Interview Q and A

Hello Carol (grandma!),

Thanks for writing!  I did try to call last evening, but got no response, and don't wish to wake Dana and Natalie.  I just wanted to hear from you, and your note says a great deal.  How are YOU holding up?

I read an old Wall Street Journal this morning that credits Miami Dade Community College with the third best Chess Team in the nation.  The demographics of its members are especially interesting.  Most are from Cuba.  I didn't know that Fidel Castro had made the learning of chess mandatory in the schools.  The players met randomly while attending Miami Dade - all as part-time immigrant students.  One persuaded the others to each contribute $20 so they could enter a tournament as a team.  Another is from Columbia and got an immigration slot because his mother won it in a lottery called El Columbo.  They have gotten to a draw with Harvard, and have defeated MIT, Yale, Princeton, etc.  Having gotten a good performance in their first tournament, they brought the club idea to the school.  I think they get $500 stipends if they continue to carry two courses each.  Two of them were bouncers in a night club.  Now that's a club I would wish to Advisor to!

           Here are some questions I will ask during the interviews today and tomorrow:      

 For the Administration:

1.  Why is this position vacant?

2.  How does the typical teacher here show that he or she is doing an excellent job?

3.  What   norms and expectations do students and administrators seem to have for their faculty that may be unique to your campus, but not to previous teaching experiences?

4.  What is the expected faculty to student productivity ratio?  Does that differ from actual faculty to student ratios, that is, do you permit small, medium, or large class sizes?

5.  Where are you in your accreditation cycle?

For the Economics Teacher(s):

6.  What textbooks and publishers do you use in Economics? 

7.  Do all students take the same test?

8.  Can individual faculty choose their own book and resources?

9.  How is the quality of technical and mentoring support for new faculty?

For the Faculty/Staff:

10.  What do you like about teaching (working) here?

11.  What does this campus choose to measure when it evaluates its faculty?

12.  What do you do for your own professional development, or further education?

13.  Which committees do you serve on, and how would you rate the degree of teamwork, synergism, or commitment to your purposes? 

14.  Have you ever been unionized?

          Here are the questions I expect to be asked:                  

1.  What makes (you) a great teacher?
     Why should we hire you?
     What makes you different from other teachers?

2.  How do you bring about significant change (or learning) in others?
     What's your philosophy ...
     What qualities about yourself ...

3.  What is the role (mission) (philosophy) of the community college?

4.  Describe your teaching strengths.  (Weaknesses)

     How would you....
     What would you do in a situation in which...

5.  Tell us about your (history) teaching successes.