This internship program will use the fundamentals of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) to place underrepresented and nontraditional candidates in fields where they can gain opportunities for career exploration in community college teaching, as well as build genuine working relationships with faculty and staff.
This is a one academic year teaching internship program promoting quality instruction and DEIA in community college teaching.
The faculty internship program is open to all external individuals interested in teaching who may not have considered teaching at the community college-level.
Currently the faculty internship program is not offered to SMC employees.
The internship program will give SMC the opportunity to place underrepresented and nontraditional candidates in fields where they will gain opportunities for teaching, career exploration and build genuine working relationships with faculty and staff.
The program's goals
- To improve the diversity pool of community college faculty at SMC and for our interns to become role models by reflecting DEIA principles with the SMC community.
- To create a pool of diverse community college faculty who are sensitive to the needs of the students and community it serves who will then be prepared and available for future recruitment.
You must be:
- Authorized to work in the USA.
- No paid college (2 or 4-year) professional teaching experience prior to applying or during the internship.
- Meet minimum qualifications or the equivalent for Computer Science and Information Systems (CSIS), Design Technology, Health Sciences, History/Ethnic Studies, Life Sciences, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences.
The following types of paid teaching experience will not disqualify an applicant from consideration: Preschool, K-12, Adult Education, Graduate Teaching Assistant (TA), Community-Based Courses, College-Extension Courses, Non-College-Credit Courses and Corporate Education.
It is also advisable that applicants research general eligibility requirements for academic teaching.
Information about minimum qualifications.
The faculty internship program is only being offered to external applicants. This program is not available to SMC employees at this time.
SMC is offering internships in the following disciplines:
- Computer Science and Information Systems (CSIS)
- Design Technology
- Health Sciences
- History/Ethnic Studies
- Life Sciences
- Mathematics
- Physical Sciences
Applications are accepted in June and will close at the end of July. The application can then be submitted through the online Neogov platform. Apply for the Internship program.
SMC will advertise the Faculty Internship Program on its website and with outside agencies.
The application can then be submitted through the online Neogov platform. Apply for the Internship program
Applicants must complete the following procedures:
- Complete the online application
- Write a letter of interest for the SMC DEIA Teaching Internship Program (signed and dated original, no photocopies, faxes, or form computer-generated signatures or AI generated letters).
- Provide a current resume.
- Transcripts
- Provide a copy of official college/university transcript(s), including all higher education units attempted. Higher education includes all course work completed beyond high school that address the minimum qualifications needed in your discipline.
- If you have foreign transcripts, they must be evaluated by a recognized USA agency
that is accepted by SMC. Additional information can be found here:
Foreign Evaluations and Coursework - Santa Monica College (smc.edu) Submit this evaluation with your foreign transcripts with application for this internship.
- Provide one signed letter of recommendation written expressly for the SMC Internship application within the last 6 months from an individual (not a family member) who has provided post-secondary academic instruction or who has worked in a professional setting as a supervisor to the applicant.
These materials will not be returned to the applicant.
We are looking for talented individuals who want to pursue a career in a community college and are interested in interning as an instructor at SMC.
All successful applicants must demonstrate a commitment to equity and diversity. All applicants must have demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff. Applicants must be able to demonstrate how these factors relate to the need for equity-minded practices within an educational environment.
All applications will be reviewed by a screening committee.
Successful applicants will be notified via email.
Unsuccessful applicants will also be notified via email. Unsuccessful applicants who wish to apply again in the future must submit a fresh application and address items 1 to 5.
Deadline for filing: 11 p.m. of the closing date.
Please check the SMC Faculty Internship Program website for this year’s closing date.
The website is updated frequently, and the closing date may be extended so please check the website regularly.
Applications are accepted from June each year.
All application materials (Items 1-5) must be received by the closing date at 11 p.m. of the closing date.
or additional information, contact the Human Resources Office at 310-434-4415. Or email HRInquiries@smc.edu
The demand for opportunities to participate in SMC’s Faculty Internship Program is high; we often have many more qualified candidates than available positions. Faculty intern lead availability within the discipline, and incompatible schedules may also factor into decisions made about.
Interns will gain opportunities for teaching, career exploration and building genuine working relationships with faculty and staff.
It is expected that while you are an intern you will open, communicative, respectful and professional with your faculty intern lead, fellow interns, Faculty Internship Program organizers and all members of the SMC community.
The SMC Faculty Internship Program is comprised of mandatory elements. Failure to attend may result in exclusion from the program. The mandatory elements include all the following:
- An orientation session is held in Fall prior to the Winter Training program. Interns will receive valuable information to guide them through their internship and an opportunity to ask questions.
- The Winter training program, held between December and January, is designed to give you the foundation in pedagogy, techniques, skills, and best practices for the classroom, and information about Community Colleges. As well as the skills necessary to thrive in their community college internship. Winter training classes are scheduled during the week. This program prepares you for their Spring semester internship assignment.
- Two follow-up workshops in the Spring.
