College in the High School
Instructor Application Process
We are no longer accepting applications for the 2026-27 school year. The deadline to complete an application for 26-27 was May, 1st, 2026.
Applications for 2027-28 school year will open in October 2026 and close May 2027.
All instructors for CWU College in the High School meet requirements set by CWU faculty which include level of education, teaching experience, and possibly additional career experience as appropriate. If you are interested in becoming a CWU Adjunct instructor for College in the High School, this is the process.
First, check your subject for the Minimum instructor qualifications to see if you meet them, or print the "Minimum Qualifications" document, in Forms.
Items you will need to prepare for the online application process are:
- Cover Letter addressing academic program (if you are applying for more than one discipline (e.g. math and biology) you will need to provide a cover letter for each.
- Current resume or C.V. outlining specific content expertise
- Three people to provide letters of recommendation (one from current supervisor)
- You will be providing the email addresses for the people who will be providing your recommendations. Please inform them that they will be getting an email where they will be asked to upload a letter of recommendation.
- Unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts
The College in the High School application is online and is not through Human Resources. Please go to the CiHS page, click on "High School Instructor", then click on the "Prospects/Applicants" tab and "Start New Application." You will also use this pathway to log back into your application if needed to finish items, etc.
Applications do not need to be completed in one session but it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure everything that is required is with the application and to submit the application for review. Use this guide (PDF) as you work through the application. If you have any questions about this, please email Sarah Maes at Sarah.Maes@cwu.edu
When the completed application is received by the High School Partnerships office, CWU’s appropriate academic department will evaluate the application materials. Application review timelines vary between departments, but usually takes four to five weeks.
The High School Partnerships office will contact the applicant via US mail and email upon completion of the review process. If approved, the candidate will be considered adjunct faculty at CWU.
The approved applicant will be required to attend a one-day College in the High School training workshop, known as Summer Institute.
First year adjunct faculty must attend the Summer Institute prior to their first year of teaching our courses, and (at minimum) every 3rd year after. Attending Summer Institute yearly is not required but highly recommended.
In order to maintain CWU adjunct faculty status, the faculty member must teach one course (minimum) within a three-year period. If after three years, a faculty member does not teach a certified CWU course they will have to reapply to be an adjunct faculty member in order to teach again. It is also the responsibility of the adjunct instructor to maintain communication with their department liaison-every six months at minimum.
Offering a New Course
When a school decides it wants to propose a new course offering, they need to contact CWU’s High School Partnerships office at (509) 963-1351 or hspartnerships@cwu.edu.
Check the CWU Course Offerings in General Forms. The comprehensive list details the extent to which CWU classes are offered already, in high schools around the state. We are also willing to expand this list of offerings, depending on the academic department's approval. Course syllabi must be approved by the CWU Liaison.
If you have any questions please email HSPartnerships@cwu.edu
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