Psychology Faculty

Job Title: Psychology Faculty 

Date: 2/28/25

Reports to: Psychology Department Chair

Department: Academics

Status: Exempt – Professionals

General Summary:

The mission of Portage Learning is to transform lives and communities by providing learning opportunities for all who aspire to thrive. We do this not only through superior online instruction, but with a deep commitment to expanding access to education. We believe service is the thread that binds our community and our team together. To that end, we choose to …

• Believe the best in our employees
• Invest in our people
• Collaborate with humility, respect, and appreciation
• Cultivate curiosity and encourage creativity.

The purpose of this position is to facilitate the courses provided by Portage Learning and provide excellent educational instruction to students. 

Key Responsibilities (Essential Functions):

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function(s).

• Facilitate the Psychology courses offered by Portage Learning for an assigned student roster by interacting with students, minimally once per day, Monday through Friday, with the exception of holidays and vacation days.
• Grade student exams, review student modules, and review/grade student lab work.
• Communicate effectively with students regarding their progress in the course.
• Answer student questions regarding course material via the integrated messaging system.
• Identify underperforming students (students on a path to score lower than 70% in the course) and recommend practices and/or services (study strategies, increased contact with facilitator via the integrated messaging system, and outside resources if applicable) designed to enhance student performance.
• Support the Department Chair in periodic reviews of courses based on current best practices in distance learning and/or new developments in the field of study.
• All faculty members are expected to cover vacations for their colleagues. Part-time faculty will receive a vacation coverage stipend based upon number of days coverage is provided in a given pay period.
• Attend the mandatory Faculty Meetings as scheduled.
• Participate in available opportunities provided by the Faculty Development Program.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge/Skills Required:

• Excellent working knowledge of field of work.
• Ability to work well with the administrative staff, faculty and students.
• Ability to multi-task, set priorities and achieve desired results.
• Evidenced ability to evaluate and review curriculum in areas offered by Portage Learning.
• Effective at problem solving and conflict management with an ability to determine effective solutions.
• Excellent communication (written, verbal, listening and public speaking) skills.
• Must be service oriented with a focus on helping others.

Qualifications (Education Requirements/Experience):

• Master’s degree required or Ph.D. preferred for Portage Learning courses.  
• Additional educational or industrial experience in course matter is desired.
• Current and/or ability to obtain the following clearances: Child Abuse, State Police, FBI Fingerprinting, and Mandated Reporter for Child Abuse.
• Demonstrated agreement with the stated mission, philosophy, values and goals of Portage Learning. 

Work Environment:

This job operates in a remote work environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, projectors, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Regularly required to sit; talk and hear, use hands to type, file, handle or feel. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. Occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Visual acuity to use a keyboard, prepare and analyze data and figures; transcribing, viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading.
• May require ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to visit other locations; or the ability to stand, walk, lift, carry and move light to medium weight. Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate equipment and learn technical information.
• Light lifting is required. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force to constantly move objects.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work:

This is a part-time position. Days and hours of work are typically based on student loads and instructor availability.

Travel:

This job requires occasional travel – less than 10%. Must be able to travel to the office located in Chippewa Township, PA and/or other suitable venues for mandatory Faculty Meetings (minimum of 2x/year).

Other Duties Disclaimer:

This is not an all-inclusive document. Additional duties, expectations, demands, etc. may be added or changed to this document on an as-needed basis in order to meet organizational goals.