The first follow-up workshop gives you a chance to share your classroom experiences with the other interns. Understanding academic opportunities at SMC is explained, and specific interview skills/techniques are discussed.
The second follow-up workshop offers you the opportunity to participate in mock interviews to prepare you for the interview process when applying for a permanent position. - End of year graduation event at the end of the Spring semester.
The program culminates with a graduation to recognize your completion of your internship and to recognize the contributions of your faculty intern leads.
In Fall and possibly during Winter if the faculty intern lead is available, you will meet with them one-on-one to discuss the Spring semester internship.
Faculty intern leads and interns alike must have a clear understanding of how they will approach the Spring semester.
During the Fall and Spring semesters you will meet with your faculty intern lead for a minimum of 30 minutes per week using modes agreed upon by both parties: in person, phone, Zoom, etc.
You will work approximately three hours per week (one 3-unit class or portion of a 5-unit class) with your faculty intern lead during the Spring semester in one of their classes.
During the Spring semester, you will receive on-campus training from your faculty intern lead. You will gain techniques for course and lesson planning, student engagement, and classroom management. You will participate in training opportunities that provide insight into equitable and inclusive teaching strategies, data-informed decision making, technological tools, comprehensive student support, and countless other topics that will enhance your ongoing professional growth.
You will be incorporated into their classroom, first by observing your faculty intern lead’s teaching methods and then by being shown how to prepare lessons and activities for the students. With flexibility after a few weeks, you begin to present topics to the students. You will have a chance to observe your faculty intern lead’s course Canvas shell and note organizational methods, communication processes, student engagement strategies, and assessment techniques.
Faculty intern leads will provide feedback in response to all your teaching. As the semester progresses, you will be allowed an increasing amount of supervised time teaching in front of the class. When prepared and capable, you should teach at least one class session in its entirety. Faculty intern leads will always be present in the classroom.
Teaching options that your faculty intern lead may offer you, for example:- Teaching two 60-minute lessons for their students. Debrief about the lessons with
you.
And/or - Teaching a portion of the 3-unit/5-unit class on consecutive weeks throughout the semester. Debrief about the lessons with you.
- When prepared and capable, you should teach at least one class session. Debrief about the lessons with you.
- Taking into account disciplines that include lecture and clinical components, you may also observe the clinical component.
You will also gain knowledge and insight into developing inclusive classroom environments in which all participants’ ideas, cultures, and identities are valued and respected. You will participate in supervised interactions with students: conferencing in class or student hours, leading discussions, facilitating review sessions, etc. Learn about student assessment options and grading practices. Discover classroom management techniques and understand the student incident reporting process.
In the Spring semester you are encouraged to meet the department chair, other faculty members, attend meetings to better understand campus life, by doing so you will develop a sense of belonging to the community college faculty culture. Through regular and open dialogue with your faculty intern lead you will also get an understanding on how to prioritize professional responsibilities, avoid burnout, manage time and work/life commitments, and locate opportunities for professional growth.
You are also encouraged to attend campus events or activities that would help promote understanding of our faculty's various responsibilities. Identify the roles that various campus offices and individuals play in student and employee success. There may also be opportunities for you to perform additional duties in consultation with your faculty intern lead.
You will be placed at one of the Santa Monica Community College District sites. The specific campus location will be determined by where the department you are assigned is located, intern/faculty intern lead compatibility and scheduling needs.
Faculty interested in serving as faculty intern leads also apply to the Program, and they are selected through a process that includes a variety of requirements. Every faculty intern lead is a full-time tenured or tenured track faculty member at SMC, and they all have stellar reputations with both their colleagues and their students. Interns and faculty intern leads are matched by discipline, by schedule, and when possible, by complementary nature.
You must complete SMC’s online mandated Sexual Harassment and Prevention Training.
Once selected as an intern and you have accepted the position you will be advised on how to complete this training. Training must be completed within one week after being notified by SMC and before the first meeting.
Failure to complete the training may cause you to be eliminated from the Faculty Internship Program.
Yes. Interns who complete the Faculty Internship Program requirements receive $1200.
The stipend is conditional on completing the mandated Sexual Harassment and Prevention Training and attending all mandatory events, and all Spring semester classes. Thre are two payments, one at the end of March and one at the end of June.
Yes, as a graduate intern you can use this achievement and include it in your resume and letter of interest when applying for any faculty position especially within the California Community College system.
SMC interns are not guaranteed employment beyond the scope of their internships. However, the Program is filled with opportunities, including application and interview strategy workshops, targeted debriefings and trainings, and comprehensive support from the faculty intern leads.
These invaluable benefits are designed to make successful and eligible interns as marketable for part-time community college teaching positions as possible. Having access to campus and district events, department meetings, and social engagements may work to the advantage of a current intern/prospective instructor as the internship draws to a close. Interns are encouraged to make the most out of all provided opportunities for long-term benefit.
Call the Human Resources Department on 310-434-4415. Or email HRInquiries@smc.edu