-14

START DATE: Fall 2026

POSITION DESCRIPTION
Suffolk County Community College is the largest community college in the State University of New York (SUNY) system, enrolling more than 26,000 students at its three campuses in Selden, Brentwood, and Riverhead, as well as its Culinary Arts Center in Riverhead. Established in 1959, the college offers a wide array of transfer-oriented associate degrees in the liberal arts and sciences; business; communications and the arts; computing and cybersecurity; health sciences; and many other areas. Career-facing degrees and certificates are offered in allied health professions, automotive technology, culinary and baking, manufacturing, and many other areas. The college provides high school concurrent enrollment opportunities to thousands of students each year through both Suffolk's Beacon program and through on-campus early college classes. Designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic Serving Institution, Suffolk enrolls thousands of students in English Language Learning courses, and also serves more service veterans and military-connected students than any other college in the SUNY system.

SUNY Suffolk is searching for a full-time (10-month), tenure-track faculty Instructor/Assistant Professor of Astronomy, beginning in the Fall of 2026 at the Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood. This is a Unit III position covered under the Faculty Association of Suffolk County Community College collective bargaining agreement with the college.

SUNY Suffolk is a comprehensive community college committed to open access, equity, and student success, and candidates for faculty positions should be prepared to demonstrate their commitment to these values. Faculty are scheduled to teach based on the needs of students and their department, and may have the option to teach in different course preps in more than one modality.

Responsibilities:

Plan and deliver high-quality student-centered instruction appropriate to an open-access community college.
Participate in curricular development, assessment, and revision at the course, discipline, and program levels, including assessment of student learning outcomes.
Engage in assessment of college-wide learning outcomes and demonstrate the use of the results of these assessments in courses.
Ensure that principles of equity and inclusion are integrated in curriculum and instructional practice.
Ensure that student knowledge, skills and abilities are aligned with current academic and workforce best practices.
Incorporate engaging and appropriate academic technology into different modes of instructional delivery.
Maintain a commitment to ongoing and research-based professional development in pedagogy and subject matter.
Teach assigned courses in accordance with description published in the college catalog and the approved course outline.
Provide academic advising and actively participate in collegewide recruitment, student engagement and retention strategies.
Schedule required time to meet with students outside of class.
Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in clear communication of subject matter to the students.
Provide timely, substantive feedback in appropriate forms.
Actively participate in departmental, campus and college committees/meetings.
Actively participate in the life of the department, home campus, and the college.
Fulfill all contractual requirements related to faculty.
Perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum

Master's Degree in Astronomy, Physics, Astrophysics or a related field. Must be able to teach Astronomy and Physics.
Minimum of two (2) years' experience teaching in a college setting or professional/technical experience related to Astronomy.
Demonstrated commitment to principles of equity and student success.
Familiarity with a learning management system and willingness to use the college's LMS (i.e. Brightspace).

Preferred

Ph.D. in Astronomy or a related field.
Community college teaching experience.
Experience teaching face-to-face, online, hybrid, and/or blended learning.

HIRING SALARY
This is a Unit III position covered under the Faculty Association of Suffolk County Community College collective bargaining agreement with the college.

Suffolk County Community College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and educator. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, religion, sex, age, disability or veteran or marital status.