The Opportunity: Do you have a passion and interest in diminishing oral health disparities in underserved communities? Are you currently in the field of Dental Health or Dental Therapy and interested in transitioning your career to an education program preparing the next generation of Dental Therapists? Skagit Valley College is accepting applications for associate faculty to teach for the Dental Therapy Education Department. The purpose of posting this position is to build a pool of qualified instructors interested in teaching Dental Therapy. This Associate Faculty position will instruct students seeking their degree in Dental Health.

The d?x?x?ay?bus (pronounced dah-hi-ya-buus—the Lushootseed Tribe word for “place of smiles”) Dental Therapy at SVC was developed in partnership with the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. The program will work with tribal and underserved communities to diminish health disparities and increase access to oral healthcare through training and employment of Dental Therapists. SVC educational programs are designed to meet community needs and create a campus climate that promotes innovative teaching, quality scholarship, a diverse learning environment, equitable access, and educational achievement for all students.

Under the supervision of the d?x?x?ay?bus Dental Therapy Program Director, associate faculty are responsible for developing, planning, organizing, directing, and integrating the didactic, pre-clinical, clinical training, and applicable community outreach activities in coordination with other program faculty. This position provides didactic and/or clinical oral health instructions to Dental Therapy students. This position will also perform clinical services for patients as well as clinical supervision of Dental Therapy trainees at SVC, clinical site facilities, and during the community rotations. This position will have the opportunity to collaborate with other d?x?x?ay?bus Dental Therapy personnel when coordinating Dental Therapy Program activities while supporting the activities of the d?x?x?ay?bus Dental Therapy Program Director and the other supporting faculty as assigned.

As a new faculty role in the dental therapy program, within the first six months to a year, you will have the opportunity to form relationships with d?x?x?ay?bus partners and SVC staff and faculty across the District. You will be engaged in assisting with the coordination, planning, evaluation, modification, and implementation of the education program in collaboration with SVC faculty, Dental Therapy partners, and the Program Director. This may include curriculum development, accreditation activities, and participating in hiring functions for new faculty and staff for the program. Pending final accreditation from CODA (Commission of Dental Accreditation), the program plans to graduate its first class in Spring 2025 and will include didactic and pre-clinical training at the Mount Vernon campus of SVC, clinical training at the Swinomish Dental Clinic in La Conner, various community rotations, and concludes with a 14-week preceptorship experience at sites sponsoring students.

This position is based primarily at the Mount Vernon Campus; however, the incumbent will be co-located at the Swinomish Dental Clinic in La Conner and will travel between sites and/or to other locations across the state.

Please note that this posting is reviewed and hired on a quarter-by-quarter basis. Candidates will be directly contacted by the department as employment opportunities arise.

The Location: Skagit Valley College is on the traditional and unceded territories of the Coast Salish People’s, especially on Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, Samish Indian Nation, Nooksack Indian Tribe, and Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe. Located in a geographically diverse region between the dynamic metropolitan hubs of Seattle and Vancouver, BC, SVC is never far from world-class outdoor recreation, urban arts scenes, and local cultural events. SVC serves our local communities with a campus in Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island, and centers in Friday Harbor, a Marine Technology Center in Anacortes, and a Brewing Academy in Burlington.

Mission: Skagit Valley College cultivates student learning and achievement; contributes to the educational, personal, and economic success of students; and promotes equitable and thriving communities.

Vision: The primary focus of Skagit Valley College is student-centered teaching and learning. We are committed to:

• Equitable student outcomes in access, achievement, and community;
• Our Guiding Principles;
• Decisions based on strategy and evidence;
• The development of our employees;
• A diverse and inclusive college community where everyone belongs.

• An unrelenting focus on our mission to improve the lives of our students and to strengthen our diverse community.
• Support for innovative teaching, learning, and scholarship.
• Exciting opportunities for personal and career growth.
• Diverse cultural and environmental benefits of rural, suburban, and urban lifestyles.
• Friendly, supportive, and diverse work environments.
• Excellent benefits include competitive leave packages and an array of health, dental, vision, and retirement plans to meet your current and future needs.

Clinical Instruction Responsibility

• Serve as faculty at SVC, providing day-to-day guidance to assigned d?x?x?ay?bus-Dental Therapy instructors and administrative staff; instruct and oversee trainees; and provide technical support as required;
• Provide classroom and/or online instruction in didactic and clinical oral health in Dental Therapy;
• Engage in scholarly activities that complement and inform teaching;
• Fulfill faculty responsibilities in accordance with the negotiated agreement and Skagit Valley College policies;
• Conduct ongoing development, assessment, and revision of curriculum that reflects innovative and inclusive pedagogy and advances in the field of Dental Therapy;
• Participate in and develop clinical calibration exercises for all program faculty and preceptorship associate faculty.

• Create a positive learning environment for students using diverse teaching methods to support and enhance student success;
• Incorporate an equity-minded approach to teaching and learning Develop staff skills and training plans;
• Counsel, train, and coach staff, implement corrective actions and conduct performance evaluations;
• Counsel students and provide special help as needed; Advise, tutor, and mentor trainees—including those from underrepresented and underserved groups—in individual and group settings, tracking and reporting trainee progress.

