Full-Time Faculty in Liberal Arts—Cultural Scholar and Director of Academic Affairs for Diversity and Inclusion

The Liberal Arts Department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track, hybrid faculty/administrative position to begin in the fall of 2015. The department seeks a scholar whose work involves issues of diversity, broadly defined, within or across one or more of a variety of disciplines, including literature, philosophy, religion, psychology, history, anthropology, and cultural studies.

The ideal candidate will have a commitment to excellence in teaching and to innovative research and writing. They must have a record of scholarly work that demonstrates a commitment to the subject of diversity, and a record of engagement with teaching that investigates and addresses similar issues.

About the Department

The Department of Liberal Arts, one of 23 departments at the school, is chaired by a full-time faculty member with 14 full-time faculty and over 100 part-time faculty that offers 200 courses each year, primarily to undergraduate students pursuing a BFA in Studio Art. Liberal Arts courses provide the intellectual foundation for success at the school and in students' continuing practice as artists and scholars. The department offers courses in English, the Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Science, and foreign languages, as well as English for International Students, and Academic Access, a probationary academic enrichment program.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be an active participant in the education of studio artists, writers, and arts professionals, primarily at the BFA levels; will be a core faculty member in Liberal Arts; and will contribute to the vibrant and creative culture in a prestigious art and design school. They will work with other department heads in building curricula, and should have a demonstrated record of working with colleagues from other disciplines, and in particular with those in art- and design-related fields.

The successful candidate will teach half-time—up to three courses each year in the Department of Liberal Arts—balanced with administrative duties for half of their contracted time, also reporting to the Dean of Faculty. Administrative responsibilities will involve development and assessment of themes of diversity and identity within the school's curriculum and other initiatives emerging from the school's Diversity Action Plan, promoting "diverse making, scholarship, and activity among all students, faculty, and staff." The successful candidate will also work closely with the Director of Student Affairs for Diversity and Inclusion around extracurricular programming.

Qualifications

PhD and teaching experience are required. Some administrative or leadership experience is preferred. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to research, publication, and outstanding teaching. Rank and salary are competitive with peer institutions and are commensurate with quality and output of scholarship, extent of teaching experience, and current professional standing.

Application Procedure

By or before Monday, December 15, 2014, please submit an application and required materials at SAICfaculty.slideroom.com. You will create an account before completing the application that is a combination of fill-in fields and uploaded documents. You are encouraged to begin the application well before the deadline. Applicants can save and continue to work on the application until the final submission. Once an application is begun, there is a grace period for additions or revisions. No late applications may be submitted for any reason. SAIC will underwrite the application fees; you will not be charged for the application process.

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 include: a cover letter stating interests and qualifications; curriculum vitae; a statement of teaching philosophy; and a sample of scholarly work (maximum of 30 pages).