OPT Adjunct Professor Jobs
Adjunct Professor roles can qualify for OPT work authorization when the position is directly tied to your field of study. Most appointments are part-time, so confirm your weekly hours meet USCIS requirements. STEM OPT students in qualifying disciplines may access the 24-month extension if the institution files Form I-983.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens, LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). LaGuardia offers more than sixty associate degree programs and more than fifty workforce training, ESOL, GED, and pre-college programs. In 2023, LaGuardia served approximately 24,000 students. More than one-third of LaGuardia’s degree-seeking students are born outside the United States; they come from 136 countries and speak 43 heritage languages. Sixty percent are first-generation college students.
Virtually all LaGuardia students are ethnic minorities (89 percent), 58 percent are women, 27 percent are over the age of 25. Forty-six percent of associate degree students are Hispanic. Upon graduation, most students transfer to four-year colleges, typically in CUNY, to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Graduates of career programs such as Nursing, Computer Technology, and Veterinary Technology enter the workforce. LaGuardia ranked fifth among U.S. community colleges in economic mobility – moving low-income students into the middle class and beyond – in studies by Stanford University (2017) and the Brookings Institution (2020).
The Industrial Design Program at LaGuardia Community College is growing and seeks adjunct industrial design lecturers to support and maintain this growth in studio practices, workshop and modelmaking techniques, C.A.D, C.A.M and digital prototyping. This relatively new industrial design associate degree program is focused on teaching students' foundation industrial design technology skills that will help prepare them for entry into industrial design employment and/or transfer to senior colleges to continue their studies. We are looking for a broad range of design experiences across various lecturing positions for the design courses listed in our industrial design degree map. We are interested in industrial design lecturers who are focused on teaching students how to develop a human-centered design process, develop compelling product solutions and apply their technical and creative skills to build an exciting visual story about their ideas and designs. We currently have a great need for industrial design lecturers skilled in traditional and digital workshop practices, industrial design studio process and digital prototyping using Arduino and/or Raspberry Pi platforms and technologies.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
QUALIFICATIONS
-
A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in the field of industrial design is required for this position. A graduate degree in industrial design is highly preferred.
-
A minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in industrial design corporate environments, industrial design consulting environments or a combination of.
-
A minimum of 1 year of university level teaching experience (full-time or aggregate adjunct teaching) in industrial design.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
-
Experience and proficiency in freehand and digital sketching, craft modelmaking and product prototyping, 2D and 3D design software applications including Sketchbook Pro, Adobe CS, Rhino 3D, Solidworks, photorealistic rendering and animation.
-
Thorough knowledge of materials & manufacturing processes used in the development, prototyping and production of consumer products.
-
Familiarity and experience working with design and manufacturing equipment including 3D printers, laser cutters, C.N.C. routers, vacuum formers, table saws, lathes, sanders, drill press, power tools and all associated workshop equipment used for product prototyping and design development.
-
Knowledge and experience of sustainable practices and environmental materials applications in the product development process.
-
Experience in conducting and interpreting user research, consumer focus group research and business metrics into the product development process.
-
A team player with excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to meet deadlines effectively.
-
Interdisciplinary design education and experience.
-
Knowledge of entrepreneurship and coaching start-up companies and business teams.
-
First Aid and advanced safety workshop training.
-
A successful track record of bringing products to market from the product research phase through retail sales.
-
Experience working with culturally diverse populations.
-
Knowledge of robotics, human factors and smart home technologies, Arduino or similar microcontroller software.
-
Research methods in design thinking and application in the product development process.
-
Ability to recognize and promote design as a tool for social, environmental and economic change towards improving the human condition.
COMPENSATION
- Adjunct Lecturer: $91.67/hr
CUNY offers faculty a competitive compensation and benefits package covering health insurance, pension and retirement benefits, paid parental leave, and savings programs. We also provide mentoring and support for research, scholarship, and publication as part of our commitment to ongoing faculty professional development.
HOW TO APPLY
Visit www.cuny.edu, access the employment page, log in or create a new user account, and search for this vacancy using the Job ID or Title. Select "Apply Now" and provide the requested information.
Candidates should provide a CV/resume and statement of scholarly interests.
CLOSING DATE
Open Until filled. Review of resumes will begin after December 1st, 2026.
JOB SEARCH CATEGORY
CUNY Job Posting: Faculty
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.
Job ID: 33104
Location: LaGuardia Community College
Job Type: Part-Time
INTRODUCTION
Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens, LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). LaGuardia offers more than sixty associate degree programs and more than fifty workforce training, ESOL, GED, and pre-college programs. In 2023, LaGuardia served approximately 24,000 students. More than one-third of LaGuardia’s degree-seeking students are born outside the United States; they come from 136 countries and speak 43 heritage languages. Sixty percent are first-generation college students.
Virtually all LaGuardia students are ethnic minorities (89 percent), 58 percent are women, 27 percent are over the age of 25. Forty-six percent of associate degree students are Hispanic. Upon graduation, most students transfer to four-year colleges, typically in CUNY, to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Graduates of career programs such as Nursing, Computer Technology, and Veterinary Technology enter the workforce. LaGuardia ranked fifth among U.S. community colleges in economic mobility – moving low-income students into the middle class and beyond – in studies by Stanford University (2017) and the Brookings Institution (2020).
