Assistant Professor of Practice (CT), First Year Experience, School of Art

At the University of Arizona, we live our purpose, mission, and values as a land-grant university. Driven to do great things, it is our passion to transform the lives of our students and to solve some of the biggest challenges facing our state and the world. The University of Arizona is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and one of the nation's strongest public universities, offering more than 150 majors. The division of Arizona Arts serves as a gateway to visual and performing arts experiences, programs, and assets on the University of Arizona campus. We bring together esteemed academic programs in the College of Fine Arts - the schools of art; dance; music; and theatre, film & television - and highly regarded arts presenting units, including Arizona Arts Live, the Center for Creative Photography, and the University of Arizona Museum of Art. At Arizona Arts, you have the opportunity to learn and work with people of different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Such opportunities are vital to a world-class university education, cutting-edge research enterprise, distinguished arts programming, and enriching workplace culture. All interested applicants are encouraged to learn more about our how we ensure excellence in the arts is inclusive by visiting arts.arizona.edu/equity.

The University of Arizona School of Art is seeking a full-time career-track Assistant Professor of Practice to teach and serve in the First Year Experience studio art program (Studio Foundations), beginning August 2025. The candidate's personal work should, at minimum, exhibit a strong interdisciplinary skillset (3D, photo, video, performance, 2D, etc.). A conceptually driven practice is advantageous.

The First Year Experience is an engaging series of studio art courses required of all incoming art students at the University of Arizona. It is an experiential initiation into professional artistic practice, creative methodology, and studio work ethic. The First Year Experience challenges, inspires, and empowers students with the basic artistic sovereignty requisite to their pursuit of an art degree. As the current program is undergoing significant revision, the successful candidate will play an integral role in redesigning aspects of the FYE program.

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here.

With
broad exposure being the guiding principle, the workshops engage students not
only in the making of art but also in a critical dialog that explores how their
art communicates what it communicates-craftsmanship and conceptual development
are equally emphasized.

Teaching responsibilities are the equivalent of a 3/3 course load (while this is undergoing revisions, current FYE courses are 8-weeks, so two courses are equivalent to a single full-semester course for the purpose of determining teaching load). The ability to collaborate and work closely with faculty from all divisions is important. FYE classes are primarily instructed by Graduate
Teaching Assistants, so a key responsibility of this position is the training,
mentoring, and supervision of GTAs.

Career Track (CT) Professor of Practice (PoP) positions are dedicated to teaching and primarily focused on student success within an R1 university. Teaching responsibilities are broad and will constitute 60% of workload. The remaining 40% of workload will be allocated to service, research and administrative responsibilities as appropriate. CT PoP is a non-tenure, promotion eligible position with ranks of Assistant, Associate and Full Professor. In all cases, specific job requirements are determined by the unit and particular to the position as per the guidelines above.

Responsibilities

• Teach the equivalent of three full-semester courses per semester.
• Jointly train, mentor, and supervise FYE area GTAs.
• Contribute to service at the Program, School, College, University, and professional levels.
• Participation in School and faculty governance and activities, student advisement, recruitment, and outreach.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs)

• Strong organizational and leadership skills are a
  must, as the candidate will lead the division in rotation with another faculty
  member.
• Comfort addressing either expanded or interdisciplinary approaches.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to an inclusive workplace and equitable learning environment through curriculum development, teaching, mentorship and recruitment.

• MFA in a Studio Art discipline or relevant field.
• Strong teaching and student mentoring experience in a traditional and online classroom setting in a college/university setting.

• Experience teaching Studio Foundation classes.
  
• Experience mentoring and/ or supervising Graduate Teaching Assistants.
  
• Experience in fees management and facilities oversight.
  
• Evidence of an active creative practice with an interdisciplinary emphasis.
  

1. Teaching philosophy.

2. Syllabus utilized for a course you have taught.

3. Two foundations projects that you have designed.

Portfolios are handled separately (see section below).

Portfolio Submission

In addition to the above documents you will need to separately provide Personal and Student Work Samples. You can submit a singular PDF, a singular PowerPoint, or a document that contains a link to an online "curated" gallery.

Letters of reference will be required for semi-finalists.