The Department of Visual Communication Design (VCD) at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) invites applications for a full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty position, beginning August 2018. Rank and salary are competitive with peer institutions and are commensurate with quality of practice, scholarship, academic research, extent of teaching experience, and current professional standing.
PROGRAM PROFILE
The Department of Visual Communication Design is grounded in a critical approach to design through a variety of practices, including user interaction, time-based work, narrative, print, and installation. Situated within a dynamic and interdisciplinary BFA program, the VCD Department offers a broad range of courses in design principles, issues, theory, methodologies, processes, technology, and practices that reflect on the expanded landscape of the field. The VCD Department also offers a robust and highly competitive Master of Fine Arts Program (MFA) and a Post-Baccalaureate MFA (PMFA) Program. Faculty advise graduate students in one-on-one tutorials to develop a diverse range of visual thesis work challenging the boundaries of art and design. The department has 5 full-time faculty and more than 25 part-time faculty with a broad range of expertise. Further information about the department can be found at http://www.saic.edu/academics/departments/vcd/
RESPONSIBILITIES
Full-time faculty in VCD teach and advise undergraduate and graduate students within the interdisciplinary art and design school environment of SAIC. VCD faculty impart to their students a progressive awareness of the changing and interrelated roles of representations, objects, environments, interactions, and media. Faculty maintain an active and recognized professional practice of client-initiated or self-initiated design development and/or academic research investigations. Full-time faculty 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
A terminal degree in visual communication/graphic design or other relevant field of study. Teaching experience is preferred. The candidate’s creative activity may address social, structural, or cultural issues within the broad spectrum of visual communication design, ranging from cyberspace to public space to print. Areas of expertise may include diverse content structures (narrative, informational, or interpretive strategies), interaction (digitally-interactive or physically-interactive communication architectures), and content formats (screens, pages, objects, or environments). The ideal candidate will contribute to the diversity of the School by bringing a perspective, way of thinking, and/or a unique set of experiences that expand the intellectual conversations and design practices in the field.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
By or before Monday, January 8, 2018 please submit application materials at 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 research and/or practice; statement of teaching philosophy (please include your thoughts on teaching to a diverse student body and creating an inclusive learning environment); documentation of professional work; OPTIONAL: separate documentation of students’ work, if available.
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; BIA (Interior Architecture); 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.
