Full Time Faculty - Dental Hygiene (DHY) - Mount Wachusett Community College

Location:

Gardner, MA Category:

Faculty Job Type:

FT FAC Posted On:

Thu May 21 2026

Job Description:

General Statement of Duties:

Mount Wachusett Community College seeks an educator who believes that engaging and authentic teaching matters more than anything else in the pursuit of student success. This educator designs an innovative classroom culture that embraces diversity and fosters student empowerment. Building positive connections, the successful faculty member will create a sense of belonging that motivates students and strengthens their desire to learn. This Dental Hygiene faculty member will teach assigned courses in the department and/or other dental courses based on faculty expertise and departmental needs. The faculty should be committed to using active learning strategies and student engagement. The faculty member will possess excellent writing and communication skills, academic credentials, technological proficiency, and the expertise to provide students in the program with the dental hygiene skills needed for future academic and career opportunities. The faculty member may teach at the Burbank and Gardner campuses.

Responsibilities:

Teaches courses as assigned by the Dean and program chair; Participates in professional development activities and remains current in one's area of expertise; Utilizes a wide variety of teaching methodologies including informational technologies (Blackboard, Dentrix) and active learning strategies for the integrated classroom for the dental hygiene students; Promotes high standards of professional dental hygiene practice; Provides guidance in the selection and ordering of textbooks for program courses; Collaborates with student support areas (e.g., Tutoring, Enrollment, Testing, Advising) and other departments as needed; Engages in the delivery of patient simulation experiences as a learning methodology where appropriate in the dental hygiene curriculum; Completes course attendance and final grade submissions in a timely fashion; Assists in the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the program's systematic plan of evaluation, including data collection, analysis, and assessment of program and course student learning outcomes to guide curriculum development and ensure alignment with accreditation standards established by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), as assigned by the Division Dean. This includes identifying program outcomes, developing competency statements, writing learning objectives, and selecting appropriate learning activities and evaluation strategies; Works effectively as part of the overall department, demonstrating positive interpersonal relationships, communication skills, and collaboration with other faculty members and clinical site staff to meet departmental and student needs; Contributes to the development of student recruitment and admissions, and evaluates student program progression, retention, and graduation completion rates; Creates clinical learning activities and supervises and evaluates students in practice learning environments based on program and course student learning outcomes; Assures safe patient care is provided for individuals or groups of individuals in clinical, laboratory, or community settings; Actively participates in college governance and committees per MCCC contract; Maintains office hours per MCCC contract; Maintains expertise in area of clinical specialization with ongoing professional development and/or fieldwork; Maintains faculty requirements at all times and provides faculty file updates to the Dental Department and Human Resource Department annually (CORI/SORI, drug screening, fingerprinting, MA RDH license verification, liability and health insurance, MA DPH health requirements, physical exam, and American Heart Association Basic Life Support?

BLS CPR certification); and Additional duties as required by the college.

Job Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in dental hygiene or related area. Experience teaching clinical dental hygiene in a CODA accredited program. Experience teaching didactic and/or laboratory courses in a CODA accredited dental hygiene program. Willingness to complete educational methodology courses that meet the

ADA CODA

requirements for teaching in an accredited dental hygiene program. Knowledge of dental hygiene education program accreditation Sound knowledge of federal and state regulation policies and guidelines (CDC, OSHA, DPH) Sound knowledge of the current periodontal assessment guidelines (AAP). Minimum of three years of dental hygiene clinical practice with periodontally involved patients. Active member of the American Dental Hygienists' Association. Massachusetts's Permit-L, local anesthesia license or ability to obtain. Registered Dental Hygienist in good standing licensed in the state of Massachusetts or ability to obtain a license in the state of Massachusetts. CPR is certified at Health Care Provider level.

Desired Qualifications:

Master's degree in dental hygiene or related area. Minimum of two years' experience teaching didactic, laboratory and clinical dental hygiene and/or dental assisting courses in a CODA accredited program. Demonstrated experience developing curriculum and learning assessment tools Experience working with Blackboard or other online learning management systems. Well-articulated understanding of the role of community colleges, their students and philosophy. Evidence of understanding and appreciation for diversity and multiculturalism. Integration of computer technology into instruction. Ability to work effectively with populations representing diverse ages, backgrounds, life experiences, and abilities, including adult learners. Equivalency Statement Applicants who do not meet the qualifications as stated above are encouraged to put in writing precisely how their background and experience have prepared them with the equivalent combination of education, training and experience required for the responsibilities of this position.

Additional Information:

Salary:

$57,289.00 - $93,048 Actual Salary will be determined in accordance with the classification system of

MCCC/MTA

commensurate with Education & Experience.

Employee Status:

Full Time Benefits:

Yes Mount Wachusett Community College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy or related conditions, gender identity, sex characteristics, sex stereotypes or sexual orientation in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and college policies. The College prohibits Sex-Based Harassment. Inquiries or complaints concerning discrimination, harassment, or retaliation shall be referred to the College's Affirmative Action Officer and/or Title IX Coordinator, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission or the United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.