Geography for All: The Community College Geographer

Abstract

Geographers at two-year colleges play a pivotal role in educating future geographers; however, little research has explored the demographics and work of two-year college professors nationally or the role of geography courses at these institutions. A questionnaire sent to two-year college geographers captured working conditions of faculty at U.S. community colleges. Results show high job satisfaction, alongside concerns over the “hidden” nature of the discipline. Results also show that most two-year program faculty embrace innovative pedagogy and are strong advocates of geography but lack diversity and are often the sole geographers at their institutions. To better serve all geography students, faculty at four-year colleges should do more to promote employment at two-year colleges as a rewarding career to graduate students and work with two-year college faculty to promote the discipline while supporting transfer. Such efforts might be especially important at minority-serving institutions to help increase diversity among two-year college faculty. Additionally, national organizations such as the American Association of Geographers and others should better support two-year faculty, especially adjuncts, in their academic mission by both advocating for their material needs (better pay) and convening workshops aimed at instructors offering innovative pedagogy.

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