Assistant Professor in Art and Design - Foundations (24/25)

The Art and Design Department - The Art and Design Department in the College of Liberal Arts at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, is seeking applications for a full-time, academic-year, tenure-track Assistant Professor of Foundations to begin September 16, 2024. This position will also serve as the Foundations Coordinator for the department's Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and Design. AOS: 3D and/or 4D. Interested applicants should complete the online faculty application at http://jobs.calpoly.edu/ and submit it to Requisition #531350. Review Begin Date: 11-01-2023.

Qualified candidates will have the ability to teach the full range and variety of Foundations classes including 2D, 3D, and 4D Design, with a preferred emphasis in 3D and 4D areas. Their experience should include teaching and developing Foundations curriculum that includes both traditional and digital tools, and familiarity with various Foundations pedagogies. Successful candidates should demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and accessibility in course design, service, and scholarship, and be enthusiastic about teaching in an undergraduate, student-centered educational environment.

Foundations courses at Cal Poly focus on the introduction of traditional, non-traditional, and digital media and the development of conceptual frameworks used to create, analyze, and critique art and design. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to continue to enhance and develop the incorporation of digital skills and a DEI focus in the curriculum through course design. Classes may include, but are not limited to, 2D, 3D, and 4D Foundations. The position also oversees the coordination of the Foundations curriculum, working with one to three lecturers a quarter to synthesize courses.

The Art and Design Department offers a NASAD-accredited BFA in Art and Design with concentrations in studio art, graphic design, and photography/video. We serve about 250 students in the degree program and consist of thirteen tenure-track faculty, nine lecturers, and seven staff. All faculty are expected to participate in the following: curriculum development, cross-disciplinary dialogue and critiques with colleagues, mentorship and supervision of student-related activities and organizations, departmental recruiting, and committee service within the department, college, and university. Cal Poly is undergoing a conversion to semesters scheduled for completion by Fall 2026.

Although Cal Poly is primarily a teaching university, our faculty are expected to balance teaching with an active program of research/professional development (including publication), student supervision and advising, and participation in service activities at the department and college/university level. The typical teaching load is 12 units per quarter, with a reduction in course load in each of the first two years to help new faculty establish an active program of research and professional development. Cal Poly strongly values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), especially in the classroom and among its areas of study.

The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) sees diversity as central to its mission and is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive environment within the college and university. We value our diversity of complex and intersecting identities, while striving to maintain an environment that is socially just, equitable, respectful, and inclusive. The successful applicant should be able to clearly demonstrate how they have infused these values and student learning objectives into their work. They should be prepared to present clear examples of how they would infuse these areas into their work as a faculty member.

At California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees, and our community. Bringing people together from different backgrounds, experiences, and value systems fosters the innovative and creative thinking that exemplifies Cal Poly's values of free inquiry, cultural and intellectual diversity, mutual respect, civic engagement, and social and environmental responsibility. Cal Poly's commitment to DEI informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring, and retention. California Polytechnic State University is an equal-opportunity employer.

Due to CSU policies, the person hired must reside in the state of California at the time of hire and for the entirety of the appointment.

Salary:  Anticipated Hiring Range: $81,888 - $87,550/year, $6,824-$7,296/month 
(Note that hiring level will be commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate.)

Required Qualifications

● A Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Master of Design (MDes), Master of Art and Design (MAD), Master of Graphic Design (MGraph), Ph.D., or equivalent advanced degree in studio art/graphic/visual communication is required by the time of appointment

● Strong evidence of professional work at the national/international level

● Demonstrated success teaching and developing foundations curriculum at the university level

● Demonstrated working knowledge of foundations pedagogies

● Evidence of expertise in contemporary art discourses and practices

● Demonstrated expertise in traditional, non-traditional, and digital tools, methods, and media used in foundations classes (digital tools include proficiency in appropriate software applications such as Adobe Creative Suites for the creation and manipulation of vector and rasterize graphics, proficiency in digital three-dimensional shape building, prototyping, and reproduction, and video and sound editing.

● Demonstrated understanding and application of color theory using traditional media and digital tools

● Evidence of DEI related service and the ability to infuse DEI values and student learning objectives into the curriculum

● Demonstrated ability to communicate the relevance of art and design in all areas of society and within a liberal arts environment

Preferred Qualifications

● Two or more years of college level teaching experience in Foundations

● Interest in cross-disciplinary collaborations and connections as well as strong ties to broader art communities

Special Conditions

All CSU employees are designated "mandated reporters" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act. As a condition of your employment, you will be required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 and any subsequent amendments.

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Note: Cal Poly cannot deny an applicant a position solely or in part due to a criminal conviction history until it has performed an individualized assessment and linked the relevant conviction history with specific job duties in the position being sought.

Please note: Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Sensitive positions are those requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to Cal Poly or individuals in the university community.

For health and well-being, Cal Poly is a smoke & tobacco-free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California.  At Cal Poly, tenure-line faculty are expected to establish an on-campus presence.

About The Department

The Art and Design Department offers a NASAD-accredited BFA in Art and Design with concentrations in studio art, graphic design, and photography/video. We serve about 250 students in the degree program and consist of thirteen tenure-track faculty, nine lecturers, and seven staff. The department’s website is https://artdesign.calpoly.edu/.

How to Apply

To apply, please visit http://jobs.calpoly.edu/, complete a required online faculty application and apply to Requisition #531350. Please upload the following required materials as part of the electronic application:

• Cover letter (may wish to address the feasibility of conducting research, scholarship, and/or creative activities within the context of a primarily teaching-oriented undergraduate program)
• Current curriculum vitae
• Statement of demonstrated commitment to DEI in teaching, scholarship, and/or service describing past experience, contributions to DEI efforts, the impact on students, faculty, staff and/or your field, and a description of how you will demonstrate a commitment in these areas in teaching, research, and/or service at Cal Poly
• Unofficial transcripts showing highest degree earned, official transcripts showing highest degree earned will be required prior to appointment.
• Statement of teaching philosophy, specifically addressing foundations education
• Sample syllabi and teaching materials with project descriptions
• Portfolio of current creative work (submitted as a link to website or a single PDF, PDFs maximum 20 pages and no larger than 150mb)
• Examples of student work (submitted as a link to website or a single PDF, PDFs maximum 20 pages and no larger than 150mb)

Please be prepared to provide three professional references with names and email addresses when completing the online faculty application. For full consideration apply by the REVIEW BEGIN DATE: 11-01-23. Applications received after this date may be considered.

Projected Start Date: 09-16-2024

Review Begin Date: 11-01-2023. Applicants with complete files by the Review Begin Date will be given full consideration.

For questions about the position: please contact Elizabeth Folk via email at efolk@calpoly.edu

Salary : $81,888 - $87,550