• Provide leadership in delivering the Dental Therapy curriculum, developing innovative programming, curricula, and pedagogy that incorporate program and general education learning outcomes;
• Provide guidance, and promote a productive and healthy work environment to assigned staff;
• Work collaboratively with SVC faculty from other fields to develop an appropriate curriculum for the Dental Therapy program that reflects the diversity of student experience, including underrepresented and underserved students;
• Assist in developing, assessing, and analyzing program outcomes for program improvement and enhanced student learning;
• Participate in continuing education as necessary to meet changing program needs and to maintain necessary professional skills and certification;
• Work collaboratively with the program, College, and program-affiliated personnel to ensure compliance with Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) accreditation requirements, Community Health Aide Program (CHAP) Certification Board and Regional Licensing Standards and Procedures, state and federal safety regulations related to clinical facilities and clinical operations;
• Serve as a liaison with clinic sites and coordinate all activities pertaining to clinical education training, and new clinical site development, and address all personnel or operational issues;
• Coordinate site visits and other evaluations and reviews;
• Serve as program committee Lead as assigned.

• Develop goals and priorities and assign tasks and projects;
• Actively participate in at-large activities at SVC that promote diversity, professionalism, and/or leadership;
• Participate in division, department, and other college activities, including college governance;
• Provide other related duties and special projects as assigned.

• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, tribal, and local regulations and programs;
• Knowledge of dental health policies and requirements;
• Knowledge of clinical dentistry techniques;
• Knowledge and experience managing a clinical training program;
• Knowledge of relevant clinic management, patient safety, compliance, and other risk management practices, including privacy laws and regulations;
• Skill in training students;
• Skill in assessing and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects, and demands;
• Skill in establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with others;
• Skill in oral and written communication;
• Skill in operating a personal computer using a variety of software applications;
• Ability to maintain partnerships and interagency community connections;
• Engage students through innovative instructional approaches such as service learning projects, and contextualized learning;
• Demonstrate commitment to equity-minded approaches to teaching and learning;
• Practice and adopt a variety of active learning strategies that facilitate student learning and that are inclusive of all cultures and backgrounds;
• Support students in accessing appropriate instructional and non-instructional services to facilitate student retention, completion, and academic success for all students;
• Adapt to a variety of teaching situations, including interdisciplinary learning communities, and online and hybrid modalities;
• Express appropriate awareness of the history of underrepresented groups to promote an equitable work and learning environment;
• Recruit and inspire diverse student populations to embrace learning and facilitate completion;
• Work and interact effectively with colleagues, staff, students, administrators, and other various cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds in support of SVC's commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion;
• Act according to principles of integrity, respect, open and honest communication, collaboration, and compassion.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Mid-level dental provider that has graduated from a CODA-accredited Dental Therapy Education Program OR higher (DDS, DMD) also from CODA approved program;
• Licensure or certification to practice dental therapy OR ability to obtain a license to practice dentistry in Washington within 6 months of hire;
• Three (3) years of Public Health Services (PHS), Indian Health Services (IHS) or tribal health experience.

• Didactic and clinical teaching experience;
• Experience working with tribal or underserved communities, especially providing dental practice in such communities;
• Clinical teaching and clinical management experience;
• Fluency with electronic dental records;
• Experience working with underrepresented populations.

Salary and Benefits:
The salary rate for part-time faculty is in accordance with the negotiated agreement and may be subject to change based on legislative mandates. In order to be eligible for benefits, state regulations must be met.

Rate of Pay: Faculty compensation units (FCU) are computed by total hours (lecture, lab, clinical) identified on the approved course outline for a given course divided by eleven (11). Associate faculty pay is computed by multiplying the faculty compensation unit rate by the number of faculty compensation units. The current FCU rate for 2024-25 at Step A is $1,052.00 (includes I-732 COLA of 5.87% for 2024-25).
Example of Associate Faculty pay (this is for illustrative purposes only):

• Course: BISC 220 | 33 lecture, 44 lab
• 33 + 44 = 77
• 77/11= 7 FCUs
• A Step A faculty member would be paid 7 x FCU rate $1,052 = $7,364

• Prior to employment, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.
  
  Additionally, pursuant to RCW 28B.112.080, applicants must declare whether they are the subject of any substantiated findings of sexual misconduct in any current or former employment or are currently being investigated for, or have left a position during an investigation into, a violation of any sexual misconduct policy at the applicant’s current or past employer. By law, post-secondary education institutions cannot hire an applicant who refuses to declare the existence or non-existence of an investigation or findings subject to this statute.

• In the interest of providing a healthy, safe, and secure educational and work environment, and in order to meet the requirements of federal legislation, it is the policy of Skagit Valley College to maintain an alcohol and drug-free workplace for our employees and students.
• If hired you will be required to provide proof of identity and documentation of U.S. Citizenship or appropriate authorization to work in this position as required by the Immigration Reform Control Act of 1986.
• Completion of academic degree(s) will be verified through receipt of official transcripts at the time of hire.

1. Meet the minimum qualifications, and
2. Submit a complete application to the online recruitment system at www.skagit.eduthat includes the following:
   • The online application, which includes answers to all supplemental questions and contact information for at least three (3) professional references;
   • A current curriculum vitae; (Attachment: curriculum vitae);
   • A cover letter/letter of interest addressing the minimum and desired qualifications for the position. (Attachment: Cover Letter).