Assistant Professor – Drawing and 2D Design - Virginia Commonwealth University

Assistant Professor – Drawing and 2D Design

Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts (VCUarts)
Art Foundation Program

This full-time, 9-month position is at the rank of Assistant Professor, is non-tenure eligible, and begins August 16, 2024. 

Application Deadline: Review of applications begins January 15, 2024 and continues until the position is filled. For best consideration, applications are due by January 15, 2024.

The Opportunity:

The VCUarts Art Foundation Program (https://arts.vcu.edu/academics/departments/art-foundation-program/) invites collaboration-minded applicants with qualifications, experience, and demonstrated strengths across drawing, figure drawing, technical drawing, color, and 2D design to consider joining the school’s vibrant community of students, faculty, and staff. 

This is a non-tenure eligible (term) faculty position. Term faculty are eligible for promotion in academic rank, and are valued for their academic, professional, and creative practice/scholarly contributions in their specific area of expertise. The primary responsibilities of this opportunity are teaching, therefore we seek to hire faculty who stand out with respect to effectiveness in teaching and engagement with first-year students. 

Art Foundation Program:

The mission of the Art Foundation Program is to provide an intellectually rigorous, studio-based experience in the fundamental issues of art and design. The program seeks to develop in its students an enthusiasm for their work, a means to reflect analytically and an ability to cultivate skills that will serve throughout their education. The Art Foundation Program seeks to establish connections between programs in art and design and to participate in a larger forum of ideas and concepts relevant to all of the disciplines. Completion of the Art Foundation Program is a prerequisite for entry into all fine art and design departments: Art Education, Communication Arts, Craft and Material Studies, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Kinetic Imaging, Painting and Printmaking, Photography and Film, and Sculpture and Extended Media. Art Foundation provides the basic concepts, skills and experience necessary to pursue advanced studio work in each department. 

Major Responsibilities:

This position is a 9-month non-tenure eligible (term) faculty position in the Art Foundation Program with an academic rank of Assistant Professor. The faculty member’s responsibilities will be heavily weighted towards teaching with a teaching load of 3/4 (seven studio courses per year). Instructional responsibilities comprise development and teaching undergraduate courses to first-year art and design students. Course topics will cover all areas of drawing, figure drawing, technical drawing, color, and 2D design. Course assignments will change based on demand and will be at the discretion of the Chair.

The faculty member is expected to be a passionate mentor and creative leader for an enthusiastic and diverse community of first-year and transfer students; integrate innovative pedagogical and technological approaches, and multicultural perspectives into instructional methods; bring experience in developing initiatives that contribute to a meaningful art and design education accessible to underrepresented or disadvantaged groups; foster collaborative teaching and educational opportunities through diverse and innovative projects and experiences; promote the efforts of the program across the university and throughout the community. In support of the department’s strong commitment to diversity, the faculty member is expected to foster a welcoming, equitable, and inclusive learning environment for all students.

Creative research is not a primary expectation for this non-tenure eligible position. The faculty member is expected to demonstrate excellence through teaching and maintain a scholarly body of knowledge within the discipline. The department will support the faculty member’s professional development, as appropriate and within available resources, to ensure ongoing mastery of the discipline as it relates to the program’s curriculum. Professional development activities will be consistent with and support the mission and initiatives of the department, school, and university. The department will also support creative research at an appropriate annual level, though teaching will constitute the majority of the faculty member’s responsibilities.

As a member of a community-oriented, tight-knit program and School, the faculty member will provide service to support student, department, and school-wide initiatives that enrich and reflect the first-year student experience, such as student exhibitions and programming; foster the innate nature of the first-year program as a bridge to majors and opportunities; collaborate with other Art Foundation Program faculty and VCUarts faculty and guest artists; support recruitment activities; foster community engagement opportunities; and serve on department/School/University committees. In addition, the faculty member is expected to serve as a peer reviewer, organize conferences and/or conference sessions, retain membership in professional associations, and provide professional service. Other responsibilities may be assigned by the Chair or university administration. 

Qualifications

Required

- MFA or professional training and experience that equates to a graduate degree
- Minimum two years of teaching experience
- Demonstrated passion for teaching first-year students
- Exceptional technical drawing and 2D design skills and a documented ability to effectively teach across all drawing and 2D design areas
- Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU
- Strong collaboration skills and demonstrate enthusiasm toward teaching and working with faculty, staff, and students within the university and building and maintaining professional relationships outside of the university on the program’s behalf

Preferred
- Experience beyond graduate school teaching at the University level
- Teaching experience in an accredited art school
- Mentorship experience with first-year or 100-level students
- Demonstrative experience providing department or area-wide opportunities for students 
- Organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills with an interest in professional service to the department

Application Instructions:

Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to organizational diversity, equity and inclusion – an environment where all can thrive in their pursuit of excellence. VCUarts strongly encourages applications from all racial, ethnic, gender, and social identities.

Applicants are requested to submit a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (typically between 150-300 words) providing your career aspirations and contributions toward promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through this statement, you can share how your lived experiences, and academic and professional activities will impact your contribution to VCU’s mission of promoting equity and inclusion.

Note: Examples include working with others to further the goals of equity and inclusion; leading in any capacity that tangibly promotes an environment where diversity is welcomed, fostered, and celebrated; creative activity, research and scholarship that promotes equity and parity; teaching and mentoring students, and/or engaging with faculty and/or staff from traditionally underrepresented groups to create a positive and successful organizational experience. For additional guidance on writing a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: https://provost.vcu.edu/media/provost-2018/documents/VCUGuidelinesforWritingaStatementofContributionstoDiversity-Revised2021.pdf

In addition, the following documents should submitted online via the VCU Jobs Website (https://vcu.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home?c=vcu):

- A Letter of Interest that conveys relevant academic and professional experience and describes experiences and/or professional service that inform a collaborative and community-engaged approach to teaching in a first-year art and design program
- Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (see above for details)
- Three examples of developed course syllabi
- Teaching philosophy
- Current CV
- A list of three current references including names, phone numbers, and email addresses (references will not be contacted prior to applicant’s approval)
- Portfolio of student work, indicating course level, assignments and prompts for each image
- Portfolio of professional work— a link to appropriate selections of documentation of the applicant's experience in their area of expertise. This could include traditional and/or non-traditional examples of one's work from a broad cross-section and/or combination of experience.

Only electronic applications submitted via the VCU Jobs Website will be accepted. For best consideration, completed applications are due by January 15, 2024. Questions about the VCU Jobs Website application process should be directed to Tasia Robinson, HR Administrator at thompsontl5@vcu.edu.

VCUarts:
Ranked by US News & World Report as a top-five arts and design school, VCUarts (arts.vcu.edu) includes over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students with nationally recognized programs in design, visual and performing arts, and has an annual budget of $38 million and an endowment of more than $13.5 million. Students are taught by over 175 full-time teaching and research faculty members and the school is supported by over 70 staff members that assist in daily processes. The School includes two campuses; one in Richmond and one in Doha, Qatar. The Richmond campus is located on the university’s 75-acre Monroe Park campus situated in the city’s historic Fan District.  Ultimately, the work of the School of the Arts extends globally with partnerships throughout the world and across fields as diverse as the humanities, health care and business. 

Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to providing accessible and equitable living, learning and working environments free from discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or disability.

Position Type: Teaching & Research Faculty
Full time equivalent: 100%
Tenure: Ineligible
Rank: Assistant Professor
Months: 9
Department:School of the Arts, Art Foundation Program

Salary: Minimum hiring salary is $70,000 and commensurate with experience.