The Department of Liberal Arts at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) invites applications for full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty positions, beginning August 2018. We seek interdisciplinary scholars with research and teaching that engages two or more of the Liberal Arts Department’s main content areas: humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Candidates pursuing interdisciplinary work are welcome to apply. The department has special interest in Religious Studies, Science & Technology Studies, Economic Studies, and Geographical Studies, but is also open to those working in Disability Studies, Food Studies, Animal Studies, and other interdisciplinary Humanities fields. As interdisciplinary scholars, the candidates’ research/writing will also explicitly address the nature and methods of inter/trans/cross disciplinary modes of inquiry. The department has a strong preference for scholars conducting research in geographical regions outside North America. Rank and salary are competitive with peer institutions and are commensurate with quality of practice, scholarship, and current academic research, extent of teaching experience, and current professional standing.
PROGRAM PROFILE
The Department of Liberal Arts is one of twenty-three departments at SAIC. Liberal Arts provides the academic foundation for students’ success at SAIC. The department is chaired by a full-time faculty member with 14 full-time faculty and over 100 part-time faculty. It offers 400 courses each year, primarily to undergraduate students pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art. Liberal Arts’ main content areas include First Year Seminar, Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Science, foreign languages, English for International Students, and the Academic Access Program. http://www.saic.edu/academics/departments/libarts/
RESPONSIBILITIES
Full-time faculty in the Liberal Arts Department teach and advise undergraduate students within the interdisciplinary art and design school environment of SAIC. This includes offering undergraduate liberal arts courses across their range of expertise as well as upper level courses on interdisciplinary research methods. The department also seeks candidates with interest in teaching SAIC’s innovative Studio Symposium courses, in which Liberal Arts faculty team with faculty in the studio areas of fine art or design to develop a six-credit course. Full-time faculty must maintain an active professional practice, provide vision and direction as the Department Chair on a rotating basis, and participate in the SAIC community through ongoing curricular development and departmental and school governance.
QUALIFICATIONS
PhD in an academic field is required. A significant record of college/university teaching experience as well as a record of robust and ongoing scholarship is required. The successful applicants will demonstrate outstanding communications skills and a talent for teaching. The ideal candidates will contribute to the diversity of the School by bringing perspectives, ways of thinking, and/or unique sets of experiences that expand the intellectual conversations and practices in their fields of expertise.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
On or before November 1, 2017, please submit application materials via http://SAICfaculty.slideroom.com. You will be asked to create an account after which time you may complete the application comprised of fill-in fields and uploaded documents. SAIC will underwrite the application fees; you will not be charged to apply for the position. You are encouraged to begin the application well before the deadline. No applications may be submitted beyond the deadline for any reason.
Complete the fields for: educational background; current position; and contact information for three professional references.
Please convert all word documents into PDFs before uploading. Required files to upload include:
cover letter stating your interests and qualifications; resume or curriculum vitae; statement of teaching philospophy (please include your thoughts on teaching to a diverse student body and creating an inclusive learning environment); statement of research and practice; sample(s) of scholarly writing (combined maximum of 30 pages).
QUESTIONS
Questions regarding the School and its open positions, application procedures, or the search process may be emailed to saicteach@saic.edu. Please consult www.saic.edu for information on the School and its programs, or www.saic.edu/about/jobsatsaic for open positions and application procedures.
ABOUT SAIC
A leader in educating artists, designers, and scholars since 1866, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) offers undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate programs to students from across the globe. Located in the heart of Chicago, the School is one of the largest and oldest private schools of art and design in the country with programs reflecting current practices in art. SAIC's educational philosophy is built upon a transdisciplinary approach to art and design that provides unparalleled opportunities for students to develop their creative and critical abilities with renowned faculty who are leading practitioners in their fields. SAIC's resources include the Art Institute of Chicago and its Modern Wing, and numerous special collections and programming venues that provide students with exceptional exhibitions, screenings, lectures, and performances. The campus is located on Chicago’s magnificent lakefront amid the city’s cultural and architectural treasures.
The School currently enrolls 3,500 students in 15 studio departments and 8 academic departments. There are 153 full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty and visiting artists, and 693 adjunct and part-time faculty supported by 300 staff.
Degree tracks include the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio; BFA with Emphasis in Art Education or Writing; BA degrees in Art History and Visual and Critical Studies; Master of Architecture; Master of Design (MDes) in Designed Objects; MDes in Fashion, Body, and Garment; MFA in Studio or Writing; MA degrees in Arts Administration; Art Education; Art History, Theory, and Criticism; Art Therapy; New Arts Journalism; Teaching; Visual and Critical Studies; and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation.
EOE
The Art Institute of Chicago, including both the school and the museum, is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for its students, visitors, faculty, and staff, and to ensuring that educational and employment decisions are based on an individual’s abilities and qualifications. The Art Institute of Chicago does not tolerate unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or former military status, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law, in its programs and activities, public accommodations or employment practices. The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Title IX Coordinator
Michael Nicolai, Vice President for Human Resources, Human Resources Department, 116 S. Michigan Ave., suite 1200 Chicago, IL 60603, 312.629.9411, mnicolai@saic.edu
Section 504 Coordinator
Felice Dublon, PhD, Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs, The Office of Student Affairs, 36 S. Wabash Ave., suite 1204, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.629.6800, fdublon@saic.edu
For further information on notice of nondiscrimination, see the Office for Civil Rights Discrimination Complaint Form for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 800.421.3481.