Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Digital Media and Design, University of Connecticut - Digital Film/Video Production (2 positions)

  • Type: job
  • Location: University of Connecticut (UConn), Stamford, CT and Storrs, CT - https://stamford.uconn.edu/
  • Deadline: Mar 8 2019 at 8:03PM
The Digital Media & Design Department in the School of Fine Arts at the University of Connecticut (UConn) invites applications for two full-time, tenure-track positions in Digital Film/Video Production at the rank of Assistant Professor. The anticipated start date is August 23, 2019. We are hiring two positions, one that will be based at the Storrs campus, and the other at the Stamford campus.

Full listing here:
https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/13266

Recognizing a great demand and building on the department’s existing expertise, we are creating a new concentration in Digital Film/Video Production. The two faculty hired will have leading roles in developing new curriculum, facilities, and outreach initiatives. Our ideal candidates will have significant professional experience in digital film production, with a preferred focus in short-form documentary, narrative, or emerging time-based media. The successful candidates will teach pre-production, production and post-production courses including cinematography, editing, storytelling, and other forms of digital media. Additional experience in visual effects, animation, and sound are highly valued.

The successful candidate is expected to contribute to research and scholarship through: high quality publications, presentations at prominent national and international academic conferences, extramural funding, impact as measured through citations, exhibitions, festivals, and/or national recognition as through honorific awards. In the area of teaching, a successful candidate will share a deep commitment to effective instruction at the undergraduate and graduate level, innovative course development, and mentoring of students in research, outreach and professional development. Successful candidates will also be expected to broaden participation among members of under-represented groups as demonstrated through research, teaching, public engagement, and richness of diversity in the learning experience; integrate multicultural experiences into instructional methods and research tools; demonstrate leadership in developing pedagogical techniques designed to meet the needs of diverse learning styles and intellectual interests. Candidates will also be expected to participate in departmental and university service to support curricular and program development and advise undergraduate and graduate students in the department.

UConn is entering a transformational period of growth supported by the $1.7B Next Generation Connecticut (http://nextgenct.uconn.edu/) and the $1B Bioscience Connecticut (http://biosciencect.uchc.edu/) investments and a bold new Academic Plan: Path to Excellence (http://issuu.com/uconnprovost/docs/academic-plan-single-hi-optimized_1). We are pleased to continue these investments by inviting applications for the Digital Media & Design Department.

The Digital Media & Design (DMD) department is a uniquely interdisciplinary academic unit led by faculty from the fine arts, business, STEM, and humanities fields. Established in 2013, this innovative and evolving department currently has 19 full-time faculty members across two campuses (Storrs and Stamford), 350 undergraduate and 12 graduate students (MFA and MA) and offers BFA and BA degrees in the following concentrations:

- 3D Animation (BFA)
- Digital Culture, Learning, & Advocacy (BA)
- Digital Media Business Strategies (BA)
- Game Design (BFA)
- Motion Design and Animation (BFA)
- Web/Interactive Media Design (BFA)
- Digital Film/Video Production (BFA) – in development for Fall 2019

All of our concentrations place a strong emphasis on collaboration and experiential learning, best preparing our students for the challenges they may face when working in industry. The department has established strong working partnerships with large and small companies, start-ups, public institutions and charitable nonprofits, giving students hands-on, real-world opportunities that benefit the creative economy of the state.

The UConn Storrs campus is located in a beautiful area of New England, with a moderate cost of living and proximity to major cultural, recreational, and urban centers of the Northeast. The University community provides residents with a rich diversity of cultural, artistic, athletic, and historic experiences.

The UConn Stamford campus is in a vibrant and exciting city – with over 400 restaurants, bars, and entertainment and art venues. With easy access to New York City and home to companies like NBC Sports, WWE, and Blue Sky Studios, Stamford has become a prime location for any practitioner and researcher of film and digital media.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The successful candidates will build upon existing and create new courses that relate to Film/Video Production and participate in building collaborations across the disciplines, including the fields within design, education, engineering, marketing, communications, journalism, business, and the sciences. Therefore, excellent communication skills and a collaborative predisposition are essential. Additionally, a successful candidate must be able to maintain an active academic agenda of research and/or professional projects and engage in service activities consistent with a tenure-track position.

These positions have a 2/3 teaching load, comprised of five 3-credit courses per year - at all levels of Film/Video Production, from freshman to senior capstone to graduate courses - as well as additional independent studies, and/or supervised internships.

The School of Fine Arts has a strong commitment to achieving diversity among faculty and staff. Therefore, DMD is particularly interested in receiving applications from members of under-represented groups and strongly encourages women and persons of color to apply for this position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

- Terminal Degree (MFA or Ph.D) in Film, Video, Art, Digital Media, New Media, Communications, or other appropriate fields. Equivalent foreign degrees are acceptable.
- At least 5 years of professional film / video production experience (broadcast, theatrical, exhibition, and/or film festivals).
- A strong artistic portfolio.
- Expertise in video editing software such as Adobe Creative Cloud (Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop, etc.)
- Ability to contribute to the diversity and excellence of the learning experience through innovative research, teaching, and public engagement.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- At least 3 years university teaching experience, with demonstrated ability to teach at all levels of curriculum from foundational to advanced.
- Demonstrated leadership in curriculum/course development in film production.
- Demonstrated proficiency in many aspects of production, including producing, planning, scheduling, scouting, cinematography, lighting, sound recording, supervising, and delivery
- Knowledge of other forms of time-based media (e.g., animation, motion graphics, etc.) and an interest in social media and how it has challenged the traditional way that an audience engages with visual content.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

These are full-time, 9-month, tenure track appointments with a start date of August 23, 2019. The successful candidates’ primary appointment will be at either the UConn Stamford or Storrs campus with the possibility of travel to the other campus on occasion and/or online instruction as a part of their ordinary workload. Salary is competitive and based on background, qualifications, and professional experience.

TO APPLY

Select “Apply Now” to be redirected to Academic Jobs Online to apply. Please submit the following and include your last name as well as search #2019345 in the document title for each document submitted:

1. A cover letter specifically addressing your credentials relative to the minimum and preferred qualifications listed above, within the cover letter, include a paragraph indicating whether you would like to be considered for the Storrs, Stamford, or either position and why,

2. A complete curriculum vitae,

3. A digital portfolio consisting of personal artwork,

4. A one to two-page research/scholarship statement,

5. At least 10 examples of student work,

6. A statement of teaching philosophy,

7. A one-page commitment to diversity and inclusion statement,

8. Names and contact information for three professional references.

Review of applications will begin on March 8, 2019 and will continue until filled. If you have questions related to the search, please send a detailed inquiry to Stacy Webb, Administrative Assistant for the Department of Digital Media & Design, at [email protected], with 2019345 - FACULTY SEARCH in the subject line. For more information regarding the Department of Digital Media & Design, visit http://dmd.uconn.edu.

Employment of the successful candidate will be contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check. (Search #2019345)

This position will be filled subject to budgetary approval.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics, which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.