Job Details

Assistant Professor (tenure track): Scene Design
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Position Number: 4691607
Location: Santa Clara, CA
Position Type: Fine and Applied Arts - Theatre and Dance

Assistant Professor (tenure track): Scene Design

Position Type:
Assistant Professor (tenure track): Scene Design

Position Type:
Regular

Salary Range:

Tenure-stream salary ranges from $80,549 to $89,000, based on the number of years of teaching experience, and benefits are competitive. Recognizing the high cost of housing in the local area, the University has established two housing assistance programs for qualified faculty: [1] a rental assistance program and [2] a purchase assistance program. For details, please refer to: https://www.scu.edu/provost/policies-and-procedures/support-for-faculty/housing-assistance/

Purpose:

The Department of Theatre and Dance at Santa Clara University, a Jesuit, Catholic university located in Silicon Valley on the land of the Ohlone and Muwekma Ohlone, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Scene Design to begin in September 2024. We seek applicants with an established or emerging record of creative and/or published work in any medium of scenic design including stage, film, site-specific, immersive, interactive, or multimedia performance. We especially welcome candidates with experience designing and teaching a wide range of performance traditions including those of the non-western canon and work that incorporates technology, multimedia or projection elements.

Applicants with a demonstrated commitment to serving students and audiences of the global majority, and with practical experience of decolonial teaching methodologies, are preferred. The selected candidate must successfully complete all requirements including, an on-campus interview, teaching demonstration, and research presentation. SCU is on the quarter system and faculty are expected to teach 6 courses per year (2 each quarter), assuming they are engaged in an active scholarship program. On-campus design loads count as classes' during an academic year. The successful candidate may teach courses including but not limited to Intro to Design, Scene Design, Scene Painting, and/or Design and Technology for the Department of Theatre and Dance. Preferred skills include prop-making, support of projection design, sustainable design and construction practices and digital media/multimedia design techniques.

Detailed course descriptions are available online at: http://www.scu.edu/theatre. Candidates must have a terminal degree, MFA or PhD by August 2024. Preferred candidates should provide evidence of published/creative scholarship (including work done in graduate school) that showcases the ability to design in professional theatre and/or film, as well as evidence of successful and inclusive university teaching.

Located in the heart of northern California's Silicon Valley on the land of the Ohlone and Muwekma Ohlone, Santa Clara is a private, Jesuit, Catholic university committed to promoting social justice in a comprehensive educational setting. Faculty members are teaching-scholars who balance a commitment to excellent teaching with active programs of research or creative scholarship. All tenure track faculty at SCU participate in undergraduate advising and service responsibilities appropriate to rank. Potential for future leadership service is appreciated. Applications will be accepted until December 31, 2023. Applications must be submitted through SCU's electronic application portal.

Visit www.scu.edu to learn about SCU's mission, courses offered in our department, the diverse student population we serve, and the University's housing assistance program. We especially encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds. SCU is an EO/AA employer committed to excellence through diversity, equity, and inclusion. In this spirit we welcome applications from women, persons of color, any sexual orientation, all religions, and members of historically underrepresented groups.

Basic Qualifications:

Terminal degree MFA/PhD required.
Demonstrated ability in theatre scenic design and scene painting required.
Evidence of publication/creative scholarship and excellent university teaching record (including graduate school TA work) required.

Preferred Qualifications:

Candidates should demonstrate promise in scholarly research or creative work with evidence of prior publication/creative scholarship, including the ability to design in all levels of professional theatre and/or film, as well as evidence of successful and inclusive university teaching. Additional specializations could include: prop-making, projection design/support, sustainable construction practices, and digital media/multimedia design techniques. We especially welcome candidates with experience designing and teaching a wide range of performance traditions including those of the non-western canon and work that incorporates technology, multimedia or projection elements.

