Instructor Information and Resources
Thank you for your interest in being an instructor with Columbia College's Community Education program! Below are resources and answers to frequently asked questions about being an instructor with community education.
Submit Your Course Proposal Form
In order to be considered to teach a community education course, you must first fill out an instructor proposal form. While submissions are accepted on a rolling basis, we encourage these to be filled out at least two months prior to the desired course start date to allow time for processing and marketing.
To submit an instructor proposal form, click here: Instructor Proposal Form.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Below are some FAQs related to being an instructor with community education. If you have a more specific question, please contact our office.
What are the criteria for being a community education instructor?
We are looking for instructors who have a strong passion and demonstrable knowledge and expertise for the class they want to teach. This can be through degrees, certificates, or several years of experience in the field. Additionally, instructors must be over the age of 18 and legally authorized to work in the United States.
What are the benefits of being a community education instructor?
As the community's college, Columbia is able to offer a number of benefits to those who wish to teach with community education. We provide you with free use of the facilities on campus and assist with advertising your courses within the community. Partnering with us provides instructors the opportunity to plug into our campus resources and build lasting relationships in the community.
I've submitted an instructor proposal form. What happens next?
You will receive an email from our office with a decision and next steps within 2 weeks of submitting your proposal. Should you not hear form us within that time frame, please call 209.588.5244 or email cccommunityadulted@yosemite.edu to make sure your proposal was received.
How are community education instructors compensated?
Instructors are responsible for setting the price for their course(s). 50% of
enrollment fees are shared with the college and based on the number of students enrolled in your course. Please keep this in mind when setting your course prices. We do our best to ensure that instructors receive a fair compensation while keeping the price of the course as cost-friendly for the students and community as possible.
Instructors are paid at the conclusion of their course. If you have any specific questions regarding compensation, please contact our office at 209.588.5244
What are my responsibilities and expectations as a community education instructor?
It is the responsibility of the instructor to:
- Market and fill their course with students (Columbia College will assist, but the primary responsibility for filling the course lies with the instructor). Failure to meet enrollment needs may result in a course cancellation.
- Abide by Columbia College and Yosemite Community College Districts code of professional conduct while conducting a community education course in partnership with Columbia College. Board policy and procedures can be viewed here.
- Communicate any changes to course dates, times or locations to community education staff immediately so enrolled students may be notified in a timely manner.
What types of class(es) can I teach with community education?
Community education is a place to share your passions and knowledge! We are looking for engaging classes and experiences to share with the community and this can include a number of topics and interests. If you have a class you're interested in offering then submit a proposal for review! Our staff will work with you to develop your course to be a rewarding experience for you and your students.
When do classes start/what time/what days are they?
Community education courses can be delivered in a variety of formats and have no specific start or end dates. Instructors create their class schedule and choose the dates and times it will be offered. Spring courses will typically run from early February through May; fall courses typically run early September through December.
Do I have to offer my classes at Columbia College?
Instructors have the option of offering their course at Columbia College or a location of their choosing. Location must be specified at the time of submitting the proposal.
Can I offer an online/Zoom course?
Yes, you are able to offer an online/zoom course for community education.
Can my course have materials?
Yes, please include the course material fee into the final cost of the course for the students. Instructors can choose to purchase materials themselves and have the costs reimbursed to them at the conclusion of the course. If you would like us to purchase or print materials for your, please submit materials requests at least one month prior the course start date.
How many students will be in my course?
It is the responsibility of the instructor to set their minimum and maximum class size.
