Adjunct Faculty (Part‑Time) Life Science, Physical Science, and General Mathematics (Asynchronous Online)

Job Title: Adjunct Instructor for Life Science, Physical Science, or General Mathematics

Status: Part-time

Department: Masor School for Jewish Education and Leadership
BA Completion Program

Salary Range: $1,666.67 per unit taught
$5,000 stipend for each course designed

Supervisor: Dean, Masor School

Location: Remote

About American Jewish University

American Jewish University (AJU)’s mission is singularly focused on the future of Jewish life in North America—training and educating the next generation of rabbis, educators, professionals, and lay leaders, and creating innovative, dynamic pathways for Jewish learning and living. With locations in Sherman Oaks, Beverly Hills, and Simi Valley, as well as distance education programs serving learners nationwide and globally, AJU is a private, nonprofit institution of higher education offering both community-based and formal academic programs.

AJU comprises two academic schools offering degree programs: the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies (ZSRS), which provides an in-person MA in Rabbinic Studies and ordains Conservative rabbis; and the Masor School for Jewish Education and Leadership (Masor School), which offers fully online programs in early childhood education at the BA, MA, and EdD levels, along with certificate programs and an EdD in Jewish Education and Communal Leadership. AJU also delivers for-credit undergraduate-level coursework to high school students through its Jewish Learning Experience (JLE) program. In 2024–25, the University enrolled 164 full-time equivalent (FTE) students with a total, unduplicated enrollment of 536.

Position Overview

AJU is building a pool of adjunct faculty to design and teach fully asynchronous, online courses to satisfy general education requirements. Courses include:

• Life Science (e.g., Introductory Biology for nonmajors; with at home‑/virtual lab)
• Physical Science (e.g., Earth Science, Physical Science survey, Chemistry or Physics for nonmajors; with at home‑/virtual lab)
• General Mathematics (e.g., Mathematical Ideas, Statistics for Decision Making‑, College Algebra/Quantitative Reasoning)

Faculty will collaborate with AJU’s academic leadership and instructional design team to align outcomes, assessments, and learning activities with Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) standards and best practices for adult online learners.

Key Responsibilities

Course Design & Delivery

• Develop or refine a fully asynchronous Canvas course using backward design, inclusive pedagogy, and authentic assessments aligned to IGETC outcomes and AJU standards.
• Implement online laboratory experiences for science courses (e.g., virtual simulations, remote lab kits, data analysis labs) that meet learning objectives and academic integrity requirements.
• Create clear course modules with measurable objectives, short video microlectures, interactive content, and accessible materials (ADA/508 compliant).

Teaching & Student Support

• Actively engage adult learners through timely announcements, discussion facilitation, and substantive, rubric guided feedback that motivates student success.
• Hold consistent virtual office hours and be available via LMS messaging/email within published response-time standards.
• Use data (e.g., LMS analytics, early alerts) to support persistence; submit grades and progress reports on schedule.

Assessment & Continuous Improvement

• Align assessments to IGETC and course outcomes; maintain gradebook transparency.
• Participate in course reviews, incorporate feedback, and collaborate with program leadership on iterative improvements.

Community & Compliance

• Model AJU’s commitment to equity and inclusion; apply culturally responsive teaching practices supportive of diverse, adult, and returning learners
• Adhere to academic policies, student privacy (FERPA), and accessibility standards.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in the teaching discipline (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, Mathematics/Statistics, or closely related field), or a master’s degree with at least 18 graduate credits in the discipline taught.
• Demonstrated online or adult learner teaching experience (higher education preferred); experience in asynchronous modalities strongly preferred.
• For science instructors: experience designing/teaching online labs using virtual simulations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience aligning general education courses to IGETC outcomes (Area 5: Physical and Biological Sciences with lab; Area 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning).
• Record of excellence in engaging adult and returning learners (frequent, motivating interaction; constructive, rubric based feedback).
• Community college or open access institution teaching experience; commitment to equity minded, inclusive pedagogy consistent with sample statements
• Experience with Learning Management Systems (Canvas by Instructure, preferred).
• Familiarity with universal design for learning (UDL), OER curation, and accessible course authoring.

Workload & Modality

• Asynchronous online sections ≈ 16 weeks, with defined weekly cadence.
• Standard student contact expectations (announcements, discussion facilitation, feedback within 72 hours, grading turnarounds, and virtual office hours). (

Compensation & Classification

• Part‑time adjunct; compensation equal to $1,666.67 per credit. $5,000 stipend for each course designed
• This position is not benefits eligible.

Application Materials

Please submit:

1. CV/Resume
2. Cover Letter outlining IGETC relevant‑ teaching experience and online lab/math course design
3. Unofficial Graduate Transcripts (official required upon hire)
4. One sample of an online module or syllabus (with an example of an asynchronous lab or math assessment)
5. List of three references (no letters required at application)

Equal Employment Opportunity & Accessibility

AJU is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, religion, ancestry, veteran status, or any other protected status. We are committed to providing reasonable workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.