Responsibilities:

Tenure track faculty at SCU are teaching scholars who are expected to balance teaching, research and service. This is an in-person position. More specifically, duties include but are not limited to:

TEACHING

1. Teach lower- and upper-division courses in the major and university Core curriculum, as assigned by the chair, including courses such as lower division university Core classes, Intro to Design, Scene Design, Scene Painting, and/or Theatre Design and Technology and advanced courses in their area of specialty for the Department of Theatre and Dance along with Designing the Main Stage shows for the season. SCU is on the quarter system and faculty are expected to teach 6 courses per year (2 each quarter), assuming they are engaged in an active scholarship program. On-campus design loads count as classes' during an academic year. Teaching responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

a. Conducting and appearing at all assigned class meetings in a timely and prepared manner that demonstrates a command of the discipline and skill in presenting it effectively.
b. Assigning and evaluating written work, projects, and exams that align with course or core learning objectives and providing timely feedback to students.
c. Holding weekly office hours at times reasonably convenient to students.
d. Assigning and submitting student grades that are appropriate, accurate, and fair measures of student performance to the Office of the Registrar by the designated deadline.
e. Administering numerical and narrative evaluations in each section for all courses.

2. Develop and teach courses that contribute to curriculum development in the Department of Theatre and Dance and/or the university Core. Faculty teaching university Core courses should follow an approved syllabus or work with the Chair to design an appropriate syllabus for submission for approval from the relevant Faculty Core Curriculum Committee.

3. Participate in assessment of student learning for courses in the department.

4. Provide informed advice and mentoring to undergraduate students.

5. Fulfill other instructional or academic duties as may be assigned by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences or by the Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance.

RESEARCH

1. Develop a research program at SCU that will result in creative work and/or the publication of peer-reviewed publications, designs or monographs per the department scholarship standards.

2. Preference will be given to candidates with a research program that can accommodate participation of undergraduates.

SERVICE

1. Provide effective service to the Department of Theatre and Dance, the College, the University and profession through contributions other than teaching and scholarship such as service on committees, participation in professional organizations and activities, leadership, and community service performed by virtue of professional expertise or association with the university as appropriate to rank and experience.

Additional Information:

Course descriptions can be found at: http://www.scu.edu/theatre

Please contact Kimberly Mohne Hill, Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, at kihill@scu.edu with any questions.

Work Authorization:
A foreign national who is appointed to a tenured or tenure-track faculty position is eligible for sponsorship by Santa Clara University.

Special Instructions to Applicants:
Application deadline: December 31, 2023. To ensure complete consideration applications must be completed by this date. Applications must be submitted using the university's online application process. Letters of recommendation (if requested) and additional documentation should be sent to Ruth Mikusko, Department Manager at rmikusko@scu.edu.

Required documents:

Letter of application, including a statement/information regarding:
a. applicant's teaching experience and philosophy,
b. research interests (including how they foster collaboration with students),
c. experience working with people of diverse cultures and identities.
Curriculum Vitae
Evidence of teaching excellence/performance (e.g. sample syllabi, faculty and/or student teaching evaluations/peer teaching evaluations from recent position)
Three references (letters of recommendation will be required for finalists)
A representative sample of scholarship (pdf or url)
Graduate transcripts (unofficial, with official available upon request)

Santa Clara University, a Jesuit, Catholic institution located in Silicon Valley, is committed to increasing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging among faculty, staff, and students. Candidates are encouraged to address in the letter of application their professional interest in and/or experiences relevant to achieving this goal. EO/AA employer.

COVID-19 Statement

The health and safety of the university community is a top priority. All Santa Clara University students, and employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or request a medical or religious exemption. Please visit our COVID-19 webpage for additional information.

Work Authorization:

A foreign national who is appointed to a tenured or tenure-track faculty position is eligible for sponsorship by Santa Clara University.

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and California State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Applications from members of historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University's equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, see https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/policies-reports/

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Santa Clara University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex/gender, and prohibits retaliation against any person opposing discrimination or participating in any discrimination investigation or complaint process internally or externally. The Title IX Coordinator and Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is Aaron Zisser, Director of Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 408-551-3043, azisser@scu.edu , www.scu.edu/title-ix. Inquiries can also be made to the Assistant Secretary of Education within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Clery Notice of Availability

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please go to the Campus Safety Services website. To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Santa Clara University affirms its' commitment to employ qualified individuals with disabilities within the workplace and to comply with the Americans with Disability Act. All applicants desiring an accommodation should contact the Department of Human Resources, and 408-554-5750 and request to speak to Indu Ahluwalia by phone at 408-554-5750 or by email at iahluwalia@scu.edu.

To view the full job posting and apply for this position, go to https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/scu/scu/job/Santa-Clara-CA/Assistant-Professor--tenure-track---Scene-Design_R4006