The Industrial Design Program at LaGuardia Community College is growing and seeks adjunct industrial design lecturers to support and maintain this growth in studio practices, workshop and modelmaking techniques, C.A.D, C.A.M and digital prototyping. This relatively new industrial design associate degree program is focused on teaching students' foundation industrial design technology skills that will help prepare them for entry into industrial design employment and/or transfer to senior colleges to continue their studies. We are looking for a broad range of design experiences across various lecturing positions for the design courses listed in our industrial design degree map. We are interested in industrial design lecturers who are focused on teaching students how to develop a human-centered design process, develop compelling product solutions and apply their technical and creative skills to build an exciting visual story about their ideas and designs. We currently have a great need for industrial design lecturers skilled in traditional and digital workshop practices, industrial design studio process and digital prototyping using Arduino and/or Raspberry Pi platforms and technologies.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
QUALIFICATIONS
-
A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in the field of industrial design is required for this position. A graduate degree in industrial design is highly preferred.
-
A minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience in industrial design corporate environments, industrial design consulting environments or a combination of.
-
A minimum of 1 year of university level teaching experience (full-time or aggregate adjunct teaching) in industrial design.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
-
Experience and proficiency in freehand and digital sketching, craft modelmaking and product prototyping, 2D and 3D design software applications including Sketchbook Pro, Adobe CS, Rhino 3D, Solidworks, photorealistic rendering and animation.
-
Thorough knowledge of materials & manufacturing processes used in the development, prototyping and production of consumer products.
-
Familiarity and experience working with design and manufacturing equipment including 3D printers, laser cutters, C.N.C. routers, vacuum formers, table saws, lathes, sanders, drill press, power tools and all associated workshop equipment used for product prototyping and design development.
-
Knowledge and experience of sustainable practices and environmental materials applications in the product development process.
-
Experience in conducting and interpreting user research, consumer focus group research and business metrics into the product development process.
-
A team player with excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to meet deadlines effectively.
-
Interdisciplinary design education and experience.
-
Knowledge of entrepreneurship and coaching start-up companies and business teams.
-
First Aid and advanced safety workshop training.
-
A successful track record of bringing products to market from the product research phase through retail sales.
-
Experience working with culturally diverse populations.
-
Knowledge of robotics, human factors and smart home technologies, Arduino or similar microcontroller software.
-
Research methods in design thinking and application in the product development process.
-
Ability to recognize and promote design as a tool for social, environmental and economic change towards improving the human condition.
COMPENSATION
- Adjunct Lecturer: $91.67/hr
CUNY offers faculty a competitive compensation and benefits package covering health insurance, pension and retirement benefits, paid parental leave, and savings programs. We also provide mentoring and support for research, scholarship, and publication as part of our commitment to ongoing faculty professional development.
HOW TO APPLY
Visit www.cuny.edu, access the employment page, log in or create a new user account, and search for this vacancy using the Job ID or Title. Select "Apply Now" and provide the requested information.
Candidates should provide a CV/resume and statement of scholarly interests.
CLOSING DATE
Open Until filled. Review of resumes will begin after December 1st, 2026.
JOB SEARCH CATEGORY
CUNY Job Posting: Faculty
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.
Job ID: 33104
Location: LaGuardia Community College
Job Type: Part-Time
See all 2,795+ OPT Adjunct Professor Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Adjunct Professor Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an Adjunct Professor
Confirm your field of study aligns with the course
Adjunct roles must relate directly to your degree for OPT eligibility. A computer science graduate teaching a data structures course qualifies. Teaching a general education elective outside your major field is a harder case to make with your DSO.
Clarify employment classification before accepting
Many adjunct positions are classified as independent contractors, not employees. USCIS requires OPT employment to be bona fide work. Ask HR whether the role is W-2 employment or 1099 contract work before signing any agreement.
Address part-time hour thresholds with your DSO
USCIS requires OPT students to work at least 20 hours per week. Adjunct teaching often runs fewer hours. Multiple concurrent adjunct appointments at different institutions can be combined to meet the threshold if all positions are field-related.
Request a written offer letter specifying your role
When reporting employment to your DSO, you need documentation. An offer letter stating your job title, department, course taught, and weekly hours helps establish the connection between the position and your degree field clearly.
Check whether the institution can support STEM OPT
STEM OPT extension requires a formal training plan filed on Form I-983. Not every community college or small institution has a process for this. Ask the international office before accepting if you are counting on the 24-month extension.
Start applications several months before OPT begins
Hiring cycles for adjunct positions run on academic calendars, not rolling timelines. Fall semester positions are often filled by April or May. Applying early gives you time to resolve any employment classification questions before your authorization start date.
Adjunct Professor OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an Adjunct Professor job qualify for OPT work authorization?
Yes, if the role is directly related to your field of study. USCIS does not require a traditional employer-employee relationship, but the work must connect to your degree. A biology graduate teaching anatomy qualifies. A philosophy graduate teaching the same course in an unrelated field would not.
Can I work as an Adjunct Professor on STEM OPT?
Only if the institution can support the I-983 training plan requirement and the role falls within a qualifying STEM CIP code field. Many adjunct positions at teaching-focused colleges lack the infrastructure to manage STEM OPT paperwork. Confirm this with both your DSO and the institution's international office before committing.
Where can I find Adjunct Professor jobs that are OPT-friendly?
Migrate Mate lists academic and research positions filtered for OPT work authorization, so you can browse roles without manually checking whether each employer understands F-1 hiring. This saves significant time compared to applying broadly and discovering authorization issues after an offer is extended.
Do adjunct positions count as full-time employment for OPT purposes?
Most adjunct appointments are part-time. USCIS requires at least 20 hours of work per week during post-completion OPT. A single adjunct course may only account for six to ten hours weekly. You can combine multiple adjunct roles at different institutions to meet the threshold, provided each role relates to your degree field.
Can I work as an independent contractor adjunct on OPT?
Yes. USCIS permits self-employment and independent contractor work on OPT, provided the work is directly related to your field of study. You must report the engagement to your DSO and maintain documentation connecting the teaching role to your degree. Sole proprietorship arrangements are acceptable but require careful recordkeeping for any future visa applications.