Faculty at Mission College focus primarily on teaching and assisting students. This requires expertise in the teaching field and a plan for maintaining currency in the subject matter. Interactions with students demand that the instructor have an astute interest in the students’ welfare, exercise mature judgment, and maintain an open, nonjudgmental attitude. Beyond teaching, full-time faculty have responsibilities and professional duties with respect to governance and academic matters, including developing and proposing solutions for curriculum, degree requirements, and other aspects of student learning. Faculty are also committed to improving not only their own teaching but that of others, as well as working to improve the overall college experience for students.

Faculty obligations include:

• Informing students, in writing, at the beginning of the term, about course requirements, grading standards, and policies
• Meeting each in-person class at the regularly scheduled time for the full time allotted
• Demonstrating regular and substantive student contact in distance education courses
• Maintaining accurate attendance and scholastic records of students and submitting required reports according to identified deadlines
• Communicating appropriately with students, peers, department chair, staff, and administration
• Being available to students through the maintenance of office hours
• Conferring with individual students regarding their progress toward course goals
• Providing a learning environment conducive to stimulating intellectual curiosity and fostering respect for others
• Providing instruction in accordance with the statement of purpose of Mission College, established course outlines, and the college catalog
• Developing and periodically reviewing curriculum
• Helping students solve study problems and evaluating their potential achievement in fields familiar to the instructor, especially those in specific career and vocational areas
• Knowing the services available at Mission College and referring students with physical, emotional, learning, or other problems outside the instructor’s area of expertise to resources on campus
• Providing students with job placement information, where appropriate
• Participating in institutional responsibilities
• Maintaining professional, ethical, and legal standards of behavior
• Protecting district property from unauthorized use, theft, or abuse
• Observing safety rules, using good judgment to prevent accidents and reporting potential safety hazards to the Department Chair or Division Dean